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TREASURER'S  OFFICE, 

Police  Department  of  t^e  City  of  New  York, 

3Sro.   300   IS/iTVLnsexry  Street. 


Our  Police  Protectors. 


HISTOf^Y  OP  THE 

NE  W  YORK  POLICE 

FROM  THE 

EARLJHST  PUR  I  on    TO     llfJi    I'RESENT  TIME. 


PUBLISHED  FOR  THE  BENEFIT  OF  THE 

POLICE  PENSION  FUND. 


SECOND  EDITION. 


BY 

A.   K.  COSTELLO. 
Illustrated    with    over    Two    Hundred    Choice  Engravings. 


I'Ulil.ISIlKI)  1?V   TIIK  AirriU)R. 

18S5. 


TREASURER'S  OFOCB, 
iVb.  5<?0  Mulberry  Sireei, 


Copyrighted  1884, 
By  A.  E.  CosTELLa 


PREFACE. 


T  N  the  fall  of  1883  fears  were  entertained  that  the  Police  Pension  Fund  would 
soon  have  become  depleted.  Under  the  decision  of  the  Court  of  Appeals 
in  the  case  of  John  Ryan  against  the  Board,  money  to  the  amount  of  $77,420.29 
was  paid  for  judgments  obtained  against  the  Board  for  sick  time  deducted  from 
the  pay  of  Policemen  for  six  years  prior  to  1883.  Had  not  the  Legislature  oppor- 
tunely stepped  in  and  provided  the  remedy,  within  ten  months  a  dollar  of  the 
Pension  Fund  would  not  have  remained.  It  was  during  this  period  of  depres- 
sion— in  October,  1883 — that  the  writer  conceived  the  idea  of  doing  something 
which,  while  helping  the  Police  Pension  Fund,  would  serve  to  perpetuate  in 
durable  form  the  historical  achievements  of  the  Police  force.  The  writer  was  then 
a  reporter  in  charge  of  the  Herald  Police  Bureau,  an  office  that  is  located  opposite 
Police  Headquarters,  and,  day  and  night,  collects  the  news  that  comes  over  the 
Police  wires,  or  through  Police  channels,  for  publication.  He  had  been  so  em- 
ployed for  a  number  of  years,  and  such  employment  necessarily  brought  him  a 
great  deal  in  the  .society  of  Police  officials  and  Policemen.  After  thinking  the 
matter  over  carefully,  he  made  known  his  views  to  the  late  Sidney  P.  Nichols, 
who  was  then  a  Police  Commissioner  and  Treasurer  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund. 
Mr.  Nichols  entered  heartily  into  the  project,  and  encouraged  the  writer  to  go 
ahead.  With  his  characteristic  promptitude,  he  waited  on  Commissioner  French,, 
in  whose  presence  the  writer  again  unfolded  his  plans.  Mr.  French  also  cor- 
dially approved  of  the  scheme.  It  was  then  decided  to  put  those  ideas  into 
practical  shape,  and  it  was  also  settled  that  the  book  should  be  published  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund.  Permission  to  this  effect  was  granted  by 
the  Board. 

The  writer  continued  his  connection  with  the  Herald,  and,  when  opportunity 
offered,  he  went  about  the  collection  of  his  material  for  the  book.  But  the  work 
was  slow  and  tedious,  and,  at  the  end  of  some  six  months,  the  writer  found 
that  if  the  book  was  to  be  published  within  a  reasonable  period,  he  should  devote 
all  his  time  to  it,  and  "  take  off  his  coat  "  to  the  task.  Work  on  the  book  was. 
thenceforward  shoved  with  all  proper  diligence. 


vi  PREFACE. 

Mr  Nichols'  interest  in  the  book  never  abated.  He  kept  a  constant  and  intel- 
ligent supervision  on  the  progress  made,  and,  by  his  kindliness,  encouraged  the 
writer  lo  press  on,  to  be  industrious,  and  to  fear  not.  The  com{>iler  was  naturally 
diffident  of  his  ability  to  do  justice  to  so  important  an  undertaking;  and,  now 
that  the  book  is  printed,  his  diffidence  has  not  in  the  least  abated.  He  is  well 
aware  that  in  more  able  and  exi)erienced  hands  the  story  of  Our  Polick 
Protectors"'  would  have  been  more  pleasantly,  accurately  and  intelligently  told. 
But  he  has  done  his  best  to  do  justice  to  the  subject,  and  for  this,  if  for  nothing 
else,  he  is,  perhaps,  entitled  to  a  little  praise. 

"  Who  does  the  best  his  circumstance  permits,  does  well,  acts  nobly  ;  angels 
could  no  more." 

Mr.  Nichols,  early  in  the  fall  of  1884,  was  stricken  down  with  a  fatal  illness, 
which,  to  some  extent,  retarded  the  progress  of  the  work,  as  it  was  usual  to 
consult  him  a  good  deal,  particularly  on  business  and  financial  affairs,  in  connec- 
tion therewith.  Had  he  survived,  we  are  satisfied  that  he  would  have  continued 
his  friendly  and  fostering  interest  in  the  book. 

It  is  usual  for  a  writer  to  gratify  the  curiosity  of  his  readers  by  making  known 
to  them,  either  in  foot-notes  or  in  some  other  form,  the  sources  of  his  informa- 
tion. Well,  this  is  proper,  but  in  the  present  case  it  would  be  somewhat  difficult 
to  comply  with  this  rule,  as  the  authorities  consulted  are  not  exclusively  such 
as  are  to  be  found  in  libraries.  However,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  early  • 
historical  facts  were  mostly  obtained  from  the  Dutch  and  English  manu.script 
records  in  the  City  Hall  library;  also,  the  following  authorities  were,  among  a 
number  of  others,  consulted  :  The  Proceedings  of  the  Common  Council,  City 
Ordinances,  State  Laws,  various  Histories,  Hand-books,  Guide-books,  and 
Gazetteers  of  New  York  ;  Valentine's  Manuals,  O'Callahan's  Documentary  His- 
tory of  New  York;  and  such  other  facts  were  gleaned  as  were  to  be  obtained  by 
diligent  study  in  the  Astor  and  Historical  Libraries. 

'J'he  writer  is  under  many  deep  obligations  to  George  P.  Gott,  Treasurer's 
Bookkeeper  of  tlie  Police  Department  ;  Ca])tain  Kijjp,  Chief  Clerk  ;  Su])erin-  ' 
tendent  Walling,  and  Inspectors  Murray,  Dilks,  Thorne  and  Byrnes.  He  also 
desires  to  extend  his  acknowledgments  to  Mrs.  Frank  Leslie,  who  kindly  allowed 
the  use  of  a  number  of  valuable  cuts;  to  the  Messrs.  D.  Aj)pleton  &:  Co., 
for  electrotypes  of  cuts  from  their  "New  York  Illustrated ";  and  to  The 
Century  Publishing  Company  for  similar  favors.  His  thanks  are  likewise  due 
to  George  B.  Taylor,  of  the  Times.,  who  has  aided  the  writer  in  the  compilation 
of  the  chapters  on  Inspector  Byrne's  Staff  of  Detectives,  and  "  The  Duties  of  a 
Policeman,"  and  who  has  also  supplied  a  portion  of  the  material  used  in  the 
description  of  tlic  various  precincts. 


J,  PREFACE.  vii 

Mr.  Tlioiiias  Nast,  l)y  ijcrinission  of  tlic  Messrs.  Harper  Brothers,  has 
kindly  furnished  the  clever  drawing  which  forms  the  frontispiece  of  this  book. 
Mr.  C.  de  (Irimni,  the  Tclcgrcin  artist,  by  kind  permission  of  Mr.  James 
Gordon  Bennett,  lias  also  siii)plie(l  us  with  the  clever  sketches  which  are  so 
readily  distinguishable. 

Valuable  tables  of  arrests  and  other  police  statistics  had  been  prepared,  but 
these  have  been  crowded  out,  owing  to  the  unexpected  size  to  which  this  volume 
has  grown  and  the  desire  to  go  to  press.  In  a  subsequent  edition  these  statistics 
will  be  inserted. 


A.  E.  C;osti:li,o, 

Nkw  York. 

Sept.  I,  18.S5. 


4 


Press  Notices. 


[The  Si'NDAY  St  \K,  June  7,  1885.] 

^I.OOM  has  a  labor  of  love  brcn  so  ably  and  ac- 
ceptably performed  as  that  which  now  appears  before 
the  New  York  public  in  the  shape  of  a  handsome 
volume  entitled  "  Otir  Police  Protectors."  The 
author  and  publisher  is  Mr.  A.  IC,  Costello,  and  as 
the  proceeds  of  the  sales  are  to  be  devoted  to  the 
augmentation  of  the  Police  Pension  Knnd.  it  is  cer- 
tain to  be  the  means  of  putting  a  very  handsome 
sum  into  the  treasury  of  that  worthy  organization. 

But,  ai)art  from  these  considerations,  Mr.  Costello 
has  produced  a  work  which  deserves  to  rank  with  the 
best  historical  anil  biographical  volumes  ha\-ing  rela- 
tion to  the  Empire  City  or  Slate.  Krom  the  first  to 
the  last  page  it  is  replete  with  interest,  and  its  liter- 
ary features  are  enhanced  by  the  addition  of  over 
two  hundred  choice  engravings,  embracing  many 
incidents  prominent  in  the  history  of  the  city,  the 
noted  riots  of  a  century,  the  famous  police  olTicials 
of  olden  times,  and  the  superintendents,  inspectors, 
captains  and  best-known  officers  of  a  more  recent 
period,  down  to  date. 

Of  the  genesis  of  the  book  Mr.  Costello  speaks 
modestly.  It  was  in  1883  that  the  idea  of  writing  a 
history  of  the  police  first  occurred  to  him,  and  after 
thinking  the  matter  over,  he  consulted  with  the  late 
Commissioner  Sidney  P.  Nichols,  who  entered  heart- 
ily into  the  project. 

"  Mr.  Nichols'  interest  in  the  book,"  he  writes, 
"  never  abated.  He  kept  a  constant  and  intelli- 
gent supervision  on  the  progress  made,  and.  by  his 
kindness,  encouraged  the  writer  to  press  on,  to  be 
industrious,  and  to  fear  not.  Mr.  N ichols,  early  in 
the  fall  of  1884,  was  stricken  down  with  a  fatal  ill- 
ness, which,  to  some  e.\tent,  retarded  the  progress  of 
the  work,  as  it  was  usual  to  consult  him  a  good  deal, 
particularly  on  business  and  financial  affairs  in  con- 
nection therewith.  Had  he  survived,  we  are  satisfied 
th.at  hewould  have  continued  his  friendly  and  foster- 
ing interest  in  the  book." 

Concerning;  a  volume  embracing  a  multitude  of 
events,  and  covering  almost  the  entire  period  of 
the  growth  and  development  of  our  city,  it  is  im- 
possible to  give  an  ailcquate  idea  in  the  columns  of 
a  newspaper.  The  opening  chapters  deal  with  the 
primitive  police  regulations  from  1609  to  1664;  events 
during  the  period  of  British  occupancy  up  to  1783; 
the  old  sj'stem  of  watching  which  prevailed  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century  up  to  1830,  and  the  re- 
peal in  1844  of  the  old  system — which  proved  alto- 
gether insuiricicnt. 

Coming  down  to  later  times,  the  provisions  of  the 
consolidation  act  and  the  model  sj'stem  of  the  po- 
lice force  of  the  present  day  are  discussed,  the  oper- 
ations of  the  Central  Office  Bureau  of  Detectives  and 
its  able  chief,  Inspector  Byines,  are  explained,  and 
the  general  government  and  discipline  of  the  entire 
department  m.ade  clear  to  the  mind  of  the  reader, 
Kach  inspection  district  is  the  subject  of  a  special 
chapter,  embracing  its  personnel  and  the  records  of 
its  present  and  past  chiefs.  A  sketch  of  the  organ- 
ization and  objects  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund  is 
given,  and  the  volume  fitly  closes  with  a  chapter  ex- 
planatory of  the  methods  governing  our  criminal 
courts,  showing  the  multifarious  operations  of  justice, 
and  how  vice  is  besot  on  every  side  by  the  safeguards 
and  precautions  erected  for  the  protection  of  virtue, 
the  suppression  of  crime,  and  the  apprehension  and 
punishment  of  the  criminal. 


[Sunday  Democrat,  June  7,  1885.] 

"  Ot  R  Police  Protectoks"  is  the  title  of  a  royal 
octavo  volume  just  published.  The  author  is  Mr. 
Augustine  E.  Costello,  a  well-known  journalist,  Mr, 
Costello  may  be  congratulated  on  writing  a  very 
readable  and  instructive  book.  It  is  not  a  dry  histor- 
ical narrative  of  police  proceedings  so  much  as  a 
historical  review  of  city  affairs  in  general,  from  the 
foundation  of  New  Amsterdam  to  the  preient  lime. 

The  book  is  elegantly  illustrated  throughout  with 
many  interesting  views  of  old  New  York.  Thomas 
Nast,  C.  de  Cirimm,  and  other  well-known  artists, 
have  contributed  to  make  the  artistic  merits  of  the 
work  eipial  to  the  subject.  There  are  in  all  about 
two  hundred  and  fifty  choice  and  appropriate  engrav- 
ings in  the  volume. 

The  book  will  undoubtedly  secure  a  large  sale,  as 
it  is,  apart  from  its  general  interest,  a  valuable  work 
of  reference.  A  vast  amount  of  information  has 
been  diligently  collated  by  the  author  and  pleasantly 
narrated.  His  style  is  clear,  expressive  and  enter- 
taining. The  volume  reflects  credit  on  the  author 
and  the  subject  of  w  hich  it  treats.  The  book  is  pub- 
lished by  the  author,  and  is  sold  by  subscription  only. 


the  proceeds  being  devoted  to  the  Police  Pension 
Fund.  The  names  of  the  subscribers,  it  is  under- 
stood, and  the  amounts  subscribed,  will,  in  due  lime, 
be  published  in  the  newspapers.  A  considerable 
part  of  the  first  edition  has  teen  already  disposed  of, 
and  it  is  expected  that  a  large  amount  of  money  will 
— in  this  manner— be  realized  for  this  praiseworthy 
object. 


[The  Morning  Jour.nal,  June  8,  1885.] 

A  history  of  the  New  York  police  force  from  the 
earliest  time  has  just  been  published  under  the  title 
of  "  Our  Police  Protectors  by  the  author,  A.  E. 
Costello,  and  the  proceeds  from  its  sale  will  be  de- 
voted to  the  benefit  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund. 

The  narrative  of  the  suppression  of  the  draft  riots 
in  1863  is  a  graphic  description  of  the  most  terrible 
work  ihe  police  of  New  York  were  ever  called  upon 
to  undergo.  The  illustrations  of  the  trying  situa- 
tions in  which  they  were  then  placed,  as  well  as 
others  of  an  older  as  well  as  a  more  recent  date,  lend 
an  .additional  attraction  to  the  work. 

Among  the  two  hundred  fine  engravings  with 
which  It  IS  embellished  are  many  portraits  of  deceased 
and  living  ofiicers  who  have  earned  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  their  fellow  citizens. 

In  a  word,  the  work  is  a  valuable  addition  to  local 
history,  and  the  object  for  which  it  has  been  compiled 
ought  to  secure  for  it  a  wide  list  of  subscribers 
among  the  people  whose  persons  and  property  the 
beneficiaries  have  protected. 

[Dailv  News,  June  16,  1885.] 

"  Our  Police  Projectors"  is  the  title  of  a  history 
of  the  police  of  this  city  from  the  Dutch  occupancy 
of  Manhattan  Island  to  the  present  time.  The  author 
is  Mr.  Augustine  E.  Costello,  the  well-known  jour- 
nalist. The  publication  is  a  royal  octavo  volume  of 
about  six  hundred  pages.  It  is  impossible  in  a  brief 
notice  to  give  an  adequate  idea  of  this  highly  merit- 
orious work.  Mr.  Costello  sketches  graphically  in 
the  opening  chapter  the  primitive  system  of  "watch- 
ing" that  prevailed  under  the  old  Dutch  burgomas- 
ters, another  chapter  being  devoted  to  the  period  of 
British  rule. 

The  book  contains  over  two  hundred  engravings, 
N;»st  and  de  Grimm  having  furnished  some  remarkably 
bright  sketches.  The  exploits  of  the  leading  officials, 
from  the  time  of  High  Constable  Hays,  are  mentioned 
in  detail,  namely,  Matsell, Walling,  Acton,  Carpenter, 
Kennedy,  -Murray.  Byrnes,  etc.  The  book,  finally, 
is  an  encyclopedia  of  police  aflairs.  It  is  published 
under  the  ausp  ces  of  tlie  police  commissioners  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund. 


[Si  NDAY  Disi'ATCH,  June  7,  1885.] 

We  commend  "  Our  Police  Protectors  "  as  a  book 
worth  the  attention  of  all  New  Yorkers,  more  espec- 
ially as  the  proceeds  from  it  are  to  be  devoted  to  the 
aid  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund.  The  book  contains 
over  five  hundred  pages,  is  handsomely  printed  and 
bound,  and  very  profusely  illustrated. 


[The  N.\tion,  June  11,  1885.] 

The  laborious  and  praiseworthy  compilation  entitled 
"Our  Police  Protectors:  History  of  the  New  York 
Police  from  the  Earliest  Period  to  the  Present  Time," 
is  published  by  the  author,  Mr.  A.  E.  Costello,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund.  It  is  a  mine 
of  information  on  a  subject  in  which  every  city  in 
the  country  has  a  vital  interest — the  development 
of  a  constabulary  force  equal  to  the  demands  of  in- 
creasing population  and  increased  f.acilities  for  crime, 
disorder  and  destructivencss.  The  chapters  on  the 
draft  riots  of  1863  connect  this  work  with  the  politi- 
cal history  of  the  republic.  Great  numbers  of  por- 
traits and  other  illustrations  add  much  to  the  value 
of  the  record. 


[The  Si  n,  June  7,  1885.] 

Mr,  A.  E.  Costello  is  the  author  of  a  handsome 
oct.avo  volume  of  nearly  six  hundred  pages,  entitled 
"Our  Police  Protectors,"  giving  a  history  of  the 
New  York  police  from  the  earliest  period  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  It  is  illustrated  with  many  engravings, 
including  a  series  of  faithful  and  life-like  portraits  of 
the  various  police  conimissioners  and  police  cap- 
tains. It  is  published  for  the  benefit  of  the  Police 
Pension  Fund. 


[Sunday  News,  June  7,  1885.] 

A.  E.  CosTEi.i.o  has  added  to  the  already  large 
number  of  works  on  New  York  City  a  highly  inter- 
esting, and  at  the  same  time  reliable,  historical  and 
biograph'cal  encyclopedia,  entitled  "  Our  Police 
Protectors.  History  of  the  N6w  York  Police  from 
the  Earliest  Period  to  the  Present  l  ime.  Published 
for  the  Benefit  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund."  The 
book  is  thorough.  Everything  in  connection  with  it 
is  well  done.  It  commences  with  the  primitive  police 
regulations  in  1609,  and.  in  twenty-three  chapters, 
brings  the  history  of  the  city  down  to  its  present 
period.  It  contains  two  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
illustrations,  of  which  nineteen  are  full-page  en- 
gravings. The  portraits  of  the  police  commission- 
ers, superintendents,  inspectors,  captains  and  ser- 
geants, from  the  day  of  Jacob  Hays  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  Mayors  Harper  and  Wood,  Chief  Matsell, 
important  points  of  interest,  incidents  that  have 
occurred  at  various  times  and  particularly  during 
the  draft  riots,  a  reproduction  of  localities  as  they 
e.xisted  long  ago,  and  a  thousand  other  useful,  in- 
structive and  entertaining  facts  and  pictures  are  set 
forth.  The  portraits,  as  a  rule,  are  remarkably  cor- 
rect. The  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  book  go  to 
swell  the  Police  Pension  Pund,  and  there  is  no  doubt 
that  there  will  be  an  eager  demand  for  it.  Those 
wishing  to  obtain  copies  can  do  so  by  addressing  Su- 
perintendent Walling. 


[Daily  Tribi  ne,  June  29,  1885.] 

"  Our  Police  Protectors"  is  the  title  of  an  attrac- 
tive volume  reciting  the  history  of  police  organization 
and  work  in  this  city,  recently  published  in  this 
city.  The  profits  derived  from  the  sale  of  the 
book  are  to  be  devoted  to  the  Police  Pension 
Fund.  It  is  written  by  A.  E.  Costello,  whose 
practical  experience  as  a  newspaper  police  reporter 
gave  him  many  advantages  in  the  accomplishment  of 
the  task.  He  has  gone  back  to  the  first  appearance 
of  a  police  system  in  the  earliest  Dutch  settlement 
on  Manhattan  Island,  and  has  traced  its  gradual 
growth  and  development  to  the  present  time.  The 
story  of  the  progress  and  repeal  of  the  old  watch 
system  and  the  organization  of  a  municipal  police,  in 
the  twenty-five  years  subsequent  to  1830,  is  well 
told  and  in  fuller  detail  than  is  perhaps  to  be  found 
in  any  other  single  publication.  The  charter  of  1853 
provided  for  the  entire  reorganization  of  the  police 
force.  Mr.  Costello  thinks  that  the  greatest  benefit 
to  the  community  that  resulted  from  this  law  was  the 
separation  of  the  department  from  political  influences. 
The  police  commissioners  at  this  time  first  put  in 
force  the  rule  that  no  oflicer  would  be  permitted  to 
connect  himself  directly  or  indirectly  with  any  politi- 
cal society,  club,  or  similar  organization.  I'he  his- 
tory of  the  riots  in  New  York  is  given  at  considerable 
length,  as  well  as  of  all  the  changes  and  chief  events 
affecting  the  police  department  since  the  rebellion. 
The  whole  work  is  interspersed  with  amusing  or 
pathetic  incidents  illustrating  the  varied  and  exciting 
life  of  the  average  policeman.  Considerable  space 
is  given  to  brief  sketches  of  various  officers  who  have 
distinguished  themselves  by  particularly  good  work 
in  the  department.  The  illustrations  by  Nast  and 
de  Grimm  are  spirited  and  appropriate. 

[Graphic,  July  5,  1885  ] 

Tins  useful  book,  embellished  with  over  two  hun- 
dred engravings,  is  a  history  of  the  city's  protectors 
from  the  earliest  period  to  the  present  lime.  It  gives 
an  account  of  the  primitive  police  regulations,  begin- 
ning with  1609,  and  those  during  the  period  of  Brit- 
ish occupancy;  the  organization  of  a  municipal 
police  in  i844-'53;  two  interesting  chapters  relate  to 
the  draft  riots  and  their  suppression;  the  era  of  organ- 
isation and  development  is  dwelt  upon;  the  detective 
department  is  discussed,  the  Police  Pension  Fund 
sketched,  and  the  duties  of  the  policeman  defined. 
Full  and  accurate  lists  of  the  present  force  are  em- 
bodied in  this  comprehensive  work,  and  a  vast  deal  of 
other  information. 

[World,  June  21,  1885.] 

"  Oi  R  Police  Protectors  "  is  the  titleof  a  book  of 
ncirly  six  hundred  pages  just  issued.  Mr.  A.  E. 
Costello,  the  author,  has  been  closely  associated  with 
the  police  for  many  years.  The  book  contains  much 
interesting  matter,  beginning  with  the  establishment 
of  a  primitive  police  force  on  Manhattan  Isl.md  in 
i6ei  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  year.  It  is 
profusely  illustrated  with  portraits  and  sketches  by 
Thomas  Nast  and  other  well-known  artists.  The 


proceeds  from  th«  sale  of  the  work  are  to  be  given  to 
the  Police  Pension  Fund. 


[Brooklyn  Sta.ndard,  July  21,  1885  ] 

Under  the  title  "  Our  Police  Protec'ors,"  a  very 
interesting  and  elaborate  history  of  the  New  York 
police,  by  Mr.  A.  E.  Costello,  has  been  published 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund.  As  a 
journalist  of  ability  and  experience,  especially  as  a 
police  reporter,  Mr.  Costello  was  well  equipped  for 
the  task,  which  he  commenced  in  October,  1883. 
The  history  begins  with  the  primitive  police  regula- 
tions of  1609,  and  deals  with  the  various  methods  of 
police  government  in  the  metropolis  from  that  remote 
period  to  the  present  time.  The  old  watch  system, 
its  progress  and  ultimate  abolishment ,  is  the  subject 
of  a  very  interesting  narrative.  The  organization  of  a 
m  inicipal  police,  appointment  of  a  board  of  com- 
missioners, and  finally,  the  establishment  of  the 
Metropolitan  police  district,  supply  material  for 
three  readable  chapters.  The  eighth  chapter 
is  devoted  to  a  graphic  sketch  of  the  draft 
riots  in  July,  1863,  and  the  next  chapter  presents 
in  detail  the  methods  adopted  by  the  police  in 
suppressing  the  rioters.  The  five  hundred  and  odd 
pages  abound  with  striking  incidents — horrors  and 
heroisms  alike  being  presented  throughout  with  the 
utmost  fidelity  to  truth.  In  addition  to  the  histori- 
cal portion  of  the  work,  which  is  profusely  illustrated, 
there  is  an  appendix  containing  a  complete  list  of  the 
members  of  the  police  force  up  to  ^Iay  i,  1885,  and 
the  date  of  their  appointment.  Elegantly  printed, 
substantially  bound,  and  containing  much  valuable 
information.  Mr.  Costello  is  to  be  congratulated 
upon  the  completion  of  his  laborious  work. 


[Sunday  Mercury,  June  14,  1885.] 

"  Our  Police  Protectors."— This  is  the  title  of 
a  work  of  five  hundred  and  seventy  royal  octavo 
pages,  illustrated  with  over  two  hundred  engravings, 
compiled  and  published  by  Mr.  A.  E.  Costello, 
the  well-known  journalist.  The  book  gives  a  com- 
plete and  most  interesting  history  of  the  police  protec- 
tive system  of  New  York  from  the  days  of  the  Dutch 
Gov -.mors,  Peter  Minuet  and  Wouter  Yon  Twiller 
down  to  the  first  of  May  last.  It  is  literally  packed 
with  facts  and  figures,  and  at  the  same  time  is  as  in- 
teresting in  many  portions  as  a  romance.  Mr.  Costello 
has  done  his  work  well  and  produced  a  book  of  great 
historical  value,  fit  to  take  its  place  beside  Maiy  J. 
Lamb's  "  History  of  New  York."  It  is,  in  fact,  it- 
self a  history  of  New  York,  for  the  progress  and 
growth  of  the  police  department  marks,  step  by  step, 
the  progress  and  growth  of  the  city.  The  book  is 
published  for  the  benefit  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund, 
and  may  be  had  at  Police  Headquarters. 

[Telegram,  July  8,  1885.] 

Mr.  a.  E.  Costello  has  compiled  an  extremely 
interesting,  informing  and  valuable  work.  It  is  en- 
titled "  Our  Police  Protectors:  History  of  the  New 
York  Police  from  the  Earliest  Period  to  the  Present 
Time."  It  is  published  for  the  benefit  of  the  Police 
Pension  Fund.  It  is  admirably  complete,  including 
two  hundred  illustrations  and  nearly  six  hundred 
pages.  It  also  contains  a  full  t.ible  of  contents  to  its 
twenty-three  chapters,  a  list  of  the  illustrations,  and 
an  adequate  index— a  feature  too  often  lacking  in  works 
of  this  kind.  A  year  and  a  half's  hard  and  stead'^ 
labor  has  been  concentrated  upon  this  volume.  The 
wood  engravings  are  extremely  happy  in  reproducing 
the  spirit  of  the  scenes  wherewith  they  are  concerned. 
The  more  ambitious  illustrations  fulfill  their  ambition 
— an  arduous  task  seldom  satisfactorily  performed. 
The  information  is  immense,  dating  from  1609  to  the 
present  d.iy.  He  tells  us  all  .-Uiout  primitive  police 
regulations,  the  period  of  British  occupancy,  the 
city's  condition  wncn  outgrowing  the  old  system  of 
watching,  the  progress  and  repe.d  of  that  system, 
the  organization  of  a  municipal  police,  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  board  of  police  commissioners,  the  Metro- 
politan police  districts  and  the  draft  riots  of  186^  and 
their  suppression.  History  of  this  kind  is  continued 
until  he  acquaints  us  with  the  Detective  Department, 
Inspector  Byrnes'  command;  the  Police  Central 
Office,  the  duties  of  a  policeman,  and  the  history  of 
the  Police  Pension  Fund.  In  all  the  necessary  statis- 
tics of  crime  there  is  nothing  to  please  the  prurient. 
In  the  many  faithful  portraits  of  police  officials  there 
is  everything  to  please  all  whoestccm  what  is  estim- 
able in  those  servants  of  the  public.  The  late  Sidney 
P.  Nichols  was  deeply  interested  in  the  success  of 
this  work,  and  Mr.  Costello's  personal  experience 
peculiarly  qualified  him  for  his  well  performed  task. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. — 1609-1664. — Primhivk  Police  Rkoui.ations. 

Charter  Establisliing  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  (162 1.) — Director-Genera. 
Minuet's  Council. — Duties  of  the  Schout-Fiscal. — First  Trace  of  a  Penal  or 
Police  System  (1632.) — i  he  Island  Assuming  an  Aspec  t  of  Permanent  Settle- 
ment (1639.) — A  Reason  why  Justice  was  Administered  with  Cireat  Prom[)ti- 
tude. — Erection  of  a  Stadt  Huys  (1642.) — -Regulations  for  the  Better  Observ- 
ance of  the  Sabbath. — Establishment  of  a  Burgher  Guard  (1643.) — New 
Regulations  (^ontemi)oraneous  with  the  Arrival  of  Governor  Stuyvesant. — A 
Career  of  Reform. — Ordinance  Regulating  the  Sale  of  Liquor. — Appointment 
of  a  Rattle-Watcli  (1651.) — The  City  Incorporated  (1652.) — The  Police  of  the 
City  Chiefly  (Centered  in  a  Schout. — Regulations  of  the  Burgher  Watch. — Dirk 
Van  Schillwyne,  First  High  Constable  (1655.) — Organization  of  a  Paid 
Rattle-Watch  (1658.) — Instructions  for  the  Burgher  Provost. — Records  of 
Court  Cases. — Capture  of  the  Province  by  the  British. 

CHAPTF^R  II. — 1664-1783. — -Pkrioi)  ok  British  Occupancy. 

Obe  Hendrick,  First  Constable  under  the  English. — Lighting  the  City  by  Night 
(1668.) — Watchmen  ordered  to  provide  themselves  with  "  a  Lanthern  and  a 
Stick  of  Firewood." — A  Strict  Police  established  throughout  the  City. — Orders 
to  be  observed  by  the  Constables'  Watch,  etc. — Rules  governing  the  Watch.— 
New  Police  Regulations  (1684.) — Dongan's  Charter  (1686.) — First  Uniformed 
Policeman. — Appointment  of  a  Civil  Watch. — New  City  Hall,  Wall  Street. — 
Modes  of  Punishment  Inflicted  on  Criminals. — Montgomerie  Charter  (1730.) — 
First  main  Watch-house. — Citizens  ordered  to  Watch  or  find  Substitutes. — 
First  Poor-house  erected  (1734.) — "Insurrection  and  the  Plot  of  Slaves." — 
Quakers  exempt  from  serving  on  the  Watch. — Petitioning  against  a  Military 
Watch. — The  old  Jail. — Bridewell. — Occupation  of  the  city  by  the  British. — 
Evacuation. 

CH.APTKR  III. — 1783-1830. —  Thk  City  outcrowinc.  thk  Systf.m  ok 

Watching. 

The  City  divided  into  Seven  Wards. — New  York  described  as  "A  Strange  Mo- 
saic of  Different  Nations." — The  Force  and  the  Pay  of  the  Men  Increased. — 
Progress  of  the  Police  System  very  marked. — Establishing  a  Police  Ofiice  in  the 
City  Hall. — Places  of  Confinement:  State  Prison,  Penitentian,-,  Bridewell  and 
Jail. — The  Watch  doubled  on  account  of  the  increase  of  Crime. — Example  of 


X 


CONTENTS. 


"A  Good  Arrest." — An  Act  establishing  Courts  of  Justices  of  the  Peace  and 
Assistant  Justices. — A  Law  for  the  better  regulating  of  the  City  Watch. — Peti- 
tion for  an  Increase  of  Pay. — A  perfect  Police  of  extreme  importance. — Watch 
men  declared  not  eligible  to  act  as  Firemen. — The  Humane  Society. — Result 
of  the  Watch  Committee's  Investigation. 

CHAPTER  IV. — 1831-1844. — Progress  and   Rkpkal  ok  thk  01. d  Watch 

System. 

Watchmen  Dissatisfied  with  their  Pay. — The  Duty  of  Captains  at  the  Breaking 
out  of  a  Fire. — Inquiring  into  the  Expediency  of  Re-organizing  the  Police 
Department. — Increasing  the  Number  of  Police  Justices. — "The  Year  of 
Riots." — Erection  of  New  Watch-houses. — The  Five  Points. — Necessity  of  an 
Increase  in  the  Number  of  the  Watch. — First  Attempt  at  Forming  a  Detective 
Squad. — The  Flour  Riots. — Re-organization  of  the  Watch. — Powers  of  the 
Mayor  over  the  Watch  Revoked  and  Transferred  to  the  Common  Council. — 
The  Mayor  Re-invested  with  Supreme  Police  Authority. — Mayor  Morris'  plan 
of  Forming  the  Marshals  into  a  Day  Police. — Report  of  the  Special  Committee 
in  Relation  to  the  Re-organization  of  the  Watch. — Battery  Park  in  Former 
times. — High  Constable  Hays. — His  Remarkable  Career. — How  he  Suppressed 
Crime  and  Scourged  Criminals. 

CHAPTER  V. — 1844-1853.- — Organization  of  a  Municipal  Police. 

A  Turning  Point  in  the  System  of  Policing  the  City. — The  Old  Watch  Depart- 
ment Abolished. — Establishment  of  a  Day  and  Night  Police. — Chief  Matsell. — 
A  man  who  Played  an  Important  part  in  Police  Affairs. — Harper's  Police. — 
First  effort  to  Introduce  a  Uniform. — The  new  System  not  Satisfactory. — 
Changes  in  the  Law. — Astor  Place  Riot. — Battery  Park. — Growing  Boldness 
of  Criminals. — Citizens  Alarmed. — The  whole  Force  Directed  to  Patrol  Day 
and  Night. — Detailment  of  Policemen  a  Growing  Evil. — Measures  taken  to 
Sui)press  it. — Table  of  .Arrests. 

C'H.M'  TKR  \'L — i<^53-i'^57- — Appointmen  t  ok  a  Board  ok  Polic  e 

Commissioners. 

Ex-Superintendent  Walling. — His  Long  and  Honorable  Connection  with  the  De- 
partment.— Charter  of  1853. — Rc-organizing  the  Police  Force. — Tenure  of 
Office  to  Remain  During  Good  Behavior. — The  Recorder,  City  Judge,  and 
Mayor  Appointed  as  a  Commission. — A  Reserve  Corps  Established. — An  Im- 
provement in  the  Efficiency  of  the  Force. — Introduction  of  a  Police  Uniform. — 
Hostility  thereto.— The  "Star"  Police. — Efforts  made  to  Induce  the  Men  to 
wear  the  Uniform. — Judgment  Speedily  Rendered  in  Trial  Cases. — Beneficial 
effects. — Appointment  of  a  Drill  Sergeant. — Salaries  Increased. — Tables  of 
Arrests. — Sanitary  Matters. 


CONl'EN'JS. 


xi 


CHAl'  I'l-lR   ¥11.-1857-1863.  TllK    M  1:  I  KOI'Ol.I  1  AN    Toi  K  K    DlSl  klCT. 

The  Law  Designating  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  and  City  Judge,  Police  Commission- 
ers, Repealed. — Appointment  of  l-'ive  Commissioners. — The  Counties  of  New- 
York,  Kings,  Westchester  and  Richmond  made  to  Comprise  the  New  District. 
— Oppositioi^  to  tlie  Change. — A  Year  of  Riots  and  Financial  Failures. — The 
Metropolitan  I'olice  District  Act  Declared  to  be  Constitutional. — Conflic  t 
Between  Mayor  Wood  and  the  Newly-Appointed  Commissioners. — The  Muni- 
cipal Police  and  the  Metropolitan  Police  Arrayed  in  Open  Battle. — Inter- 
vention of  the  Military. — The  Act  Amended  by  making  the  District  to  consist 
of  the  Counties  of  New  York,  Kings,  Westchester  and  Richmond,  and  the 
Towns  of  Newtown,  Flushing  and  Jamaica. — The  Number  of  Commissioners 
Reduced  to  Three. 

CHAPTER  Vm.— July,  1863. — Sketch  of  thk.  Draft  Riots. 

The  City  in  the  Hands  of  a  Frenzied  Mob. — An  Emergency  in  which  the  Police 
covered  themselves  with  Glory. — Popular  Discontent  growing  out  of  a  latent 
sympathy  with  the  Southern  Cause. — The  Method  adopted  for  the  Enforce- 
ment of  the  Draft  not  the  most  judicious  one. — Su])erintendent  Kennedy's 
arrangements  in  anticipation  of  trouble. — Growing  Desperation  of  the  Mob. — 
Fairing  of  the  Buildings  in  which  the  Provost  Marshal  had  his  Office. — Super- 
intendent Kennedy  Attacked  and  Brutally  Beaten. — His  Miraculous  F^scape 
from  Death. — Commissioner  Acton  assumes  Command  of  the  Force. — His 
Energy  and  Promptitude  more  than  a  Match  for  the  Mob,  who  Fight  Furi- 
ously.— The  Rioters  beat  back  the  Police,  l)ut  are  in  turn  overcome  and 
routed. — Clubs  versus  Stones,  Bricks  and  Bullets. — "  By  the  Right  Flank, 
Company  Front,  Double  Quick,  Charge!" — Mob  Desperation  and  Police 
Heroism. — "  Up  Guards,  and  at  'em." — Action  of  the  Military.— End  of  the 
First  Day's  Fighting. 

CHAPTER  IX. — Ji  i.Y,  1863. — Suppression  OF  the  Draft  Riots. 

The  City  Saved  from  Pillage  and  Arson. — A  Defiant  and  Unterrified  Mob. — • 
Negroes  Hanged  from  Lamp-posts  and  their  Bodies  Burned. — Station  Houses 
and  Private  Dwellings  Fired  and  Sacked. — Stones,  Bricks,  and  other  Missiles 
Showered  on  the  Heads  of  Policemen  from  the  Housetops. — Police  Retaliation. 
— Arrival  of  the  Military. — Col.  O'Brien's  Frightful  Death. — The  Battle  on  • 
Second  Avenue  and  I'wenty-first  Street. — The  Mob  Taught  some  Severe  Les- 
sons.— Erecting  Barricades. — Fired  upon  by  the  Troops. — The  Police  j)ly  llieir 
Clubs  on  the  Heads  of  Rioters  with  Unbounded  Liberality. — Children 
from  the  Colored  Orphan  Asylum  Protected  bv  the  Police. — Hard  Hand-to 
Hand  Fighting. — Backbone  of  the  Riot  Broken. — A  Reign  of  Mob  Law 
Averted. — Valuable  Services  Performed  by  the  Detective  Force  and  Tele- 
graph Bureau. — Suppression  of  the  Riot. — The  Board  of  Police   Issue  a 


xii 


CONTENTS. 


Congratulatory  Address  to  tiie  Force. — -Governor  Seymour  bears  Willing  and 
Appreciative  Testimony  to  the  Gallant  Services  Performed  by  the  Police, 
— Arraignment  and  Conviction  of  Rioters. 

CHAPTER  X.  — 1864-1866. — Thk  Metropolitan  Police  District. 

Organizers  of  Police  Victory. — Acton,  Bergen,  Hawley,  Carpenter,  Leonard,  etc.. 
— The  Law  of  1864. — Establishment  of  the  House  of  Detention. — Boundaries 
of  the  Metropolitan  Police  District. — Division  Commands. — Uniform  of  the 
Metropolitan  Police. — Appropriations  for  the  Building  and  Repairing  of  Sta- 
tion Houses. — A  Marked  Tendency  to  Crimes  of  Violence  towards  the  Person. 
— List  of  Policemen  who  were  Killed  or  Wounded  at  the  hands  of  Desperate 
Ruffians. — President  Acton  favors  the  Passage  of  a  Law  rendering  it  a  Crime 
to  carry  Concealed  Weapons. — Lost  Time. — Tables  of  Arrests. — An  Act  to 
Regulate  and  Increase  Police  Salaries. — The  Jurisdiction  of  the  Board  ex- 
tended over  the  Rural  Districts  of  Yonkers,  West  Farms  and  Richmond 
County. — An  Act  to  Regulate  the  Sale  of  Intoxicating  Liquors. — Increased 
Duties  of  the  Police  Board. 

CHAPTER  XI. — 1866-1870. — An  era  of  Organization  and 
Development. 

New  Station  Houses  Erected  and  old  ores  Renovated. — Improvement  in  the 
Discipline  and  Efficiency  of  the  Force. — Establishment  of  a  Central  Police 
Office  in  New  York. — Death  of  John  G.  Bergen. — Appointment  of  a. Metro- 
politan Fire  Marshal  and  Assistant. — House  of  Detention  for  Witnesses. — 
Table  of  Arrests  for  a  Series  of  Years. — Time  Lost  by  Sickness. — Re-organi- 
zation of  the  Board  of  Metropolitan  Police. — Resignation  of  Commissioner 
Acton. — Average  Length  of  Posts. — Amounts  Paid  for  Sick  Time. — Value  of 
Lost  or  Stolen  Property  Recovered. — The  Sanitary  Company. — Lost  Children. 
— Buildings  found  Open  and  Secured. — Tables  of  Arrests.- -Salaries. — Loca- 
tion of  Station  Houses. — An  Era  of  Organization  and  Development. — "  The. 
Tweed  Charter." — Death  of  Superintendent  Jourdan. 

CHAPTER  XII. — 1871-1876. — Clubs  more  Trustworthy  than  Leaden 

Balls. 

Orange  Riots. — Police  and  Military  called  out. — The  Streets  of  New  York  again 
the  Scene  of  Riot  and  Bloodshed. — The  Militia,  unauthorized,  Fire  upon  the 
Mob. — Eleven  Killed  and  Thirty  Wounded. — Cleaning  of  the  Streets  charged 
to  the  Board  of  Police. — Completion  of  the  Building  of  the  House  of  Deten- 
tion.— Tables  of  Arrests. — Time  Lost  to  the  Department  by  Reason  of  Sick- 
ness.— Property  Clerk's  Returns. — Presentation  of  the  Flag  of  Honor. — An 
Act  to  Re-organize  the  Local  Government  of  New  York. — The  Board  of 
Police  to  consist  of  Five  Members. — A  Revised  Manual  Issued  to  the  Force. 
— Duties  of  the  several  Heads  of  the  Department  and  of  the  Force  Generally. 


CONTENTS.  xiii 

— Regulation  Uniforms. — Qualifications  for  Ajjpointment  as  a  Patrolman. — 
Measures  of  Economy  Introduced. — Board  of  Surgeons. — Police  Salaries. — 
The  Board  made  to  Consist  of  Four  Members. — Changes  in  the  Board. 

CHAPTKR  XUI.— 1875-1880. — "  Nkw  Vokk.  Says,  Stoi'!  " 

New  York  Fast  Becoming  a  Law-abiding  City. — Proceedings  and  Report  of  the 
Select  Legislative  Committee  on  the  Causes  and  Increase  of  Crime. — Govern- 
ment of  the  Police  Force. — Demoralization  and  Inefficiency. — All  the  Blame 
for  these  Evils  not  Attributable  to  the  Police. — Convictions  Hard  to  Gain. — 
Legal  Loop-holes  of  Retreat  for  Criminals. — Lottery  and  Policy. — -The  De- 
tective Police  not  Properly  Remunerated  for  their  Services. — Salary  and 
Duties  of  Patrolmen,  etc. — The  Board  of  Police  Commissioners. — Evil  Effects 
of  Political  Intermeddling  with  the  Force. — Too  few  Policemen. — The  Great 
Railroad  Strikes. — Scenes  of  Riot  and  Bloodshed. — The  Tompkins  Square 
Meeting. — "  New  York  Says,  Stop." — New  Rules  for  the  Guidance  of  the 
Force. 

CHAP  TER  XIV. — 1880-1885. — Provisions  ok  i  hk.  Consolidation  Act. 

Central  Office  Bureau  of  Detectives. — Government  and  Discipline  of  the  Police 
Department. — Powers  Invested  in  the  Board  of  Police. — Bureau  of  Elections. 
— Board  of  Health. — Police  Surgeons. — Special  Patrolmen. — Police  Life  In- 
surance Fund. — Powers  of  the  Police  Force. — Pawnbrokers. — The  Sanitary 
Company. — Duties  of  Captains  and  Sergeants  ;  of  Physicians. — The  Telegraph 
System. — An  Act  .Vmendatory  of  the  Consolidation  Act. — Roosevelt  Com- 
mittee.— Lottery  and  Policy. 

CHAPTER  XV. — First  iNSPEtnioN  Disi  uicr. 

Superintendent  William  Murray. — A  Brilliant  Record. — What  a  Policeman  may 
become  by  Honesty,  Perseverance  and  Ability. — A  Model  Police  Official. — 
Methodical,  Keen,  and  Devoted  to  his  Profession. — The  First  Precinct;  Cap- 
tain Caffry. — "The  Iron  Man." — The  most  Important  Police  District  in  the 
World.  —  Fourth  Precinct;  Captain  Webb.  —  Sixth  Precinct;  Captain 
McCuUagh. — Seventh  Precinct  ;  Captain  Hedden. — Tenth  Precinct;  Captain 
Allaire. — Eleventh  Precinct;  Captain  Meakim. — Thirteenth  Precinct;  Cap- 
tain Petty. — Fourteenth  Precinct  ;  Cajitain  Murphy. — Seventeenth  Precinct; 
Captain  McCullagh. — Eighteenth  Precinct  ;  Captain  Clinchy. — Twenty-first 
Precinct;  Captain  Ryan. — Twenty-si.xth  Precinct;  Sergeant  Stewart. 

CHAPTER  XVI.— Second  Inspection  District. 

The  Late  Inspector  Thorne. — A  Veteran  Officer,  whose  Experience  was  Coeval 
with  the  Existence  of  the  Police  Department. — Intelligence,  Energy  and 
Zeal. — A  Notable  Record. — Fifth  Precinct;  Captain  Eakins. — Eighth  Precinct; 


xiv 


CONTENTS. 


Captain  McDonnell. — Ninth  Precinct;  Captain  Copeland. — Fifteenth  Pre- 
cinct; Captain  Brogan. — Sixteenth  Precinct;  Captain  McEhvain. — Twentieth 
Precinct;  Captain  Washburn. — Twenty-fifth  Precinct;  Captain  Garland. — 
Twenty-seventh  Precinct;  Captain  Berghold. — Twenty-ninth  Precinct;  Cap- 
tain Williams. 

CHAPTER  XVII. —  I'HiKi)  AND  FouRrH  I.nsi'ection  Districts. 

Inspectoy  Dilks. — Enjoying  a  rare  Privilege,  namely,  reading  his  own  Obituary. 
— An  Officer  who  has  Distinguished  Plimself  by  his  Bravery  and  Vigilance. — 
A  Veteran  with  a  highly  honorable  Record. — Second  Precinct;  Captain  Con- 
lin. — Twelfth  Precinct;  Captain  Hooker. — Nineteenth  Precinct;  Captain 
Mount. — Nineteenth  Sub-precinct;  Captain  Schultz. — Twenty-second  Pre- 
cinct; Captain  Killilea. — Twenty-third  Precinct;  Captain  Sanders — Twenty- 
eii^hlh  Precinct;  Captain  Gunner. — Thirtieth  Precinct;  Captain  Siebert.^ — 
Thirty-first  Precinct;  Captain  Leary. — Thirty-second  Precinct;  Captain  Cort- 
right. — Thirty-third  Precinct;  Captain  Bennett. — Thirty-fourth  Precinct; 
Captain  Robbins. — Thirty-fifth  Precinct;  Captain  Yule. 

CHAPTER  XVIU.— Detectivk  Dkp.-vrtment. 

Its  Origin,  Progress  and  Development. — Detectives  called  "  Shadows"  in  Chief 
Matsell's  Time. — Inspector  Thomas  Byrnes. — A  Record  that  Reads  like  a 
Romance. — His  Re-organization  of  the  Detective  Force. — The  Wall  Street 
Bureau. — Detective  Sergeants. — Inspector  Byrnes'  Methods. — How  Detectives 
Detect  Criminals. — Inspector  Byrnes  and  "The  Crook." — Their  Chance  Meet- 
ing in  the  Street. — How  Inspector  Byrnes  Reasons  out  a  Case. — Decrease  of 
Crime  Among  Professional  Criminals. — Criminals  and  Their  Methods. — New 
York  a  Difficult  City  to  Protect  against  Thieves. — Forgers,  Pickpockets,  Sneak 
Thieves,  Bank  Thieve.s,  Bunco  Steerers,  Etc. 

CHAPTER  XIX.— Inspector  Bvrnes'  Command. 

The  Men  who  Protect  the  City  from  the  Depredations  of  Knaves  of  High  and 
Low  Degree. — Forty  Quick-witted,  Wide-awake  Detectives. — Their  History 
and  Record  of  Arrests. — How  they  Make  the  City  a  Safe  Abiding-place  for 
Honest  People. — Interesting  Tales  of  Some  Celebrated  Cases. — The  Romance 
and  Reality  of  Crime. — Truth  Stranger  than  Fiction. — A  Devoted  Band  of 
Police  Officers. — Their  Struggles  and  Triumphs. — The  Men  who  Make  it  Pos- 
sible for  Inspector  Byrnes  to  Retain  his  Well-earned  Laurels. 

CHAPl'ER  XX.— Police  Central  Okfice. 

Th^  Centre  of  a  System  whish  affords  Police  Protection  to  the  City. —  Head- 
(juarters    of   the    Police  Department. — Telegraph   Office;  Superintendent 


^  CONTENTS.  XV 

Crowley. — Third  Precinct;  Captain  Castlin. — The  Harl)or  Police. — Superinten- 
dent's  Chief  Clerk  Hopcroft. --Bureau  of  hKpiiry  for  Missing  People. — 
Commissioner  French. — Commissioner  Tit/.  John  Porter. — Commissioner 
Matthews. — Lost  Children. — Chief  Clerk  Ki])p/ — Property  Clerk's  Office. — 
The  Sanitary  Company. — Tenement  House  Sijuad. 

CHAP'i'KR  XXL— -DuTiKs  ok  a  Police-Man. 

A  Terror  to  the  Wicked  and  Depraved,  a  Protector  to  the  Uj)right  and  Virtuous. — 
His  Responsibilities  and  Labors. — Necessary  Qualifications:  Youth,  Strength, 
Intelligence,  and  a  Stainless  Reputation. — The  School  of  Instruction. — Doing 
Patrol  Duty. — The  Laws  he  has  to  Study  and  Enforce. — Kx-Commissioner 
Erhardt's  Exposition  of  a  Policeman's  Life. — A  Keen,  Wiry,  Clean-cut  Set. — 
Always  on  Post. — An  P-ye  that  Knows  no  Sleep. — Dangers  to  which  Police- 
men are  Exposed. — Sprains,  Contusions,  Incised  Wounds,  Fractured  Limbs, 
Rheumatism,  Pneumonia,  etc. — Sergeant  John  Delaney,  a  Type  of  a  Brave 
Policeman. 

CHAPTER  XXII. — Skktch  ok  thi,  Policf.  Pknsion  Fund. 

Created  by  Act  of  1857. — 'The  Fund  made  up  of  the  Sales  of  Unclaimed  Prop- 
erty.— Police  Life  and  Health  Insurance  Fund. — Beneficiaries  of  the  Act. — 
Metropolitan  Reward  Fund. — Police  Life  Insurance  Fund. — The  Police  Com- 
missioners a  Board  of  Trustees. — The  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Commission- 
ers 'Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. — Receipts  and  Disbursements. — The 
late  Commissioner  Nichols. — Commissioner  McClave. — Bookkeeper  George 
P.  Gott. — Paying  Pensioners. — Financial  Statement  of  the  Police  Pension 
Fund. 

CHAPTER  XXHL— The  Way  of  the  'Tra.ns(;kkssor. 

Our  Police  Courts. — Arraignment  of  Prisoners  and  how  their  Cases  are  Disposed 
of. — The  Police  Justices:  Efficient  and  Discriminating. — Courts  of  Special 
Sessions,  General  Sessions,  Oyer  and  Terminer,  etc. — District  Attorney  Mar- 
tine  and  his  Deputies. — Fines  Received  from  Police  Courts. — Number  of 
Prisoners  Arrested,  Arraigned  and  Convicted. — The  Ambulance  System. — 
Evils  of  Intemperance. — A  New  Criminal  Agency. — The  Opium  Habit. — 
"  Hitting  the  Pipe." — Uses  and  Abuses  of  Opium. — An  Opium  Smoker's  Out- 
fit.— Vice  Fostered  by  the  Herding  'Together  in  Crowded  Tenements. — Some 
Gaudy  Resorts. — Criminals  and  Their  Haunts. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Stadt  Iliiys   4 

Watchman's  Rattle  ^   S 

Gov.  Stuyvesant's  Mansion   lo 

Mustering  the  Rattle  Walch   13 

A  Schepen  Deciding  a  Law  Suit   15 

Cornelius  Steenwyck   17 

New  Amster(h\m  in  1664   iS 

The  Pillory   20 

First  Seal  of  New  ^'ork  City   27 

First  Uniformed  Policeman   28 

City  Hall,  Wall  Street   30 

Fir>t  Execution  in  New  York   32 

Whipping  Post   33 

Presentment  by  (Irand  Jury   35 

First  Watch  House   36 

First  Poor  House   39 

Bellmen  (K-ing  their  Rounds   41 

Jail,  City  Hall  I'aik    42 

Old  Briilewell   44 

City  I  Iosi)ital   45 

Lock  and  Key  of  Old  Bridewell   47 

Early  Seal  of  New  York  City   48 

F  irst  House  of  Correction   52 

Old  State  Prison   55 

City  Hal)  Park  in  1S08   60 

City  Hall   62 

Alms  House,  Belleview   66 

First  House  of  Refuge   70 

House  of  Refuge  (w  ith  extensions)   71 

Old  Leatherliead   75 

Rotunda,  City  Hall  Park   79 

Old  Leatherliead  and  Sentry  Box   82 

Watchman's  Hat   83 

Old  Sugar  House  and    Middle  Dutch 

Church   86 

Old  Brewery   87 

The  Tombs   <)o 

Police  Shield    91 

Jacob  Hays'  Conjmission  as  Captain  .  .  ,  93 

Jacob  Hays'  Commission(Ii  ighConstable)  97 

Policeman's  Hat   99 

Chief  Matsell's  Shield   loi 

Mayor  Hari)er   104 

Police  Captain's  Shield   106 

Eldndge  Street  Jail    loS 

Belleview  Hospital,  1850   110 

W'ashington's  Rtsulence   tl2 

Astor  Place  Riot   115 


City  Arms   119 

Sujierintendeiit  \\  alliiig's  Shiekl   122 

i     Captain  Walling's  Star  Shield   125 

Police  Captains,  1856                132,  134,  133 

City  Arms   136 

Mayor  Wood   141 

I     Metropolitan  Police  Headquarters   145 


Patrolman's  Shield   150 

Police  Headquarters  (300  Mulberry  St.)  154 

Old  Jefferson  Market   157 

The  Stocks   159 

Process  of  Drafting   162 

1     Provost  Marshal's  Office   165 

j     Rioters  Marching  Down  Second  Avenue  169 

j     Colored  Orphan  Asylum   172 

I     Present  Colored  Orphan  Asylum   173 

I     Negro  Hanged  by  Mob   175 

Military  Encampment   177 

Military  Firing  on  Rioters   178 

I      Handcuffs   181 

I      (leneral  (Janby's  Headquarters   183 

I     Brutal  Murder  of  Col.  O'Brien   185 

I     Cavalry  Patroling  Streets   ....  1S7 

Destruction  of  Weehawken  P'erry   189 

Escaping  Rioters  Surprised  by  Police.  .  .  igi 

I      Burning  of  Grain  Elevator   194 

I     Nursing  Wounded  Policemen   ig6 

I     -Seth  C.  Hawley   206 

Sixty-ninth  Regiment  ,\rmoiy   211 

First  New  York  Colored  Regiment  l.eav. 

ing  for  the  Seat  of  War   217 

Drilling  a  Squad  of  Policemen   220 

Arsenal,  Elm  Street   222 

Coat  of  Arms   224 

I     Metropolitan  Police  Shield   227 

I     Inspector  Speight   230 

Dr.  Kennedy   232 

Juvenile  Asylum   238 

I     Ludlow  Street  Jail   241 

'      House  of  Refuge   242 

City  Seal   243 

Ex-Superintendent  Kelso   247 

Inspector  Jameson   250 

Autographs   254 

Flag  of  Honor   255 

New  Court  House   260 

Matthew  T.  Brennaii   262 

1      Under  Arrest   2(>4 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


::viii 


Inspector  McDermott   270 

Essex  Market   273 

Orphan  As)'lum   278 

St.  Luke's  Hospital   285 

The  Chain  Gang   286 

Custom  House,  Wall  Street   290 

Seventh  Regiment  Armory   295 

Post-Office   299 

Broadway,  South  from  Post-Office   303 

New  P'irst  Precinct  Station  House  314 

Floor  Plan   315 

Captain  Caffrey   316 

Captain  Webb   317 

Captain  McCullagh  (No.  2)   319 

Sixth  Precinct  Station  House   320 

Captain  Hedden   321 

Captain  Allaire   323 

Eleventh  Precinct  Station  House   325 

Captain  Cherry  (deceased)   326 

Captain  Petty   328 

Thirteenth  Precinct  Station  House.   ...  329 

Fourteenth  Precinct  Station  House   331 

Floor  Plan  Station  J  louse   331 

Captain  Murphy   332 

Captain  McCullagh  (No.  1)   334 

Captain  Clinchy   336 

Twenty-first  Precinct  Station  House. . .  .  337 

Captain  Ryan   338 

Captain  Steers   340 

Street  Arab    341 

Captain  Eakins   347 

Captain  McDonnell   349 

Eighth  Precinct  Station  House   350 

Captain  Copeland   352 

Captain  Brogan   354 

Fifteenth  Precinct  Station  House   355 

Captain  McElwain   35S 

Twentieth  Precinct  Station  House   359 

Captain  Washburn   360 

Captain  Garland   362 

Captain  Berghold   363 

Captain  Williams   365 

Twenty-ninth  Precinct  Station  House. . .  366 

Captain  Conlin   373 

Twelfth  Precinct  Station  House   374 

Captain  Hooker   375 

Nineteenth  Precinct  Station  House   376 

Captain  Mount   377 

Captain  Schultz   378 

Captain  Killilea   379 

Captain  Sanders   38 1 

Twenty-eighth  Precinct  Station  House.  .  382 
Captain  Gunner   3S3 


Captain  Siebert   385 

Captain  Leary   386 

Captain  Cortright   388 

Thirty-second  Precinct  Station  House. .  389 

Floor  Plan   390 

Captain  Bennett   391 

Thirty-third  Precinct  Station  House  . .  .  392 

Thirty-fourth  Precinct  Station  Ifouse. .  .  393 

Captain  Robbins   394 

Captain  Yule   395 

Captain  Smith   396 

Captain  Kealy   397 

Captain  Tynan   398 

Policeman's  Club   399 

Examining  a  "  Crook  "   406 

Rogues'  Gallery  and  some  Curiosities  of 

Crime   40S 

A  Bashful  Burglar   410 

Inspector  Byrnes  in  his  Private  Office. .  .  412 

Inspector  Byrnes  Receiving  Reports.  ...  415 

Nippers   418 

Detective  Sergeants  Reporting   420 

A  Burglar's  Outfit   422 

Captain's  Shield   424 

Sergeant's  Shield   425 

Patrolman's  Shield   426 

Model  Cell   428 

Sergeant  Bird   430 

Convict's  Boat  Going  to  the  Island   433 

Rescuing  a  Woman  from  Drowning.  .  .  .  437 

Police  Central  Office   438 

Police  Telegraph  Office   439 

Superintendent  Crowley   440 

Captain  Gastlin     441 

Arresting  Mutineers   442 

Boarding  a  Mutinous  Vessel   443 

Memorial  to  Henry  Smith   445 

Superintendent  Walling's  Office   446 

Watching  for  River  Thieves   447 

Steamboat  "  Patrol"   448 

George  Hopcroft   449 

Sergeant  Brooks    450 

Office  of  Bureau  of  Inquiry   451 

Architect  Bush   452 

Commissioner  Matthews   453 

Chief  Clerk's  Room   45<j 

Property  Clerk's  Room   457 

Commissioner  Voorhis   458 

Commissioner  Porter   459 

Captain  Kipp   460 

Matron  Webb's  Room  for  Lost  Children  461 

Sergeant  MuUin   462 

Cloth  Department  Room   462 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


XIX 


School  of  Instruction   467 

Station  House  Lodging  Room   46S 

Station  House  Dormitory   469 

Crossing  Broadway   47' 

Familiar  Incidents  in  Life  of  a  New  York 

Policeman   472 

Drilling  a  Squad  of  Tolicemen   474 

Mounted  Policemen  Stopping  Runaway 

Team   47^ 

Part  of  a  Policeman's  Equipment   479 

Policeman's  Certificate  of  Appointment. .  480 

Sergeant  John  Delaney   4S1 

Police  Trial  Room   4S2 

Police  Monument  (Cypress  Hill)   490 

Bookkeeper  Gott's  Office   493 

Commissioner  McClave   495 

George  P.  Gott   500 

Policeman's  Belt   502 

District  Attorney  Martine   505 

l?ri(lge  of  Sighs  (Tombs)   506 

Interior  View  of  Male  Prison   507 

Place  of  Execution   507 


PACK 

Tomhs  Police  Court   508 

Jefferson  Market  Police  Court   509 

Yorkville  Police  Court   510 

Black  Maria   511 

Conveying  Prisoners  from  Court  to  Jail. .  511 

Woman's  Prison  (A  Mutual  Recognition)  512 

Blackwell's  Island  and  East  River   512 

Roosevelt  Hospital   513 

Mount  Sinai  Hospital   514 

New  York  Hospital   515 

Glimpses  of  Chinatown   516 

A  Chinese  Opium  Smoker   517 

Chinese  Gamblers   518 

Scale  for  NVeighing  Opium   520 

Opium  Tray   520 

Sponge,  Bowl,  Opium  Box,  Clam  Shell, 

Pipe  and  Needle   521 

A  Chinese  Teacher   522 

A  Chinese  Merchant   524 

Harbor  Police   525 

Measuring  a  Candidate   526 


FULL  PAGE  ENtlRAVINGS. 


r.vG* 


Frontispiece   i 

Five  Points  in  1829   76 

Jacob  Hays     92 

Supt.  Matsell   102 

Battery  Park  in  ye  olden  time   1 10 

Geo.  \V.  Walling   120 

Jno.  A.  Kennedy   152 

Danl.  Carpenter   160 

Their  Brave  Protector   182 

Thos.  C.  Acton   202 

Jno.  Jourdan   240 

A  Drunkard's  Dream   266 

William  Murray   30S 

Thos.  \V.  Thome   342 

Geo.  W.  Dilks   370 

Thos.  Byrnes   402 

S.  B.  French   454 

On  Post   466 

S.  P.  Nichols   499 


IN  THE  JAWS  OF  DEATH. 

(Drawn  by  Tno.x.as  No;;,  b/  pcimlsiion  cf  Mcssis.  Haiper.) 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS: 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  YORK   POLICE  FROM  THE  EARLIEST  PERIOD 

TO  THE  PRESENT  DAY. 


Charter  Establishing  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  (162 i.) — Director- 
general  Minuet's  Council. — Duties  of  the  Schout-Fiscal. — First  Trace 
OF  a  Penal  or  Police  System  (1632.) — The  Island  Assuming  an  Aspect  of 
Permanent  Settlement  (1639.) — A  Reason  why  Justice  was  Administered 
WITH  Great  Promptitude. — Erection  of  a  Stadt  Huys  (1642.) — Regula- 
tions FOR  THE  Better  Observance  of  the  Sabbath. — Establishment  of  a 
Burgher  Guard  (1643.) — New  Regulations  Contemporaneous  with  the 
Arrival  of  Governor  Stuyvesant. — A  Career  of  Reform. — Ordinance 
Regulating  the  Sale  OF  Liquor. — Appointment  of  a  Rattle-Watch  (1651) 
— The  Citv  Incorpor.vied  (1652.) — The  Police  of  the  City  Chiefly 
Centered  in  a  Schout. — Regulations  of  the  Burgher  Watch. — Dirk.  Van 
ScHii.i.wvNE,  First  High  Constable  (1655.) — Organization  of  a  Paid 
Rattle-Watch  (1658.) — Instructions  for  the  Burcjher  Provost. — Records 
OF  Court  C.\ses. — Capture  of  the  Province  by  the  British. 


VERY  historical  narrative  reLiting  to  the  City  of  New  York  must  of  necessity 


be  a  history  of  progress.  Whether  the  broad  course  of  general  events  be  fol- 
lowed, or  some  particular  phase  of  the  city's  life  be  made  the  theme,  the  result  is 
the  same.  Growth,  development,  progress,  underlie  every  change,  and  gi\'e  a 
splendid  vitality  to  every  event. 

It  is  proposed  in  this  volume  to  give  a  history  of  the  New  York  Police 
Force — a  history  of  that  system  by  which  the  great  public  protects  itself  against 
its  natural  enemies.  This  narrative  will,  indeed,  be  one  of  progress.  Starting 
from  beginnings  as  humble  as  those  of  the  infant  city  itself,  it  will,  by  an  unbroken 
series  of  steps,  arrive  at  a  breadth  and  perfection  of  system  commensurate  with 
the  modern  glories  of  the  American  metropolis.  This  will  be  the  most  remarka- 
ble feature  of  the  story,  that — sjjeaking  broadly — there  is  neither  defeat,  failure, 
nor  stagnation  to  be  chronicled.  When  the  force  stands  still  as  respects  num- 
bers, it  is  becoming  more  perfect  in  organization;  when  develo])ment  ceases  for 
the  moment  in  its  organization,  it  is  gaining  in  jjower  and  efficiency. 

All  the  world  knows  that  in  1609,  the  year  of  Dutch  independence — surel) 
a  good  augury — Henry  Hudson,  an  Englishman  sailing  under  the  colors  of  the 
Netherlands,  started  on  a  famous  cruise  in  search  of  the  Northwest  passage  to 


CHAPTER  I. 


PRIMITIVE  POLICE  REGULATIONS 


1609—1664. 


2 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


the  Pacific.  He  did  not  find  it,  but  instead  discovered  the  noble  river  which 
immortalizes  his  name. 

Hudson  planted  the  flag  under  which  he  navigated  on  the  wooded  shores  of 
the  river  and  the  bay,  proclaiming  tiie  land  a  dependency  of  their  Highnesses  the 
States-General  of  Holland. 

Manhattan  Island,  we  are  told,  was  named  by  the  Indians  Alaii-a-hatta,  to 
denote  not  only  the  landing-place  of  the  discoverer,  but  the  effects  of  the  "mad 
waters  "  which  he  gave  to  the  natives  in  his  first  interview;  the  literal  interpreta- 
tion of  the  name  being  "the  place  where  we  all  got  drunk." 

The  Dutch  very  speedily  began  to  make  use  of  their  new  dominion.  The 
trade  in  furs  was  wonderfully  good,  and  as  early  as  1613  trading  posts  were 
established  on  Staten  and  Manhattan  Islands. 

In  16 14  the  States-Cieneral  granted  a  trading  charter  which  recognized  "  New 
Netherland  "  as  a  Dutch  territory. 

New  Amsterdam  was  the  title  by  which  the  Hollanders  distinguished  their 
little  dorp,  or  village,  the  nucleus  of  which  had  been  formed  by  a  few  huts 
erected  as  early  as  16 13  for  sheltering  their  fur  trade  and  whale  fishery,  on  the 
point  where  it  is  supposed  Hudson  had  landed.  By  that  name  it  was  known  for 
more  than  forty  years  as  the  capital,  during  the  administrations — 1625  to  1664 — 
of  Minuet,  Van  Twiller,  Kieft  and  Stuyvesant,  the  successive  Directors  or 
Governors-General  of  Novum  Belgium,  or  New  Netherlands,  a  province  which 
embraced  portions  of  the  present  States  of  Delaware,  New  Jersey,  New  York  and 
Connecticut. 

The  charter  establishing  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  was  granted  on 
June  3,  162 1,  and  the  supervision  and  government  of  the  company  were 
lodged  in  a  board  or  assembly  of  nineteen  delegates.  The  company  was 
empowered  to  raise  forts,  to  administer  justice  and  preserve  order,  and  with  the 
consent  of  the  States-General,  appoint  a  Governor  or  Director-General,  and  all 
other  ofiicers,  military,  judicial  and  executive,  all  being  bound  to  swear  allegiance 
to  their  High  Mightinesses  and  the  Company.  The  Director-General  and  his 
council  were  then  invested  with  all  powers — judicial,  legislative  and  executive, 
subject  in  certain  cases  to  appeal  to  Holland. 

In  1624  Peter  Minuet,  the  first  Director-General,  arrived  at  New  Netherland. 
His  council  consisted  of  Pieter  Bylvelt,  Jacob  Elbertsen  Wissinck,  Jan  Janssen 
Brouwer,  Symen  Dereksen  Pos,  and  Reynert  Harmenssen.  This  council  had 
supreme  authority,  and  all  its  j)roceedings,  whether  criminal  or  civil,  were  insti- 
tuted and  conducted  by  an  officer  called  a  "  Schout  Fiscal,"  whose  duties  were 
ecpii\alent  to  those  performed  by  a  sheriff  and  an  attorney-general.  He  was 
charged  principally  with  enforcing  and  maintaining  the  placards,  laws,  ordinances, 
resolutions  and  military  regulations  of  their  High  Mightinesses,  the  States- 
General,  and  protecting  the  rights,  domains  and  jurisdiction  of  the  company,  and 
executing  their  orders,  as  well  in  as  out  of  court,  without  favor  or  respect  to 
individuals.  He  superintended  all  prosecutions  and  suits,  but  could  not  under- 
take any  actions  on  behalf  of  the  company,  except  by  order  of  the  council  ;  nor 
arraign,  nor  arrest  any  person  on  a  criminal  charge,  except  on  information 
previously  received,  or  unless  he  caught  him  in  flagrante  dclictu.    In  taking 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  3 

information  he  was  l)ovind  to  note  as  well  those  jjoints  which  made  for  the 
])risoner  as  those  which  supported  the  charge  against  him,  and  after  trial  he  saw 
to  the  faithful  execution  of  the  sentence  ])ronounced  by  the  judges,  who,  in 
indictments  carrying  with  them  loss  of  life  and  property,  were  not  to  he  less  than 
five  in  number.  He,  moreover,  attended  to  the  commissaries  arriving  from  the 
Company's  out-posts  and  to  vessels  arriving  from  or  leaving  for  Holland,  inspected 
their  papers,  and  superintended  the  loading  and  discharging  of  their  cargoes,  so 
that  smuggling  might  be  prevented.  He  transmitted  to  the  directors  in  Holland 
copies  of  all  information  taken  l)y  him,  as  well  as  of  all  sentences  pronounced  by 
the  court,  and  no  person  was  kept  long  in  prison  at  the  expense  of  the  Company 
without  special  cause,  but  all  were  prosecuted  as  expeditiously  as  possible.  This 
office,  perhaps  the  most  responsible  in  the  colony,  was  filled,  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  Director  Minuet,  by  Jan  Lampo,  of  Cantelberg. 

The  nucleus  of  a  permanent  settlement  was  formed  by  the  arrival  of  a  number 
of  emigrants  in  1625.  Director  Minuet  "took  up  his  residence  in  the  midst 
of  a  nation  called  Manhates,  building  a  fort  there,  to  be  called  Amsterdam,  hav- 
ing four  points,  and  faced  outside  with  stone,  as  the  walls  of  sand  fall  down,  and 
are  now  more  compact."  The  population  consisted  of  two  hundred  and  seventy, 
including  men,  women  and  children.  Director  Minuet  rebuilt  the  fort  and  plan- 
ned out  something  in  the  guise  of  a  town — a  very  small  one  indeed — about  it,  in 
1629. 

Wouter  van  Twiller  succeeded  Minuet  in  1632,  and  in  his  day  we  find  the 
first  trace  of  a  jienal  or  police  system.  It  may  readily  be  imagined  that  with  the 
scant  jwpulation  and  the  simple  mode  of  life  that  was,  perforce,  led  by  all,  there 
was  very  little  necessity  indeed  for  any  written  law  or  display  of  constituted 
authority.  Still  we  find  that  a  "  gibbet,  or  whipping  post"  was  set  up  close  to 
the  water's  edge.  The  method  of  punishment  was  curious.  The  transgressors, 
it  appears,  were  fastened  to  a  line  by  their  waistband,  and  being  hoisted  from  the 
ground,  were  left  suspended  in  spread-eagle  fashion,  "  such  length  of  time  as 
their  offences  warranted."  No  doubt  the  correction  was  as  salutary  as  it  must 
have  lieen  unpleasant,  and  tended  to  intimidate  such  elements  of  disorder  as  ex- 
isted at  the  time. 

Notwithstanding  this  landmark  of  penal  legislation,  however,  the  colony, 
taken  as  a  whole,  was  "a  good  land  to  fall  in  with,  and  a  pleasant  land  to  see." 
We  are  informed  that  such  was  the  peaceful  and  orderly  disposition  of  the  inhabi- 
tants at  this  very  early  day — and  for  some  years  after — that  police  regidations  were 
almost  entirely  unknown,  "  not  even  a  sentinel  being  kept  on  duty."  The  good  folk 
of  New  Amsterdam  were  distinguished  for  their  good  nature,  love  of  home,  and 
cordial  hospitality.  So  strict  were  the  early  notions  of  propriety,  that  to  be  out  after 
nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  was  considered  a  certain  sign  of  bad  morals. 

Though  there  were  few  laws,  these  few  were  rigidly  enforced.  The  man- 
ners of  the  colonists  corresponded  with  the  simplicity  of  a  primitive  settlement. 

There  were  also  among  the  Dutch,  individual  characters  whose  former  pur- 
suits and  vagrant  modes  of  life  little  fitted  them  to  patiently  endure  personal 
injuries  or  insult.  Some  had  been  freebooters  among  the  islands  in  the  Ciulf,  and 
been  thrown  by  the  waves  of  fortune  upon  this  scene  of  adventure,  and  some, 


4 


OUR  rOIJCK  PROTECTORS. 


though  brought  hither  by  ordinary  currents  of  trade  and  speculation,  were  adven- 
turous and  sanguine  spirits,  diverted  to  new  pursuits  from  the  military  service. 

Among  other  improvements  brought  about  by  Van  Twiller  was  the  erection  of 
dwellings  "  for  the  corj)oral,  the  smith,  the  cooper,  and  the  midwife,"  persons  who 
must  ha\  e  held  jwsitions  of  no  small  importance  in  these  early  days. 

William  Kieft  became  Director  or  (Governor  of  the  New  Netherlands  in  1638, 
and  in  the  following  year  considerable  bodies  of  settlers  arrived  from  Holland 
under  Captain  de  Vries,  and  Jochem  Pietersen  Kuyter  and  Cornelius  Melyn. 
The  i.iland,  or  at  least  its  southern  part,  l)egan  to  lose  its  savage  aspect  fast. 
Some  thirty  farms  were  under  cultivation,  and  the  country  about  the  walls  of  the 
fort  resembled  a  blooming  garden.    Previous!)'  the  f)oj)ulation  had  been  mainly 


Stadt  Huys. 


comi)osed  of  traders  in  the  employ  of  the  West  India  Company,  who,  having  no 
intention  of  making  tlie  i)lace  a  permanent  home,  were  content  to  live  in  any  sort 
of  huts.  Now,  howe\er,  many  better  houses  were  built,  and  an  aspect  of  jjerma- 
nent  settlement  began  to  mark  the  jjlace. 

.-Xpropos  of  tlie  ])rinHtive  form  in  wliich  justice  was  administered  before 
Director  Kieft's  arrival,  a  good  story  is  told,  wliich,  if  it  be  not  literally  true,  is  at 
least  characteristic.  One  of  the  reasons,  it  is  said,  why  justice  was  administered 
with  great  jiroinptness  and  impartiality  was  that  there  were  no  lawyers,  and  every 
man  either  pleaded  his  own  case,  or  let  judgment  go  by  default.  There  appeared 
at  last  in  the  colony,  however,  a  certain  pettifogger  or  'T)oddipol  Jolterhead,"  as 
the  chronicle  hath  it,  Bobus  Van  Clapperclip  by  name.  In  pleading  a  cause 
respecting  the  right  of  geese  to  swim  in  the  pond  at  the  head  of  New  Street — 
])efore  Alderman  or  Schejjen  ^■an  Schlei)evalkher — he  made  the  only  long  speech 


Jl 


OCR  roi.iL  -/■:  PRO  /  i-x  •  i  ors. 


5 


on  record  ;'.t  that  period.  His  elo(iiiencc  was  so  great  that  he  caused  his  clients 
to  l)e  incontinently  non-suited,  for  the  Alderman,  losing  all  y)atience  with  the 
pleader,  gave  himself  u])  to  the  embraces  of  tiie  "  lialmy  god,"  and  slept  out  the 
remainder  of  the  term. 

(iovernor  Kieft  was  possessed  of  a  l)usy,  hustling  temperament,  and  his  ener- 
gies found  plenty  of  room  in  New  Amsterdam.  His  administration,  in  the  main, 
was  calculated  to  benefit  the  place  in  no  small  degree,  doing  much  towards  the 
establishment  of  a  firm  basis  of  law,  and  much  in  the  way  of  material  improve- 
ment. Most  notable  among  the  latter  was  tlie  erecticjn  of  a  Stadt  Huys — State 
House,  or  City  Hall — on  the  corner  of  Pearl  Street  and  Counties  Alley,  fronting  on 
Coenties  Slip.  'I'his  building  was  put  uj)  in  1642,  and,  besides  containing  rooms 
where  the  Governor  and  his  Council  could  meet,  had  accommodations  for  the  muni- 
cipal authorities,  a  .school-room,  a  watch-room,  and  dungeons  in  the  cellar.  The 
building  saw  many  notable  scenes  in  its  day — the  march  of  j)rogress  has  long  since 
swept  it  from  the  face  of  the  island — among  them  the  transfer  of  sovereignty  from 
the  Dutch  to  the  British  Government  in  1664  and  1674,  and  the  holding  of  the 
first  Court  of  .Admiralty  in  the  province  by  Governor  Nichols  in  1665. 

The  Stadt  Huys  was  taken  down  in  tiie  \  ear  i  700.  It  was  built  originaiis  at  tiu- 
costof  the  government  as  a  city  tavern,  but  was  jiresented  to  the  city  in  1655. 
The  chamber  occupied  for  the  sitting  of  the  Magistrates  was  on  the  soutlf-east  corner 
of  the  second  story,  the  prison  chamber  being  in  tlie  rear — on  the  other  side  of 
the  house — facing  a  yard  which  extended  to  "  Hough  Straat."  Upon  the  roof  was 
a  cupola  in  which  was  hung  a  bell  in  the  year  1656,  which  was  rung  for  the 
assemblage  of  the  Magistrates,  and  also  on  occasions  of  tlie  publication  of 
proclamations,  which  was  done  in  front  of  the  hall.  The  Bell-ringer  for  a 
number  of  years  was  Jan  Gillisen,  (familiarly  called  "  Koeck.")  This  ancient 
edifice,  which  was  substantially  built  of  stone,  stood  until  the  year  1699, — nearly 
sixty  years — when  it  gave  jilaci-  to  the  City  Hull,  in  Wall  Street,  at  the  head  of 
Broad  Street. 

The  gallows,  by  a  barbarous  anomaly,  has  been  regarded  as  an  evidence  of 
civilization.  In  that  case.  New  York  in  colonial  times  must  have  reached  a 
high  state  of  refinement.  It  did  not  take  much  to  send  a  poor  wretch  to  the 
gallows,  or  to  burn  him  at  the  stake,  or  to  break  him  by  torture.  Among  the 
earliest  mstitutions  of  the  budding  province  were  jails,  prisons,  a  bridewell,  and 
houses  of  correction.  Previous  to  the  building  of  the  Stadt  Huys,  there  was  a 
prison,  or  jjlace  of  confinement  for  prisoners,  within  the  old  fort  ;  but  on  the 
building  of  the  City  Hall  it  ceased  to  be  used  for  that  purpose. 

The  Governor  issued  regulations  for  tiie  l)etter  observance  of  the  Sabbath:  in- 
terdicting the  taj)])ing  of  beer  during  the  iiours  of  divine  service  or  after  ten 
o'clock  at  night  ;  brawling  and  all  kinds  of  offences  were  to  be  punished  by  the 
severest  penalties.  In  carrying  out  his  reform  measures,  (iovernor  Keift  seems  to 
have  found  the  town  bell  an  efficient  ally.  It  was  rung  every  evening  at  nine 
o'clock  to  warn  the  inhabitants  that  it  was  time  to  be  within  doors,  if  not  in  bed  ; 
and  it  was  rung  again  at  stated  hours  in  the  morning  and  afternoon,  to  mark  the 
proper  hours  for  going  to  labor.  It  was  al.so  rung  as  a  preliminary  to  the  read- 
ing of  the  Governor's  proclamations.    That  these  last  were  not  mere  empty  threats 


6  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

may  be  sufficiently  judged  from  the  following  sentence,  imposed  during  one  of  the 
later  years  of  Kieft's  incumbenc\-  : 

"  For  drawing  his  knife  upon  a  person,  Guysbert  Reygerslard  is  sentenced  to 
throw  himself  three  times  from  the  sailyard  of  the  yacht  Hope,  and  to  receive 
from  each  sailor  three  lashes  at  the  ringing  of  the  bell." 

A  Burgher  Guard  having  been  established  (the  first  of  which  we  find  any 
record),  an  ordinance  of  the  Director  and  Council  of  New  Netherland  in  relation 
thereto  was  passed  November  19,  1643,  as  follows  : 

"  I.  If  any  one,  on  the  Burgher  Guard,  take  the  name  of  God  in  vain,  he 
shall  forfeit  for  the  first  offence  ten  stivers  ;  for  the  second,  twenty  stivers;  and 
for  the  third  time,  twenty  stivers. 

"2.  Whosoever  on  the  Burgher  Guard  speaks  ill  of  a  comrade  shall  forfeit 
thirty  stivers. 

"  3.  Whosoever  comes  fuddled  or  intoxicated  on  guard,  shall,  for  each  of- 
fence, pay  twenty  stivers  ;  whosoever  is  absent  from  his  watch  without  lawful  rea- 
son, shall  forfeit  fifty  stivers. 

"  4.  After  the  watch  is  duly  performed  and  daylight  is  come,  and  the 
reveille  beaten,  whosoever  discharges  his  gun  or  musket  without  orders  of  his 
Corporal  shall  pay  one  guilder." 

Kieft's  administration  was  marked  by  Indian  wars,  provoked  in  great  jjart 
by  the  Dfrector-General's  imprudence.  These  wars  almost  depopulated  the 
colony  of  New  Amsterdam,  and  in  the  end  led  to  his  recall. 

Peter  Stuyvesant,  Kieft's  successor,  Came  out  in  May,  1647.  New  regula- 
tions were  established,  contemporaneous  with  his  appointment,  for  the  government 
of  the  province.  The  Director,  Vice-Director  and  Schout  constituted  the  Council, 
and  had  supreme  authority  in  civil  and  militar)-  affairs.  The  fort  was  repaired 
and  a  permanent  garrison  of  fifty-three  men  maintained.  The  colonists  were 
counseled  to  provide  themselves  -with  weapons  and  to  form  a  provincial  militia. 
He  began  a  career  of  reform  immediately  on  his  arrival,  with  all  that  impetuosity — 
not  untempered  by  sound  sense — which  was  displayed  in  his  whole  career.  Here 
is  one  of  the  first  of  his  manifestoes,  translated,  of  course,  from  the  original  Dutch: 

"  Whereas,  we  have  observed  and  remarked  the  insolence  of  some  of  our 
inhabitants,  who  are  in  the  habit  of  getting  drunk,  of  (juarreling,  fighting,  and  of 
smiting  each  other  on  the  Lord's  Day  of  Rest  (of  which,  on  the  last  Sunday,  we 
ourselves  witnessed  the  ])ainful  scenes,  and  to  the  knowledge  of  which  we  came 
by  rei)ort)  in  defiance  of  the  magistrates,  to  the  contempt  and  disregard  of  our' 
])erson  and  authority,  to  the  great  annovance  of  the  neighborhood,  and  finally  to 
the  injury  and  dishonoring  of  God's  holy  laws  and  commandments,  which  enjoin 
upon  us  to  honor  and  sanctify  him  on  this,  His  Holy  Day  of  Rest,  and  which 
proscribe  all  personal  injury  and  murder,  with  the  means  and  temptations  that 
may  lead  thereunto. 

"Therefore,  by  the  advice  of  His  Excellency,  the  Director-General,  and  our 
ordained  Council,  here  jjresent,  to  the  end  that  we  may,  so  far  as  it  is  possible 
and  ])ractical)le,  take  all  due  care  and  prevent  the  curse  of  Ciod  instead  of  His 
blessing  from  falling  upon  us  and  our  good  inhabitants,  do,  by  these  presents, 
charge,  command,  and  enjoin  upon  all  tapsters  and  innkeepers,  that  on  the  Sab- 
bath of  the  Lord,  commonly  called  Sunday,  before  two  of  the  clock  in  the  after- 
noon, in  case  there  is  no  preaching,  or  otherwise  before  four  of  the  clock  (in  the 
afternoon)  they  shall  not  be  ])ermitted  to 'set,  nor  draw,  nor  bring  out  for  any 
person  or  i)ersons,  any  wines,  beers,  nor  any  strong  waters  of  any  kind  whatso- 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


7 


ever,  on  whatever  i)retext,  excepting  only  persons  traveling  and  the  daily  boarders 
that  may  from  necessity  be  confined  to  their  jjlaces  of  abode,  in  the  penalty  of 
l)eing  deprived  of  their  occupations,  and,  over  that,  in  the  penalty  of  six  Carolus 
guilders  for  each  person  that  during  said  time  may  or  shall  have  run  up  a  score 
for  wine  or  beer  in  their  house. 

"And  to  the  end  that  we  may  take  all  due  care  to  ])revent  all  rash  drawing  of 
knives,  all  fightings  and  ])ersonal  injuries,  and  all  catastro])hies  resulting  from  the 
same,  any  j)erson  or  persons  who  shall  rashly  or  in  anger  draw  any  knife  or  dagger 
against  any  other  person,  shall  be  fined  the  penalty  of  one  hundred  Carolus 
guilders,  or  in  failure  of  payment  of  the  same,  they  shall  be  put  to  the  most 
menial  labor,  with  bread  and  water  for  their  subsistence;  or  in  case  any  person 
shall  have  been  wounded  thereby,  the  j)enalty  shall  be  three  hundred  Carolus 
guilders,  or  an  additional  half  year's  confinement  to  the  most  menial  labor,  with 
bread  and  water  for  their  subsistence. 

"  We  do  also  charge  and  command  our  Fiscal,  our  Lieutenant,  our  Sergeants,  our 
Corporals,  and  every  one  of  our  citizens  and  inhabitants,  as  well  as  the  soldiers, 
on  all  occasions  to  take  measures  that  all  such  persons  be  jnirsued  and  aj)i)re- 
hended,  so  that  they  may  be  proceeded  against  and  dealt  with  as  the  law  directs." 

Plainly  the  people  of  the  colony  had  grown  very  bad  in  a  little  while.  They 
had  a  very  vigorous  ruler  over  them  now.  The  proclamation  just  quoted  was 
shortly  followed  by  a  second,  in  which  His  Excellency  set  forth  that  he  had 
learned  that  the  former  one  was  disregarded.  Many  persons,  he  says,  are  di- 
verted from  their  jiroper  calling  to  that  of  tapping  by  the  ease  with  which  profits 
are  realized,  so  much  so  that  "almost  one  full  fourth  part  of  the  City  of  New  Am- 
sterdam have  become  bawdy  houses  for  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits,  tobacco,  and 
beer."  The  Company's  servants,  the  (Governor  says,  are  thus  led  astray,  and  the 
youth  are  corrujjted.  "  Honest  inns  "  too,  established  for  travelers  and  stran- 
gers, and  which  pay  their  taxes  and  excises  righteously,  were  seriously  interfered 
with  in  their  lawful  business.  His  Excellency  therefore  orders  that  from  that 
time  forth,  no  new  tavern,  inn,  or  other  place  for  the  sale  of  liquor  shall 
be  opened  without  his  c^onsent,  and  those  in  the  business  already  are  notified 
that  within  four  years  they  must  close  and  employ  themselves  in  more  "honest 
business." 

Other  ordinances  were  framed  causing  the  removal  of  hog-pens  and  out-houses 
from  the  highway  ;  j)rohibiting  trespass  upon  enclosed  orchards,  fields,  or  gardens, 
under  penalty  of  a  hundred  guilders  ;  and  ordering  that  all  the  inhabitants  put 
their  plantations  in  good  fence  so  that  cattle  may  be  kept  out.  A  pound  was  es- 
tablished for  trespassing  cattle  ;  greater  stability  in  building  was  enjoined  ;  and 
it  was  decreed  that  all  grants  of  land  should  be  revoked  unless  imjirovements 
were  made  within  nine  months. 

From  such  simj)le  and  jjrimitive  regulations  have  germinated  the  vast 
system  of  police  laws  and  ordinances  of  our  dav. 

tn  1648,  Governor  Stuyvesant  also  appointed  fire  wardens  for  the  first  time. 
Their  duty  was  to  inspect  all  the  chimneys  at  stated  intervals. 

It  will  be  interesting  at  this  point  to  take  a  glance  at  the  system  of  adminis- 
tration that  prevailed  in  the  colony  and  in  the  city.  The  Director-General  was 
vested  with  almost  autocratic  powers.  He  appointed  all  public  officers,  save  such 
as  were  sent  out  from  Holland  ;  he  made  laws,  imjjosed  fines,  levied  taxes,  in- 
flicted penalties,  incorporated  towns,  decided  all  civil  and  criminal  causes  of  mag- 


8 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


nitude  except  capital  cases,  which  were  sent  to  Holland  for  trial — without  the  aid 
of  a  jury,  and  settled  appeals  from  lower  tribunals.  The  (iovernor  was  aided  by 
a  council  of  five  of  the  best  men  of  the  colony.  Next  in  importance  to  him  were 
the  Koopman  and  Schout-Fiscal,  the  former  being  the  secretary  of  the  West 
India  Comi)any's  warehouse.  I'he  latter,  as  has  been  said,  discharged  the  collective 
functions  of  sheriff  and  attorney-general,  and  was,  besides,  the  executive  officer 
of  the  Director  and  Council,  and  custom-house  officer.  The  Schout-Fiscal  was 
allowed  to  sit  in  the  Council  during  its  deliberations,  but  had  no  voice  in  the 
proceedings.  He  had  no  stated  salary  for  liis  multifarious  services,  but  was  com- 
I)ensatcd  by  certain  fees  allowed  him  in  jiarticular  cases. 

The  appointment  of  a  Rattle-watch  led,  on  October  12,  1651,  to  the  adojjtion 
of  the  following  rules: 

1.  Watclimen  to  be  on  duty  be- 
fore bell-ringing,  under  penalty  of 
si.\  stivers. 

2.  Whoever  stays  away  without 
sending  a  substitute,  to  be  lined 
two  gudders  for  benefit  of  the  reg- 
ular walcli. 

3.  One  guiltier  tine  for  drunken 
ness. 

4.  Ten  stivers  fine  for  sleeping 
on  post. 

5.  If  any  arms  are  stolen 
through  negligence  of  the  watch, 
the  watchman  to  pay  for  the  arms 
and  be  lined  one  guilder  for  the 
first,  two  guilders  for  the  second, 
and  the  line  for  the  third  offense  to 
be  discretionary  with  the  court. 

6.  \  fine  of  two  guilders  for 
;^()ing  aw.iy  from  the  watch,  and 
line  guilder  for  missing  turn. 

7.  The  Watch  to  call  the  hour 
ai  all  corners  from  9  \.  .M.  until 
reveille,  for  which  they  received 
an    additional    compensation  of 

Watchman's  Rattle  eighteen  guilders  per  month. 

'I'he  City  was  incor])oratcd  by  the  name  of  New  Amsterdam  in  1652,  but  the 
inunii  ipal  inslitutiims  did  not  go  into  ])ractical  operation  until  February  2,  1653. 
The  charter  granted  gave  nothing  but  a  court  of  municipal  magistrates,  with  cer- 
tain judicial  and  other  functions.  These  officials  were  a  Schout,  to  be  apjjointed  ' 
l)y  the  Company,  two  lUirgomasters,  and  five  Schej)ens — to  be  elected  by  the  peo- 
ple. Tlie  Burgomasters  were  intrusted  witli  the  general  regulation  of  city  im- 
provements. Tlie  Magistrates,  together,  had  (jriginal  jurisdictioii  of  civil  and 
criminal  cases  arising  within  tlie  city  limits,  subject  to  an  ajjpeal  to  the  Director- 
Ceneral.  They  heard  and  settled  all  disputes,  tried  cases  for  the  recovery  of 
debt,  for  defamation  of  character,  for  breach  of  jjromise,  and  for  assault  and 
tlieft;  and  even  summoned  parents  and  guardians  into  tlieir  jjresence  for  with- 
holding their  consent  to  the  marriage  of  their  children  or  wards  without  sufficient 
catise.  They  sentenced,  and  committed  to  jirison  like  a  Court  of  Sessions. 
They  met  once  every  two  weeks  at  the  Stadt  Huys.    The  citizens  of  to-day  will 


OCR  /'O /./(  /■:  /'A'()/7iC/()A'S. 


9 


r«!tid  with  regretful  interest  that  the  city  fathers,  whose  title  was  "  My  Lords  "  in 
these  old  times,  "had  a  conscientious  regard  for  eciuity  and  justice,  and  set  themselves 
like  flint  against  Sabbath-hreaking,  drunkenness,  and  all  the  popular  vices."  No 
grants  of  franchises  or  ])roperty,  however,  were  made  to  the  Magistrates,  out  of 
which  a  municipal  fund  could  be  constructed.  The  West  India  Company,  as  a 
commercial  body,  gave  away  nothing  which  it  thought  the  stockholders  might 
with  iuhantage  keej)  for  themseUes. 

Of  all  the  officials  mentioned,  the  most  important  by  far  was  tiie  Schout. 
The  police  of  the  city  was  chiefly  centered  in  him.  It  was  his  duty  to  personally 
peraml)ulate  the  streets  ;  to  observe  if  there  were  any  infractions  of  the  laws  and 
ordinances.  When,  either  from  his  own  observation  or  the  information  of 
others,  he  l)ecame  aware  of  such  infractions,  it  was  his  duty  to  present  a  formal 
com])laint  to  the  Burgomasters  and  Schepens.  It  was  generally  within  the  power 
of  the  magistrates  to  mitigate  tlie  jjenalties  im])osed  l)y  law,  and  the  records  show 
that  the\  were,  as  a  rule,  nier(  i fully  inclined,  thougli  cases  are  not  wanting  where 
inmishments  were  inllicted  whic  h  to-day  would  seem  excessive. 

One  of  the  most  noted  officials  under  the  city  magistrates  was  the  bell- 
ringer.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  most  versatile  and  industrious  officer.  He 
personally  discharged  the  duties  of  bell-ringer,  court-messenger,  grave-digger, 
chorister,  reader,  schoolmaster,  waiter,  messenger,  and  general  factotum  to  the 
magistrates.  He  kept  the  room  wherein  the  magistrates  met  in  order,  dusted  the 
furniture,  swept  the  floor,  and  presumably  made  the  fires  and  i)laced  the  chairs 
where  they  belonged  in  time  for  each  meeting,  before  he  summoned  it  by  ringing 
the  bell. 

Wall  Street  was  then  the  boundary  of  the  city. 

The  i)roceedings  of  the  Worshipful  Court  of  "  the  Schout,  Burgomasters  and 
Schepens"  were  all  recorded  by  their  clerk  or  secretary.  In  criminal  cases  the 
Schout  ])rosecuted  as  ])laintiff  on  behalf  of  the  community.  Bail  was  allowed 
excejit  in  cases  of  murder,  rape,  arson  or  treason.  There  were  two  modes  of 
trying  the  prisoner  ;  either  publicly  upon  general  evidence,  which  was  the  ordinary 
mode,  or  by  examining  him  secretly  in  the  jjresence  of  two  Schepens,  in  which 
written  interrogatories  were  propounded  to  the  jjrisoner,  to  which  he  was  obliged 
to  return  categorical  answers.  The  Dutch  laws  then  adhered  to  the  general 
policy  of  extorting  confessions  by  torture. 

A  war  being  considered  imminent  with  the  New  Kngland  colonists — 1653 — 
it  was  ordered  that  the  whole  body  of  citizens  should  keej)  watch  by  night,  that 
the  fortress  be  repaired,  and  that  money  be  raised. 

In  regard  to  this  watch,  the  Director-deneral  made  the  following  proclama- 
tion: "That  the  Burghers  of  this  city  shall,  in  a  body,  keep  watch  by  night  in 
such  places  as  shall  be  determined  on  by  the  Director  and  Council  and  Magis- 
trates, yet  in  the  first  place  at  the  City  Tavern,  now  the  Town  Hall,  to  commence 
at  this  time."    The  Watch  went  into  o])eration  that  night. 

Another  warlike  resolution  of  the  hour  was  that  the  schipper  Jan  Jan- 
sen  should  be  spoken  to  "i)rivatcl\  to  fix  his  sails,  to  have  iiis  piece  loaded, 
and  to  keep  his  \essel  in  readiness  on  all  occasions,  whether  by  day  or  by 
night." 


lO 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  Burgher-watch  'had  become  dissatisfied,  as  much  with  the  nature  of  their 
duties  as  with  the  parsimony  of  their  employers,  and  they  went  on  a  "  strike  "  in 
November,  1653.  This  excited  the  wrath  of  the  choleric  Director-General,  who 
berated  them  roundly.  The  controversy  thereby  precipitated  shook  the  verj' 
foundations  of  Dutch  society  in  New  Amsterdam.  And  it  was  all  on  account  of 
the  Burgher-watch  not  being  supplied  with  firewood.  Old  Peter  Stuyvesant  told 
them  contemptuously  to  procure  the  firewood  themselves  at  their  own  expense; 
but  this  they  refused  to  do.  Hence  the  row.  The  difficulty  was  finally  satis- 
factorily settled  and  peace  restored. 

Whether  it  was  on  account  of  the  foregoing  episode,  or  a  desire  to  improve 
the  system,  it  was  now  determined  to  effect  a  change.  With  that  object  in  view, 
an  ordinance  was  passed,  on  the  29th  of  April,  1654,  looking  towards  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  "  rattle-wacht,"  of  from  four  to  six  men,  to  guard  the  city  In- 
night.  "  Wherefore  all  persons  who  desire  to  undertake  the  same,  are  warned  to 
repair  at  the  aforesaid  time,  to  hear  the  conditions,  and  to  act  according  to  cir- 
cumstances." But  it 
was  calling  spirits 
from  the  vasty  deep. 
The  ordinance  was 
read  with  official 
impressiveness  from 
the  steps  of  the  City 
Hall,  but  no  one  re- 
sponding, the  forma- 
tion of  the  proposed 
watch  was  for  the 
time  abandoned,  but 
was  renewed  and 
put  into  operation  in 
October,  1658. 

The  vear  of  1654 
Gov.  Stuyvesanfs  Mansion.  ^^.^^  ^  ^^^^1^1^  -^^ 

the  city's  history,  for,  in  reply  to  a  letter  of  the  Director-General,  urging  the 
Magistrates  to  devise  some  means  of  raising  money  for  public  purposes,  they 
replied  that  if  the  excise  moneys — an  institution  of  Governor  Kieft's,  by 
the  way — -were  made  over  to  them,  they  would  engage  to  pay  the  salaries  of 
one  minister,  one  precentor,  and  one  "  dog-whipper  " — a  name  then  applied  to 
sextons. 

Grim  old  Peter  Stuyvesant  had  little  respect  or  sympathy  for  the  popular 
j)astimes  or  social  failings  of  his  countrymen.  On  the  31st  of  December,  1655, 
an  ordinance  interdicted  the  firing  of  guns  and  planting  of  May-poles,  from 
which,  as  alleged,  there  had  resulted  much  drunkenness,  together  with  lamentable 
accidents.  Beating  of  the  drum,  firing,  polc-jjlanting,  and  the  sale  of  licjuor  were 
interdicted  under  a  jjenalty  of  twelve  guilders  for  the  first  offence,  twenty-four  for 
the  second,  and  arbitrary  correction  for  the  third  offence.  The  fines  so  imposed 
were  equally  divided  among  the  officer,  the  poor,  and  the  prosecutor. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  ii 

^  ji 

In  1655,  the  Burgomasters  and  Schopens,  finding  that  a  better  police  system 
was  necessary,  appointed  Dirk  Van  Schellywnc,  the  notary,  the  first  High  Consta- 
ble (concierge)  of  New  Amsterdam.  They  furnished  him  with  detailed  instruc- 
tions respecting  his  duty,  as  follows: 

I 

He  shall  endeavor  to  levy  all  executions  in  civil  matters  on  the  order  of  the 
Burgomasters  and  Schepens  of  this  City,  touching  the  domain  of  this  City,  and 
that  on  such  allowance  as  shall,  according  to  circumstances,  be  found  necessary. 

2 

Whenever  any  judgment  rendered  by  the  Burgomasters  and  Schepens  of  this 
City  shall  be  placed  in  his  hands,  he  shall  be  bound  to  govern  himself  according 
to  the  tenor  thereof,  and  having  received  the  same,  to  put  it  in  execution  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  the  renowned  City  of  Amsterdam  in  Holland,  but  with  all 
discretion,  according  to  the  circumstances  and  constitution  of  the  inhabitants 
here. 

3 

He  shall  not  presume  to  receive,  even  through  the  third  or  fourth  hand,  any 
gifts  or  i)resents  to  the  injury  of  the  rights  of  those  interested,  or  to  delay  execu- 
tion on  pain  of  depri\  al  of  his  office. 

4 

The  High  Constable  shall  receive  as  salary  from  all  judgments  of  a  hundred 
guilders  and  upwards,  rendered  by  the  Burgomasters  and  Schepens,  twelve  sti\  ers 
from  the  successful  party  on  account  of  said  judgment. 

5 

From  all  other  judgments  below  a  hundred  guilders,  the  sum  of  six  stivers. 

6 

From  all  interlocutory  judgments  rendered  in  writing  during  trial,  six  stivers. 

7 

From  each  institution,  summons  or  renewal  which  the  High  Constable  shall 
serve  within  the  jurisdiction  of  this  city,  with  particulars  thereof,  he  shall  receive 
four-and-twenty  stivers,  provided  he  keep  proper  register  of  the  particulars,  anno- 
tated with  dav  and  date. 

8 

For  the  sale  of  distrained  goods,  six  guilders  per  day,  being  reckoned  from 
nine  and  eleven  hours  or  as  many  hours  more  or  less  according  to  the  circumstances. 

9 

For  making  and  affixing  notices  on  three  ])laces,  each  notice  eight  stivers. 

ID 

For  all  insinuations,  summons,  and  renewals  extending  bevond  the  jusisdic- 
tion  of  this  city  to  the  fresh  water,  on  the  Island  Manhattan,  six  and  thirty 
stivers. 

1 1 

P'or  Insinuations,  summons,  and  renewals  sers-ed  bevond  the  North  or  East 
Rivers,  either  at  Pavonia  or  thereabout,  and  on  Long  Island,  where  there  is  as 
yet  no  bench  of  justice,  he  shall  receive  sixty  stivers,  good  monev,  it  being  under- 
stood that  he  shall  bring  in  his  account  for  boat  hire  and  ordinary  expenses,  and 
demand  the  same  from  his  employer. 

1 2 

After  sale  and  receipt  of  the  proceeds  of  the  distrained  goods,  he  shall  first 
deduct  his  salary  (fees)  and  pay  over  to  the  successful  party,  with  all  despatch, 
the  moneys  to  him  belonging. 


12 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


13 

No  more  of  the  seized  property  shall  be  sold  than  amounts  to  the  sum  en- 
tered in  the  judgment  with  costs  thereon. 

14 

For  the  better  execution  of  his  oftice  shall  the  Schout,  Messenger,  and  ser- 
vants of  justice  assist  the  High  Constable  when  necessary. 

IS 

l"he  Director-General  reserves  only  unto  himself  to  change,  enlarge,  or  di- 
minish these,  according  as  circumstances  hereafter  may  demand. 

The  Burgomasters  and  Schepens  who,  in  the  preceding  year,  received  annual 
salaries  of  ^140  and  $100  respectively,  in  1655  ordered  the  "  Stadt  Huvs  "  to  be 
cleared  of  a  ([uantity  of  salt  with  the  storage  of  which  it  had  been  encumbered. 
Various  lodgers  in  the  building,  too,  were  ordered  to  put  it  in  repair  and  then 
move  out. 

In  1656  a  Watch,  composed  of  a  cori^oral's  guards,  was  ordered  to  patrol  the 
city  on  Sundays  during  divine  ser\  ice. 

That  ancient  and  clamorous  functionan,-,  to  wit,  the  Town-crier,  was  invented, 
if  not  patented,  about  this  time.  He  gave  notice  of  all  public  events  by  sounding 
a  bell  or  horn  at  the  corners,  and  proclaiming  them  aloud. 

In  October  of  this  year — 1657 — the  order  regulating  the  tapster's  business  on 
Sunday  was  re-proclamated,  the  Schouts  and  Marshals  being  urged  to  increased 
vigilance.  In  December  notice  was  given  to  surgeons  that  when  called  upon  to 
dress  wounds  they  should  ask  the  patient  who  wounded  him,  and  give  his  answer 
to  the  Schout  for  official  action.  The  order  prohibiting  fighting  was  re-proc- 
lamated. A  fine  of  twenty-five  guilders  was  imposed  for  one  blow,  and  in  case 
i)lood  was  drawn,  the  fine  was  increased  to  one  hundred  guilders,  and  a  f>ne 
double  that  amount  was  imposed  if  the  injury  was  inflicted  in  the  presence  of  the 
ofificer.  Burgomaster  or  Schepen.  Prisoners  arrested  for  debt  were  taken  to  the 
City  Hall  pending  judgment,  if  they  did  not  wish  to  pay  tavern  expenses.  The 
following  year  the  first  city  Jailer  was  appointed,  and  the  treasury  being  empty, 
the  salary  of  the  Town-drummer  could  not  be  paid. 

On  October  4th  (1658)  a  paid  Rattle-watch  of  eight  men,  to  do  duty  from  nine 
o'clock  at  night  until  morning  drum-])eat,  was  established,  the  duty  being  imposed 
upon  each  of  the  citizens  by  turns,  and  each  householder  was  taxed  fifteen  stivers  for 
its  sup])ort.  The  following-named  persons  having  offered  themselves  for  this  ser- 
vice, were  accepted  and  engaged  :  Pieter  Jansen,  Hendrick  Van  Bommel,  Jan 
Cornelisen  Van  Vleusburgh,  Jan  Pietersen,  Cierrit  Pietersen,  Jan  Jansen' 
Van  Langstraat,  Hendrick  Ruyter,  Jaccjues  Pyrn,  Thomas  Verdon.  The  Burgo- 
masters fixed  the  rate  of  compensation  to  be  paid  each  man  at  "  twenty-four  stivers 
everv  night  they  watched,  it  being  well  understood  four  and  four  shall  watch 
each  night  ";  and  they  are  promised  "  one  or  two  beavers  for  candles,  and  two  to 
three  hundred  pieces  of  firewood."  Ludowyck  Post  was  appointed  Captain  of 
this  primitive  police  force. 

Another  incident  of  note  recorded  in  this  year  is  that  the  Jailer  was  allowed 
to  lay  in  beer,  free  from  excise,  for  the  use  of  prisoners. 

The  Burgher  Provost  was  also  Captain  of  the  Rattle-watch.  He  had  to  see 
that  the  regular  rounds  were  made. 


OC/i  JXILICE  rKOTECTORS.  13 

The  following  orders  v/cre  isiiucd  i.i  tonncction  willi  this  Watch  : 

"  All  the  Watchmen  Vv-ere  obliged  to  come  on  the  Watch  at  the  regular  hour,  to 
wit,  before  the  ringing  of  the  bell,  on  ])ain  of  forfeiting  six  stivers.  Whenever 
any  one  came  on  the  ^^'atch  drunk,  was  insolent  'in  the  S([uare  of  the  City  Hall,' 
or  in  going  the  rounds,  sliould  forfeit  each  time  one  guilder.    Due  attention 


Mustering  the  Rattle-Watch. 


should  be  paid  by  each  one  to  his  Watch  in  going  around,  and  ^\•llenever  anv  one 
was  found  asleep  on  the  street  he  should  forfeit  each  time  ten  stivers.  If,  by 
negligence  on  the  part  of  the  Watch,  arms  were  stolen,  he  should  be  bound  to  pay 
the  valuation  thereof,  and  in  addition  for  the  first  offence  one  guilder,  for  the 
second  two  guilders,  and  for  the  third  at  the  discretion  of  the  Burgomaster. 

"  If  any  one  should  lie  still  when  people  cried  out  '  rw/  val'  or  be  otherwise 
disobedient,  he  should  forfeit  twenty  stivers.  A  fine  of  ten  stivers  was  imposed 
on  those  of  the  Watch  who  swore  or  blasphemed.  For  fighting  or  quarreling  on 
the  Watch,  two  guilders  ;  whoever  threatened  another  forfeited  two  guilders  :  for 


14 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


fighting  in  fact  on  the  Watch,  or  even  in  the  mornin;;  coming  from  the  Watch,  the 
penalty  was  six  guilders  ;  should  any  one  be  unwilling  to  go  around,  cr  in  any 
way  lose  a  turn,  he  should  forfeit  one  guilder  ;  for  going  away  from  his  Watch  on 
any  pretence  whatever,  without  the  express  consent  of  the  others,  two  guilders." 

Whatever  any  of  the  Watch  should  get  from  any  of  the  prisoners,  whether 
lock-up  money  or  other  fee  which  those  of  the  Watch  should  receive  by  consent 
of  the  Burgomaster,  it  should  be  brought  into  the  house  of  the  Captain  for  the 
benefit  of  the  fellow  Watchmen,  and  preserved  until  it  was  divided  around. 

The  aforesaid  fees  should  be  brought  in  by  each  of  the  Watchmen  under  the 
bond  of  the  oath  they  had  taken  to  the  city. 

All  the  fines  which  accrued,  and  the  profits  which  in  anywise  should  be  real- 
ized by  insolence,  fault,  neglect,  or  otherwise,  should  be  divided  four  times  a  year 
among  the  members  of  the  Watch,  when  the\-,  according  to  an  old  custom,  should 
each  quarter  of  the  year  receive  their  watch  money  from  the  city  M-ithout  their 
holding  any  drinking  meetings  thereupon,  or  keeping  any  club. 

They  should  be  bound  on  going  the  rounds  to  call  out  hoM"  late  jt  was  at  all 
the  corners  of  the  streets,  from  9  P.  M.  until  the  reveille  beat  in  the  morning,  for 
which  they  should  receive  each  man  eighteen  guilders  per  month.  The  Captain 
was  ordered  to  pay  strict  attention  that  these  rules  should  be  observ-ed  and 
obeyed. 

Following  is  the  oath  taken  by  the  Watch: 

"We  promise  and  swear,  in  the  presence  of  the  Most  High,  that  we  will  fully 
observe  the  article  read  to  us,  and  demean  ourselves  as  faithful  Watchmen  are 
bound  to  do.    So  truly  help  us,  God  Almighty." 

The  following  month  the  Burgomasters  resolved,  ''that  the  Provost  shall  from 
now,  henceforth,  according  to  and  by  virtue  of  the  following  commission,  collect 
and  recei\e  from  each  housekeeper  for  the  support  of  the  rattle-watch  fifteen 
sti\  ers,  except  those  whose  husbands  are  from  home,  widows,  preachers,  also  such 
as  are  in  somebody's  ser\  ice,  and  according  to  the  list  thereof  given  him." 

The  following  is  the  commission  referred  to: 

"  Ludowyck  Post,  Captain  of  the  rattle-watch,is  hereby  authorized  and  quali- 
fied by  the  Burgomaster  of  the  City  of  Amsterdam  in  New  Netherland,  to  collect 
and  receive  every  month  fifteen  stivers  from  every  one  according  to  the  list  there- 
of gi\  en  him,  for  the  support  of  the  rattle-watch." 

Then  follow  "  instructions  for  the  Burgher  Provost,  door-keeper  of  the  coun- 
cil of  war,  Captain  of  the  rattle-watch  and  receiver  of  the  watch  money,"  as 
follows: 

''^Firstly,  The  Burgher  Provost  shall  well  observe  when  the  comi)anies  are 
under  arms  who  is  absent  and  who  behaves  badly  in  the  ranks,  also  in  marching 
according  to  the  order  granted  them,  and  yet  to  be  granted,  and  duly  to  mark 
down  who  commits  a  fault,  to  make  the  same  known  to  the  Captain  of  the  com- 
pany who  they  are  and  in  what  the  fault  consists. 

'''' ScconJIx,  To  inform  the  court  marshal  according  to  order,  therefore  sum- 
mon those  who  are  guilty  of  any  fault. 

"77/m//r,  To  attend  to  the  rattle-watch  that  regularly  and  at  every  hour  pre- 
cisely the  rounds  be  made  and  the  hour  called  from  9  o'clock  in  the  evening  to 
the  morning  at  reveille,  according  to  the  instructions  given. 

''Fourthly,  Truly  to  state  who  are  in  fault  and  to  inform  on  them  to  the 
Burgomaster,  whereof  the  Captain  shall  receive  one  quarter,  and  also  of  profits 


OUR  rOI./CF.  P  ROT  FX' TORS. 


'5 


from  fines.  He  shall  also  go  around  every  month  to  collect  the  monev  from 
each  house  according  to  order  thereof  granted  and  still  to  be  granted,  and  place 
the  money  received  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary  of  JUirgomasters  and  Schepens, 
who  shall  distribute  the  same  to  spare  no  one,  and  if  there  are  any  not  on  the 
list  to  give  in  the  same  in  writing  to  the  Burgomasters.to  speak  ill  to  no  burgher, 
and  whosoever  threatens  him  to  com])lain  of  him  to  the  Burgomasters,  who  shall 
order  tlie  case  as  circumstances  of  the  matter  direct. 

"  Further  to  observe  well  that  those  of  the  watch  impose  not  on  any  Burgher 
in  going  the  rounds  or  on  the  watch,  also  that  they  steal  not  any  firewood,  nor 
any  other  timber,  nor 
anything  else." 

On  the  8th  of  July. 
1660,  the  Heer  Schout 
informed  the  Court  of 
Burgomasters  that  when 
he  goes  around  at  night 
and  unreasonable  hours 
to  make  examination, 
the  dogs  make  danger- 
ous attacks  on  him,  he 
requested  therefore 
their  honors  to  take 
some  order  on  it. 

The  Burgomasters  at 
the  same  session  resolv- 
ed to  draft  a  jjlacard 
prohibiting  the  hallow- 
ing after  Indians  in 
Pearl  Street,  and  the 
cutting  of  "  Koeckies," 
"which  is  done  bv 
boys." 

New  Amsterdam  has 
now  something  like  a 
police  system.  The 
Magistrates  seem  to 
have  grown  sterner  too, 
for  they  increased  the 
punishment  for  theft  to 
whipping   with  a  rod, 


as 


A  Schepen  Deciding  a  Law-Suit. 
[from  an  old  print.] 

instead  of  hoisting  by  the  waistband.    Persons  charged  with  theft  were  now 
had  sometime  been  the  case  earlier — examined  under  torture. 

The  records  of  the  court  proceedings  during  Governor  Stuyvesant's  adminis- 
tration are  the  most  faithful  chronicles  of  the  state  of  society  in  those 'days — 
particularly  that  part  of  society  which  is  most  brought  in  contact  with  the  admin- 
istration ot  police  and  penal  enactments,  as  witness  the  following: 
*'Resoi.vi;ert\V.\ldron,  Plaintiff,       J.an  |urki.\.\nzen%  DcffnJant. 

"  Plaintiff  says  he  went  the  rounds  on  Sunday  evening,  the  4th  of  August,  with 


i6 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


three  soldiers,  and  on  coming  to  the  defendant's  house  found  three  sail<"'rs  there 
tvith  a  backgammon  table  and  candle  before  them;  he  also  found  at  his  house  on 
a  Sunday  during  the  sermon  three  sailors,  who  afterwards  came  to  him  and 
inquired  if  he  had  people's.  He  answered  yes.  Thereupon  entering,  he  found  a 
party  of  women.  As  his  wife  was  in  labor  in  the  house,  he  thereupon  reproving 
him,  was  treated  by  him  very  ill.  Demanding  the  penalty  according  to  the 
placard. 

"  Defendant  does  not  deny  it,  but  says  the  sailors  had  not  any  drink. 

"The  W.  Court  condemns  the  defendant  Jan  Jurriaanzen,  in  a  fine  of  thirtv 
guilders  for  that  he  entertained  people  after  nine  o'clock,  and  tapped  during  the 
sermon,  to  be  paid  to  the  officer  to  be  applied  according  to  law;  and,  for  having 
l)ehaved  offensively  to  the  officer,  in  the  fine  of  ten  guilders  for  the  poor. 

For  calling  the  Magistrates  fools  and  simpletons,  Walewyn  Vander  Veen 
was  condemned  to  repair  the  injury,  "honorably  and  profitably:  honorably,  by 
praying  with  uncovered  head  forgiveness  of  God  and  Justice;  profitably,  by  pay- 
ing as  a  fine  the  sum  of  twelve  hundred  guilders,  with  costs,  and  in  case  of 
refusal,  to  go  into  close  confinement." 

"The  Heer  Schout,  Pieter Tonneman,  Plaintiff,  vs.  J.\n  de  Witt,  Defendant. 

"The  Heer,  plaintiff,  says  that  defendant  insulted  the  Heer  Schepen  Tymo- 
theus  Gabry,  calling  him  a  bastard.  Demanding  that  he  shall  repair  the  injury 
profitably  and  honorably,  and  pay  a  fine  at  the  descretion  of  the  court. 

"  Defendant  acknowledges  he  said  so,  but  in  jest,  not  thinking  that  it  should 
be  so  taken,  and  might  well  have  been  silent. 

"  The  Schepen  Gabry,  rising,  declared  that  one  evening  the  clock  striking  nine, 
it  was  not  heard  by  him,  the  defendant  said.  If  thou  can'st  not  hear  that  thou 
must  be  a  bastard. 

"  And  whereas,  Jan  de  Witt  answers,  that  such  was  spoken  by  him  in  jest  and 
not  from  malice.  Burgomasters  and  Schepens  say  to  Jan  de  Witt,  standing  aside, 
that  they  forgive  him  for  this  turn,  but  he  must  take  care  not  to  repeat  the  offence, 
or  that  other  provisions  shall  be  made. 

"  Neeltjie  Pieters  and  Annetje  Minnens,prisoners,appear  in  court.against  whom 
the  Heer  officer  prosecutes  his  charge,  concluding  that  Neeltjie  Pieters  shall, for  her 
committed  theft  (of  a  few  pairs  of  stockings)  be  brought  to  the  jjlace  where  jus- 
tice is  usually  executed,  and  there  be  bound  fast  to  a  stake,  severely  scourged,and 
banished  for  ten  years  from  the  jurisdiction  of  this  city  ;  and  that  Annetje  Min- 
nens  shall,  whilst  justice  is  administered  to  Neeltjie  Pieters,  stand  by  and  look  at 
her,  and  after  justice  is  executed,  shall  be  whipped  severely  within  doors,  and 
banished  for  six  years  out  of  this  city's  jurisdiction,  as  she  was  with  those  from 
whom  the  goods  were  stolen  by  the  above  named  Neeltjie,  giving  them  up  to  them. 

"  Mesaack  Martenzen,  brought  forward  at  the  recpiest  of  the  Heer  otificer,  for 
further  interrogation,  examined  by  torture  as  to  how  many  cabbages,  fowls,  tur-^ 
kies,  and  how  much  butter  he  had  stolen,  and  who  his  abettors  and  co-operatives 
have  been.  Answering:  he  i)ersists  by  his  reply,  as  per  interrogatories,  that  he 
did  not  steal  any  butter,  fowls  or  turkies,  nor  had  any  abljettors  ;  being  again  set 
loose,  the  Heer  officer  produces  his  demand  against  the  delimjuent,  concluding 
that  for  his  committing  theft,  voluntarily  confessed  without  torture  or  chains,  he 
shall  be  brought  to  the  usual  place  of  criminal  justice,  well  fastened  to  a  stake 
and  severely  whijjped,  and  banished  from  the  jurisdiction  of  this  City  of  Amster- 
dam for  the  term  of  ten  years  ;  all  with  costs. 

"  Reyer  Cornelissen,  for  the  theft  of  a  sack  of  corn,  was  sentenced  to  be  '  pub- 
lically  set  to  a  stake,  severely  scourged,  branded,  and  banished  beyond  this  city's 
jurisdiction  for  the  term  of  five-and-twenty  years,  and  further,  in  the  costs  and 
viises  of  justice.'  " 

Everything  indicates  that  an  era  of  great  improveitient  and  prosperity  had 


OUR  POLICE  PKOTF.CTORS. 


17 


set  in,  hut  it  was  destined  to  be  short-lived,  at  least  under  Dutch  rule.  England, 
on  the  strength  of  Cabot's  early  visit,  had  always  claimed  the  sovereignty  of  the 
New  Netherlands,  and  she  now  took  advantage  of  a  war  with  Holland  to  enforce 
her  claim.    She  sent  a 
fleet  to  seize  the  coun- 
try.   With  the  hauling 
down  of  the  Dutch  flag 
from  the  fort  the  reign 
of  the  old  Dutch  Knick- 
erbockers was  temi)or- 
arily  brought  to  an  end, 
and  that  of  the  Brit- 
isher began. 

Cornelis  Steenwyck 
was  a  native  of  Holland, 
and  arrived  in  New 
Amsterdam  about  the 
year  1652.  At  the  time 
of  the  very  serious 
troubles  between  the 
Dutch  and  English,  in 
1653,  when  the  city  wall 
was  built,  the  tax  levied 
to  raise  the  funds  for 
that  purpose  rated 
Steenwyck  among  the 
wealthiest  of  the  citi- 
zens. His  public  life 
commenced  about  the  year  1658,  and  at  various  stages  he  held  positions  in 
the  civil  magistracy:  as  Schepen  in  the  years  1658  and  1660,  and  as  Burgho- 
master  in  the  year  1662.  In  1663,  he  was  requested  by  unanimous  resolution  of  the 
General  Provincial  Assembly  to  proceed  to  the  Fatherland  as  delegate  from  the 
Province  of  New  Netherland,  to  lay  the  deplorable  condition  of  the  province  before 
the  Heeren  Majores,with  petitions  for  redress;  but  the  pressure  of  business  would  not 
permit  him  to  undertake  this  mission.  When  the  province  passed  over  to  the  British, 
Steenwyck  declared  that  "  so  long  as  the  country  remained  in  the  hands  of  the 
English  he  should  be  found  a  willing  and  obedient  subject."  He  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Colonial  Council,and  occupied  the  position  of  temporary  Ciovernor  of  the 
Province  during  the  absence  of  Governor  Lovelace. 

After  the  reconquest  of  the  city  by  the  Dutch,  Steenwyck,  who  was  justlv 
recognized  as  the  leading  man  among  the  citizens,  was  called  by  Benckes  and 
Evertsen  into  their  Councils.  He,  by  recpiest,  called  the  citizens  together,  with  the 
view  to  appoint  a  delegation  to  confer  with  the  military  officers,  and  he  headed  the 
list  of  six  citizens  who  composed  the  delegation.  The  citizens  who  were  called  on 
to  nominate  for  Burghomasters  and  Schepens,  sent  in  the  name  of  Steenwyck  at  the 
head  of  their  nominees.    He  was,  however,  "  slated  "  for  a  more  important  position. 


i8 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


and,  while  Captain  Colve  was  designated  by  the  officers  as  Governor,  citizen 
Steenwyck  was  appointed  his  sole  Councilor.    His  commission  read  as  follows: 
"To  all  that  who  shall  see  or  hear  these  read,  greeting: 

"Whereas,  we  have  deemed  it  necessary  for  the  promotion  of  justice  and  police 
in  this  conquest  of  New  Netherland,  under  the  su])erintendence  and  direction  of 
the  Honorable  Governor-General  Anthoney  Colve,  to  appoint  and  commission  an 
expert  person  as  member  of  Council  in  this  Province:  We,  therefore,  upon  the 
good  report  which  we  have  received  of  the  al)ilities  of  Cornelis  Steemvvck,  former 
Burgomaster  of  the  city  of  New  Orange,  in  the  time  of  the  West  India  Company's 
Government  of  this  country,  have  commissioned,  ([ualified,  and  appointed,  as  we 
now  commission,  qualify,  and  appoint  the  aforesaid  Cornelis  Steenwyck,  Councilor 
of  the  aforesaid  Province  of  New  Netherland,  to  assist  in  the  direction  of  all  cases 
relative  to  justice  and  police,  and  further,  in  all  such  military  concerns,  both  by 
water  and  by  land,  in  which  the  Governor  shall  deem  proper  to  ask  his  advice  and 
assistance,  to  maintain  good  order,  and  to  promote  the  Avelfare  and  prosperity  of 
this  country,  for  the  service  of  the  Lords  Majores;  to  take  all  possible  care  for  the 
security  and  defence  of  the  forts  in  these  parts;  to  administer  justice  both  in 
criminal  and  in  civil  cases,  and  further,  to  do  and  execute  everything  relative  to  his 
office  that  a  good  Councilor  is  in  dutv  bound  to  do,  upon  the  oath  which  he  shall 
have  taken  *  *  *  *  " 

"Dated  at  Fort  William  Henry,  on  the  day  above  (12th  August,  1673)." 
The  following  Spring  (1674)  the  Governments  of  England  and  the  Dutch  States 
contracted  a  treaty  of  peace,  by  the  terms  of  which  the  American  provinces 
finallv  passed  over  to  the  former.  The  Dutch  citizens  yielded  without  opposition 
to  the  new  power,  but  a  serious  misunderstanding  existed  between  them  and 
Governor  Andros  respecting  the  rights  of  the  citizens  under  the  new  treaty.  Gover- 
nor Andros  enforced  obedience  to  his  decree  by  imjirisonment  of  the  principal 
Dutch  citizens,  among  whom  was  Steenwyck.  The  prisoners  were  shortly  after 
released  on  bail,  and  no  further  official  notice  was  taken  of  their  alleged  mutinous 
conduct.  Steenwyck  lived  ten  years  subsequent  to  the  second  surrender  to  the 
English.  Among  other  civic  jrasitions  held  by  him  during  this  period  was  that  of 
Mayor  of  the  City. 

The  cut  of  Steenwyck  given  in  connection  with  this  sketch  is  copied  from  an 
engraving  taken  from  a  portrait  in  the  New  York  Historical  Society  collection. 


New  Amsterdam  (New  York),  1664. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS 


CHAPTER  TI. 


PERIOD  OF  BRITISH  OCCUPANCY. 


1664— 17S3. 


Obe  Hendrick,  first  Constable  under  the  English. — Lighting  the  Cn  \-  bv 
Night  (1668.) — Watchmen  ordered  to  provide  themselves  with  "a  Lan- 

THERN  AND  A  StICK  OF  FlREWOOD."  A  STRICT  PoLICE  ESTAT.LISHED  THROUGHOUT 

THE  CiTV. — Orders  to  be  obser\  ed  hv  the  Constables'  Watch,  etc. — Rules 

GOVERNING  THE  WaTCH.  NeW  PoLICE  REGULATIONS  (  1 684. )  DoNGAN's  CHAR- 
TER (1686.) — -First  Uniformed  Policeman. — Appoint.ment  of  .\  Civil  Watch. 
— New  City  Hall,  Wall  Street. — Modes  of  Punishment  inflicted  on 
Criminals. — Montgomerie  Charter  (1730.) — First  main  Watch-house. — 
Citizens  ordered  to  Watch  or  find  Substitutes. — First  Poor-house 
erected  (1734.) — "Insurrection  and  the  Plots  of  Slaves." — Quaker's  e.\- 

E.MPT  from  serving  ON  THE  WaTCH.  PETITIONING  AGAINST  A  MILITARY  WaTCH. 

— The  old  Jail.-  Bridewell. — Occupation  of  the  City  by  the  British. — 
Evacuation. 


HE  first  of  the  great  political  changes  that  New  York  has  undergone  in  the 


course  of  its  history  was  its  transfer  from  Dutch  to  British  rulershi]).  It  was 
marked,  as  might  be  expected,  by  a  general  change  of  system  in  the  administra- 
tion of  public  affairs;  the  ])olice  arrangements  and  regulations,  like  all  the  rest, 
undergoing  radical  alteration. 

When,  in  1664,  the  British  first  seized  the  Dutch  possessions  in  America,  the 
population  of  the  New  Netherlands  had  increased  to  "  full  ten  thousand,"  and 
New  Amsterdam  contained  fifteen  hundred  inhabitants,  and  "  wore  an  appear- 
ance of  great  prosperity."  Colonel  Nicolls,  who  took  possession  of  the  colony  in 
the  name  of  the  Duke  of  York,  proceeded  at  the  earliest  possible  moment  to  make 
its  government  conform  to  the  English  system.  In  1665  he  granted  a  charter  of 
incorporation  to  the  inhabitants,  under  the  administration  of  a  Mayor,  Aldermen 
and  Sheriff.  These  officials  went  to  work  promptly,  for  in  the  same  year  they 
ordered  "that  six  burghers  do  ever)'  night  keep  the  watch  within  the  city." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  city  fathers,  November  18,  1665,  we  learn  that  the 
Deputy  Mayor  stated  that  the  Heer-General  had  proposed  to  him  to  allow  the 
burghers  to  watch  anew,  and,  as  the  least  expensive  plan  to  the  cit\-,  it  was 
proposed  "that  each  bring  on  his  watch  two  sticks  of  firewood,  and  the  two  one 
lantern." 

The  Worshipful  Court  demurred,  and  thought  it  better  still  to  continue  the 
two  night  watch,  "  and  therefore  Resolve  to  agree  civilly  with  them,  together  with 
two  other  Volunteers,  who  should  then  undertake  the  watch  on  the  other  nights." 


20 


OUR  POLICE.  PROTECTORS. 


During  this  year  Ohe  Hendrick  was  appointed  the  first  Constable  under  the 
English. 

The  law  required  that  every  town  was  to  provide  a  pair  of  stocks  and  a 
pound  ;  and  a  pillory  was  to  be  erected  in  each  jjlace  where  the  courts  of  ses- 
sions were  held. 

The  city  fathers,  in  one  of  their  sessions,  adopted  a  series  of  resolutions,  from 
the  minutes  of  which  the  following  paragraphs  are  extracted  : 

''''Further,  Class  van  Elsland  and  Pieter  Schaafbank  were  also  contd  (contin- 
ued) in  their  offices  as  Towne  Sergeants,  receivers  for  wages  as  much  as  they  here- 
tofore have  received  out  of  this  city's  revenue. 

"'Thirdly,  Resolved  to  send  for  the  Court  of  Haarlem  and  the  Constable  Re- 
solverd  Waldron  by  letter  to  come  hither  ])y  Saturday  next." 

Happily  a  copy  of  this  letter  is  still  extant.     It  is  about 
as  odd  an  official  document,  as  can  be  found  in  the  annals 
of  any  country.    Here  it  is  : 
"  Honorable  and  Affectionate  Friends: 

"These  serve  only  that  your  Honors  hold  yourselves 
ready  to  appear  here  in  this  city  on  Saturday  next,  l)eing 
17th  June,  old  style,  with  Resolverd  Waldron,  and  to 
receive  all  such  order  as  shall  be  communicated,  whereunto 
confiding,  we  commend  your  Honors  after  cordial  saluta- 
tion unto  God's  protection." 

The  end  of  this  little  episode  is  no  less  farcical  than  the 
beginning.    The  public  record  of  the  matter  reads  thus: 

"  Resolveert  Waldron,  entering,  is  notified  that  he  is 
elected  Constable  of  N.  Haarlem,  which  undertaking  he 
hath  taken  the  proper  oath,  and  the  Magistrates  who 
accomi)anied  him  are  informed  that  they  are  discharged 
from  their  office;  authorizing  the  aforesaid  Constable  to 
select  three  or  four  persons  who  shall  have  to  decide  any  differences  or  dispute  to 
the  extent  of  five  pounds  sterling      *       *       *       *  higher,  and  the 

])artv  who  .shall  not  be  contend  with  the  decision  of  those  elected  as  aforesaid 
shall  be  bound  to  pay  to  him,  the  Constable,  the  sum  of  six  stivers,  and  further, 
to  bear  the  costs  of  proceeding  before  his  bench  of  Justice." 

Truly  this  was  a  notable  state  of  things,  when  the  Constable  appointed  the 
Magistrates.  However,  many  curious  things  happened  in  those  days.  The  oath 
administered  to  the  Constables  is  also  worthy  of  attention.  It  is  given  in  this  form 
in  the  old  records: 

"  Whereas  you  are  chosen  Constable  of  this  Cittye  of  New  York  under  the  juris- 
diction of  Mayor  and  Aldermen;  you  do  sweare  by  the  Almighty  God  that  you 
will  endeavour  the  preserving  of  the  peace,  and  the  discovering,  and  preventing  all 
attempts  against  the  same,  and  that  you  will  faithfully  and  truthfully  execute  such 
warrants  as  you  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  from  this  Court,  and  in  case 
you  shall  absent  yourself  you  shall  make  choice  of  some  able  man  for  your  deputy, 
and  in  all  things  demeane  yourself  as  a  Constable  ought  to.    Soo  helpe  you  Ciod." 

In  1668  the  system  of  lighting  the  city  by  night  was  introduced.  The  method 
adopted  was  a  very  primitive  one,  as  appears  from  the  language  of  the  ordinance: 
"  Every  seventh  house  in  all  the  streets  shall,  in  the  dark  time  of  the  moon,  cause  a 
lantern  and  candle  to  be  hung  out  on  a  pole,  the  charge  to  be  defrayed  ecjually  by 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


21 


the  inhabitants  of  the  said  seven  houses."  Upon  very  dark  nights  every  inhabit- 
ant was  re(iiiired  to  have  a  lighted  candle  in  his  window.  At  this  time,  too,  a 
regular  night-watch  was  employed,  composed  of  men  who  were  paid  for  their  ser- 
vices by  the  city.  The  Watch  was  set  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  (when  the  city 
gates  were  shut  and  locked),  and  was  kept  up  until  daybreak.  It  was  maintained, 
however,  only  during  the  winter  months — that  is,  from  the  beginning  of  No\  em- 
l)er  to  the  end  of  March,  that  being  the  period  when  the  greatest  danger  from 
fire  was  apprehended.  Every  Watchman  was  ordered  to  bring  with  him,  when 
he  went  on  duty,  "his  lanthern  and  a  stick  of  firewood." 

On  a  fresh  outbreak  of  war  in  Europe,  however.  New  York,  as  New 
Amsterdam  was  now  called,  received  a  summons  to  capitulate  to  a  Dutch  squad- 
ron which  appeared  in  the  ])ort  in  1673.  The  town  surrendered  and  remained  a 
dependency  of  Holland  until  February  of  the  succeeding  year.  In  the  interim  its 
rulers  were  far  more  concerned  with  military  than  with  civil  affairs,  and  a  curious 
mixture  of  the  two  elements  will  be  found  in  all  the  proceedings  of  the  time.  A 
calm  piet\',  we  are  told,  mingled  with  the  delil)erations  of  the  Magistrates.  The 
Schout,  Burgomasters  and  Schepens  opened  their  sessions  daily  at  the  City  Hall  with 
prayer.  The  Governor,  and  his  Council  at  the  fort,  instituted  a  rigid  supervision  over 
the  morals  of  the  soldiery.  A  strict  police  was  established  throughout  the  i:ity. 
The  place  was  guarded  day  and  night  at  every  available  i)oint,  the  sentinels  at 
the  fort  mounting  on  the  ramparts,  and  watching  by  the  gate.  Subaltern  officers 
made  rounds  during  the  night,  visiting  the  walls,  passing  the  watchword,  and 
changing  the  sentinels  each  half  hour.  The  Mayor  or  Burgomaster  jjroceeded 
every  morning  with  a  guard  of  armed  soldiers  to  the  fort,  where  he  received 
the  keys  of  the  city  gates  from  the  Governor.  Then,  accompanied  by  his  guard, 
he  opened  the  gates.  He  closed  them  again  in  the  evening,  and  having  stationed 
the  citizens'  guard,  or  Burgher-wacht,  he  returned  the  keys  to  the  Governor. 

The  following  orders  regarding  the  jiolicing  of  the  city  were  issued  in  Decem- 
ber of  this  year: 

"  Whereas  the  fortifications  of  this  city.  New  Orange,  have  at  great  and  exces- 
sive expense,  trouble  and  labor  of  the  burgherv  and  inhabitants,  been  almost  com- 
pleted, and  it  is  therefore  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the  same  and  better 
security  of  this  city  that  some  orders  be  made;  the  Honbl  H'r  Governor  Gener'U 
of  New  Netherland  doth  therefore  consider  it  necessary  to  enact  and  by  publi- 
cation make  known  the  following  orders  to  the  burgher)': 

"Ei/sf/v,  from  now,  henceforward,  the  burgher  watch  of  this  city  shall  be  set 
and  commenced  at  drumbeat,  about  half  an  hour  before  sundown,  when  the 
trainbands  of  this  city,  then  on  the  watch,  shall  parade  before  the  City  Hall  of 
this  city,  under  the  ])enalty  ])reviously  affixed  thereunto. 

"Item,  The  city  gate  shall  be  closed  at  sundown  b\'  the  Mayor  and  his 
attendant  trainbands,  and  in  like  manner  opened  at  sunrise. 

"//<•///,  The  burghery,  and  inhabitants  of  this  city,  and  all  others  of  what 
quality  soever  they  may  be,  the  Watch  alone  excepted,  are  strictly  interdicted 
and  forbid  to  attempt  coming  from  sunset  to  sunrise  on  the  bulwarks,  bastion,  or 
batteries  of  this  city,  on  pain  of  bodily  correction. 

"//(•;//,  It  is  strictly  forl)idden  and  prohibited  that  any  person,  be  he  who  he 
may,  presume  to  land  within  the  city,  or  (piit  the  same  in  any  other  manner,  way 
or  means,  than  through  the  ordinary  city  gate,  on  pain  of  death.  And,  finally,  as 
it  is  found  that  the  hogs  which  are  kept  within  this  city  in  multitudes  along  the 


22 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


public  streets  have  from  time  to  time  committed  great  damage  on  the  earthen 
fortifications,       *       *  .     *  therefore  ordered  and  charged  that  -jjersons 

take  care  that  their  hogs  shall  not  come  to,  in,  or  on  the  bulwarks,  bastions,  gar- 
dens, or  batteries,  under  forfeiture  of  said  hogs,  and  double  the  value  thereof  to 
be  applied,  the  one-half  for  the  informer,  the  other  half  for  the  officer  who  shall 
put  this  in  execution." 

In  December  a  proclamation  was  made,  too,  forbidding  the  exportation  of 
I)rovisions  from  the  city,  and  charging  all  good  citizens  to  lay  in  a  supply  for 
eight  months.     Evidently  preparations  were  in  progress  for  a  siege. 

The  Dutch  government  plainly  did  not  contemplate  an  easy  surrender  of 
the  New  Netherlands,  ])ut  made  laws  looking  towards  a  long  stay.  One  of  these 
ordered  that  all  matters  i)ertaining  to  the  "  police,  security  and  peace  of  the  in- 
habitants "  of  New  Orange,  or,  to  justice  between  man  and  man,  should  be  finally 
determined  by  the  Schout,  Burgomaster,  and  Schepens,  unless  the  amount  in- 
volved exceeded  fifty  beavers,  when  an  appeal  "to  the  Heer  Governour-General 
and  Council  "  was  allowed.  All  criminal  offences  committed  in  the  city  were 
amenable  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  city  ofificials  who  had  power  to  judge,  and  pass 
even  sentences  of  death;  but  no  sentence  of  corporal  punishment  could  be  car- 
ried out  until  approved  by  the  Governor  or  Council. 

But  when,  on  February  9,  1674,  the  treaty  of  peace  between  the  States-General 
and  England  was  signed,  the  New  Netherlands  passed  definitively  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  latter  country.  Then  the  old  government  by  Burgomasters  and 
Schepens  disappeared  for  good,  and  the  modern  officials  of  Ma}'orand  Aldermen 
took  up  a  permanent  position  in  the  public  .system.  In  March  of  this  year  ^1674), 
sixteen  persons  were  employed  to  keep  watch  every  night  for  one  year.  The  com- 
pensation allowed  them  (£32  each)  will  serve  as  an  indication  of  the  value  of 
money  in  the  colony  at  that  period.  Eight  men  were  also  selected  to  watch  every 
second  night  ;  they  were  jjaid  £16.  The  following  year,  a  committee,  appointed 
by  the  Board  of  Aldermen  to  draw  up  orders  and  regulations  for  the  City  Watch, 
made  a  report.  The  following  orders  to  be  obser\ed  by  the  Constables'  Watch, 
and  the  Citizens-Soldiers,  were  then  issued,  coj)ies  being  delivered  to  the  Captains 
of  the  Watch  for  their  guidance: 

"That  the  watch  bee  sett  every  night  by  eight  of  the  clock,  immediately  after 
ringing  of  the  bell. 

"That  the  citty  gates  be  locked  up  by  the  Constable  or  Deputy  before  nine 
of  the  clock,  and  opened  in  the  morning  presently  after  daylight,  and  at  the 
dismissinge  of  the  watch,  and  if  any  person  goes  from,  or  absent  himself  without 
consent,  he  or  they  shall  forfeit  for  every  such  Default  Tenn  Guilders. 

"  'I'hat  the  Sergeant  or  Corporall  of  the  Wattch  shall  at  all  times  succeed  the 
Deputy  Constable  u])on  the  Wattch  for  the  execution  thereof. 

"That  the  Constable  or  his  Deputy  (the  City  (iates being  shut)  be  upon  the 
Wattch  by  nine  of  the  clock,  and  by  his  Roole,  call  over  all  the  names  of  those  who 
arc  to  give  their  attendance  there  that  night,  and  the  faylers  to  be  marked  to  pay 
their  fines,  which  is  to  be  as  formerly,  four  guilders  pr  every  default.  And  if 
anyone  comes  to  the  Wattch  after  the  Roole  is  called  over,  he  shall  pay  half  the 
fine  aforesaid. 

"That  whosoever  shall  come  upon  ye  Wattch,  that  is  overcharged  with  drinke, 
hee  or  thev  shall  ])ayhalfe  the  aforementioned  fine;  but  if  abusive  or  Quite  Drunke 
the  whole  fine  to  be  paid  as  if  absent  and  secured  upon  the  Watch  all  Night. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


23 


"Th>it  whosoever  shall  })resunie  to  make  any  qiiarrell  upon  the  Wattch,  upon 
the  account  of  being  different  nations  or  any  other  jiretense  whatsoever,  hee  or 
they  shall  i)av  a  whole  fine  and  he  liable  to  such  further  sensure  as  the  nieritt  of 
the  cause  shall  re(|uire. 

"That  no  Centinall  shall  j)resume  to  come  off  his  duty  until  hee  bee  relief ed 
under  a  severe  sensure,  which  is  to  be  at  least  twenty  guilders  for  a  fine,  and  three 
davs  imprisonment.  For  the  time  the  officer  upon  ye  Wattch  is  to  take  care,  that 
is  to  be  eciuallv  jiroportioned,  and  not  to  exceed  one  hour  at  a  time. 

"That  frecpient  Rounds  be  made  about  the  city;  And  especially  towards  the 
Bridge  ;  And  not  less  than  three  times  every  night. 

"Upon  complaint  made  unto  the  Court  It  is  Ordered,  that  no  cursings  or 
swearings  shall  be  suffered  U])on  the  Wattch,  nor  any  gaminge  at  Dice  or  Cards, 
nor  any  exercise  of  Drinkinge  uj)on  the  Tenally  of  four  guilders  for  every  such 
offence. 

"If  anv  disorders  are  committed  upon  the  Wattch  contrary  to  the  tenure  of 
this  Order,  the  Constable  or  his  Deputy  shall  give  an  account  thereof  the  follow- 
ing morning  to  the  Mayor  or  Deputy  Mayor. 

"  That  a  list  of  the  fines  be  brought  by  the  Provost  to  the  Mayor  or  Deputy 
Mavor  every  month,  after  which  there  shall  be  power  granted  to  levye  the  fines 
bv  distress  ;  if  not  otherwise  satisfied. 

"The  Sergeant  belonging  to  every  Wattch  shall  come  with  Halbcrt  and  see 
that  every  one  of  the  Wattch  bring  his  amies,  that  is  to  say  his  sword  and  good 
halfe  I'ike  on  the  Penalty  of  four  guilders  for  every  offense. 

"  All  Citizens  are  hereby  ordered  to  have  in  readiness  in  their  houses  for  every 
head  one  good  muskett  or  Firelock  with  Powder  and  ball,  with  6  charges  of  Pow- 
der iVc,  6  of  ball  at  least  upon  the  penalty  of  four  guilders  for  the  first  offence, 
double  for  ye  second,  and  treaple  for  the  third  offence.  And  the  officers  of 
each  Company  are  recpiired  to  make,  or  cause  to  be  made,  a  due  search  for  the 
same  as  often  as  they  shall  see  cause,  and  at  least  four  times  every  yeare. 

"  It  is  also  Ordered  that  the  Citizens  Soulders  upon  all  occasions  shall 
appear  with  good  amies  before  their  Captaines  CouUers  at  the  first  beating  of  their 
drums  on  the  penalty  of  thirty  guilders  for  every  default.    And  for  not  ap 
pearing  with  good  and  sufficient  amies,  for  every  default  tenn  guilders." 

On  December  6th,  1675,  the  inhabitants,  to  jjrotect  themselves  against  the 
Indians,  raised  the  following  guard,  which  was  divided  into  four  Corporalships, 
each  consisting  of  seven  persons: 

''First: — Adolph  Meyer  (Corporal);  Meyendert  L.  Journey;  David  Des 
Marets  ;  Danl.  Tourneur  ;  Nicholas  DeVaux  ;  Isaac  Kip  ;  and  John  Hendrikse. 

"Second: — John  Nagel  (Coqjoral);  Joost  Van  Obliuis;  Jno.  Hendrickse 
Kyckuyt  ;  Jan  de  la  Maistre  ;  Johannis  Vernielie  ;  Jean  Le  Roy  ;  and  Isaac  Le 
Maistre. 

""Third: — Simeon  Courrier  (Corporal);  Cornelius  Jansen;  Daniel  Demarest  ; 
Lawrence  Jansen  ;  William  Palmer  ;  Isaac  \\\  Voe;  and   Rademaker. 

"'Fourth. — Robert  Halles  (Corporal) ;  Resolverd  W'aldron  ;  Arent  Harmanse; 
Conrad  Hendrickse  ;  David  Demarest  ;  Cornelius  Lennise  ;  and  Isaac  C'il,  Jr. 

The  following  rules,  by  which  the  Watch  were  to  be  governed,  were  issued  in 
connection  with  the  above  : 

"  I.  F^ither  the  whole  or  half  of  the  corporalships,  according  to  turns,  .shall  at 
8  o'clock  in  the  evening,  at  the  beating  of  the  drum,  appear  at  the  watch-house 
and  jjlace  their  sentinels  and  take  their  necessary  rounds,  and  not  retire  before 
the  morning  reveille  shall  be  beaten,  in  the  j)enalty  of  three  guilders. 

"  2.  Whoever  shall  neglect  the  watch  without  a  lawful  excuse,  or  the  corporal's 
permission,  shall  be  fined  for  every  offense  six  guilders. 


24 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


"3.  The  watchmen  shall  come  to  the  watch  with  suitable  side  and  hand 
arms,  with  sufficient  powder  and  lead,  under  the  penalty  of  three  guilders. 

"  4.  The  watch  is  to  be  kept  quietly  without  much  noise  or  clamor,  in  the 
penalty  of  three  guilders. 

"  5.  And  the  fines  that  occur  in  the  premises  shall  be  reported  and  collected." 

In  1676,  a  fresh  set  of  regulations  were  promulgated,  by  which  the  Watch 
was  ordered  to  be  set  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  "  immediately  after  the  ringing 
of  the  bell."  The  gates,  as  before,  were  to  be  locked  before  nine  o'clock,  and 
opened  in  the  morning  "  presently  after  daylight,  at  the  dismission  of  the  watch." 
Should  any  one  come  upon  the  watch  overcharged  with  drink  the  penalty  im- 
posed for  such  offense  was  two  guilders.  The  rule  about  quarreling  among  per- 
sons of  different  nationalities  is  renewed,  and  a  fine  of  twenty  guilders  is  to  be 
imposed  upon  any  "  centinel  "  who  leaves  his  post.  "  No  cursing  or  swearing,"  it 
is  ordained,  "  shall  be  allowed  upon  the  watch,  nor  any  gaminges  at  dice  or  cards, 
nor  any  exercise  of  drinkinges  upon  the  penalty  of  four  guilders."  A  list  of 
fines  is  to  be  submitted  from  time  to  time  by  the  Provost  to  the  Mayor.  There 
are  other  rules  similar  in  character,  and  almost  in  the  same  words  as  those  already 
quoted. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  held  on  the  tenth  day  of  July, 
the  Recorder  acquainted  them  that  the  occasion  of  their  meeting  was  to  consider 
a  way  most  suitable  for  establishing  a  Watch  in  the  city,  "  itt  being  thought  con- 
venient that  the  military  officer^  and  troopers  be  excused  therefrom,  and  proposes 
a  rate  for  the  same  on  each  house."  It  was  then  ordered  that  the  Constables  in 
the  fi\  e  Wards  on  the  South  side  of  the  Fresh  ^\'ater  should  watch  by  turns  suc- 
ce.ssively  on  each  night  and  should  provide  for  their  assistance  on  the  Watch  eight 
I)ersons,  "  the  hyre  for  whose  service  shall  be  paid  to  each  twelve  pence  i)er  night 
and  out  of  the  Citty  Treasury." 

The  succeeding  year  three  Constables  were  appointed  for  the  city.  Re- 
solverd  Waldron  was  sworn  in  as  Constable  for  Harlem,  October  14,  1678. 

That  all  these  regulations  were  not  inade  for  the  mere  sake  of  form,  may  be 
inferred  from  a  document,  still  extant,  bearing  date  of  December  18,  1678.  It 
is  addressed  by  Peter  Jacobs,  "  Marius"  or  Mayor,  to  the  Provost.  "Foras- 
much as  I  am  informed,"  says  His  Honor,  "  that  several  persons  do  refuse  or 
neglect  to  watch  or  to  pay  for  ye  same,  and  that  several  others  do  not  conforme 
themselves  according  to  the  orders  sett  up  in  the  watch-house  in  ye  Citty  Hall. 
'J'hese  are  therefore  to  charge  and  command  you  that  you  forthwith  levy  of  all 
and  every  person  and  persons  so  neglecting  and  offending,  all  and  every  such 
time  and  times  .summe  and  summes  of  Money  as  in  and  by  the  said  Orders  is 
mentioned  and  exjjressed  (yet  unpaid)."  Arrearages  are  to  be  collected,  and  if 
necessary,  the  offenders'  goods  are  to  be  sold.  Finally  a  return  of  all  the  offences 
and  the  sums  collected  is  to  be  made  to  the  Mayor  as  soon  as  possible. 

On  February  10,  1678,  Mr.  Jacobs  signed,  in  company  with  Jacob  D.  Hay 
and  (larret  Van  Tricht,  another  characteristic  document,  which  reads  thus  : — 
"  This  is  to  certify  all  it  may  concerne  that  ye  Elders  and  Deacons  within  this 
government  have  been  excused  from  the  Citty  Watch." 

In  1681,  A.  15rockhotts  being  Mayor,  orders  for  the  regulation  of  the 
military  watch  were  drawn  up.    The  most  important  features  of  the  earlier  regu- 


OCR  POrJCE  PROTECTORS.  25 

^  .* 

lations  are  repeated,  and  it  is  enacted  that  "  the  Captain  or  other  Commission 
officer  doe  cause  frecjuent  rounds  to  be  made  about  the  City  through  all  the  streets 
and  lanes,  and  the  Cirand  rounds  by  him  or  themselves"  if  there  be  need.  Good 
order  is  to  be  kept  in  all  "  publick  houses,"  and  j)ersons  are  not  to  be  allowed  to 
tip[)le  in  those  places  after  "  tenn  of  the  clock."  The  officer  of  the  watch  was 
empowered  to  oi)en  and  search  any  houses  which  he  may  suspect,  and  if  he  "finde 
any  loose  vagrant  or  disorderly  persons  that  cannot  give  a  good  account  of  their 
lives  and  conversacons,  and  of  their  occasions  abroad  or  up  in  the  night,"  he  may 
cause  such  persons  to  be  secured  in  the  watch-house,  and  brought  before  the 
Mayor  in  the  morning.  According  to  this  ordinance,  a  list  of  forfeits  for  non- 
performance of  duty  is  to  be  made  up  every  third  night,  and  turned  over  to  the 
Marshal,  who  is  to  make  an  immediate  effort  to  collect  the  fines. 

Detailed  orders  to  be  observed  by  the  military  watch  were  issued  in  1682. 
Each  company  of  the  militia  were  ordered  to  take  their  guns  for  the  watch  and 
guard.  The  citv  was  divided  into  three  divisions,  each  commissioned  officer  tak- 
ing command  of  his  di\  ision  on  the  watch  successively.  The  watch  was  set  every 
night  by  the  Captain  or  other  commissioned  officer  at  eight  o'clock.  The  city  gates 
were  locked  by  the  Captain,  and  opened  in  the  morning  after  daylight  at  the  dis- 
missal of  the  watch,  and  other  like  rules  and  regulations  were  established. 

Governor  Andros  was  superseded  by  Governor  Dongan,  who  arrived  in  the 
city  on  August  25,  1683.  He  is  described  as  having  l)een  a  man  of  broad  and 
intelligent  views  upon  all  subjects  of  general  interest,  and,  moreover,  as  being  an 
accomplished  politician.  He  gave  the  Colony  its  first  legislative  assembly,  which 
met  in  New  York  on  October  17,  and  consisted  of  the  Governor  himself,  ten 
councillors  appointed  by  him,  and  seventeen  re])resentatives  elected  by  the  people. 
He  very  early  divided  the  city  into  six  wards,  and  tlie  inhabitants  of  each  were 
empowered  to  elect  an  Alderman  annually  to  represent  them  in  the  City  Council. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival,  the  municii)ality  addressed  a  memorial  to  him  on  the 
subject  of  the  administration  of  civic  affairs.  He  and  his  council  asked  for  some 
further  information  on  obscure  points.  The  result  was  the  following  document, 
which  is  valuable,  not  only  for  the  light  it  throws  on  the  prevailing  system,  but 
also  for  its  quaintness  as  an  old-time  colonial  official  document  : 

"An  explanation  of  severall  heads  contained  in  ye  petition  lately  presented  to 
his  Honour  ye  Governor  by  ye  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  ye  Citty  of 
New  \'orke,  jjursuant  to  ye  desire  of  the  Ciovernor  and  Cijuni:ill. 

"  Humbly  i)resented  to  his  Honour's  ffurther  consideration. 

"  The  Towne  of  Harlem  is  a  village  within  and  belonging  to  this  Citty,  and 
Corporation,  and  ffor  ye  more  easy  administration  and  despatch  of  justice,  offi- 
cers have  been  annually  appointed  by  ye  Mayor  and  Aldermen  to  hold  courts  and 
determine  matters  not  exceeding  40jr.,  both  att  Harlem  and  the  Jiower)-,  and 
shall  do  ye  like  ffor  ye  future,  and  is  entended  to  be  one  of  ye  six  wards. 

"  -V  marshall  is  an  under  officer  assistant  to  ye  sheriff  in  serving  writs,  sum- 
moneing  jurors,  looking  after  jjrisners  and  attending  ye  courts,  and  that  office  and 
ye  Cryer  hath  hitherto  been  one  ]jerson. 

"  Peculiar  laws  are  laws  and  ordinances  made  by  ye  Mayor,  Aldermen  and 
Common  Counciil  ffor  ye  well  and  good  g()\  ernment  of  this  Citt\-  and  Corpora- 
tion, and  to  extend  as  far  as  the  limits  thereof. 

"  Court  of  Judicature  is  a  court  to  heare  and  determine  all  causes  and  mat- 
ters whatsoever  brought  before  them,  both  civill  and  criminall,  not  extending  to 


26 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


life  or  member,  and  had  jurisdiction  over  all  ye  inhabitants  within  the  C'tty  and 
Corporation,  and  over  ye  Harbours  and  all  Bayes,  Coves,  Creeks  and  Inlets  be- 
longing to  ye  same. 

"The  whole  Island  being  one  Corporation,  ye  inhabitants  are  all  members  of 
one  body  and  conceive  no  need  of  distinction,  the  Mayor,  Alderman  and  Com- 
mon Councill  having  ye  care  and  charge  to  make  all  things  as  easy  and  convenient 
ffor  ye  inhabitants  as  possible,  and  will  have  ye  same  regard  thereto  as  fformerly. 

"A  Watter  Bailiff  is  an  officer  belonging  to  a  corporation,  and  ye  Sheriff  of 
this  Citty  hath  usually  exersed  ye  office  by  serving  arrests  and  attachm'ts  in  ye 
harbours,  bayes,  coves,  creeks  and  inletts  belonging  to  this  Citty  and  Corporation, 
by  warrants  ffrom  ye  Mayor,  Sheriffe,  or  others  his  superiors  to  him  directed  as 
Sheriffe  and  Watter  Bayliffe,  as  well  in  ci\il  as  criminall  matters  what  lielongeth 
to  ye  Gouvernor  or  i)rerogative  think  not  ffit  to  meddle  with  or  any  ways  restraine." 

The  City  Council  established  by  Governor  Dongan  issued  new  police  regula- 
tions in  1684,  including  a  new  code  for  the  government  of  the  City  Watch.  Con- 
cerning this  code,  it  is  only  important  to  note  that  it  contained  in  one  digest  all 
scattered  regulations  previously  adjusted.  The  only  changes  are  changes  of  spell- 
ing, but  as  spelling  in  those  days  was  very  free  from  rule  or  regulation  of  any 
sort,  the  variations  do  not  call  for  detailed  record. 

On  February  15,  however,  some  important  rules  were  adopted  for  the  general 
guidance  of  the  citizens.  Both  as  illustrating  the  life  of  the  period,  and  the  sort 
of  offences  that  the  guardians  of  the  peace  of  that  day  had  to  take  account  of, 
these  ordinances  will  repay  jjerusal.    Summarized,  they  were  as  follows  : — 

"Ordered,  that  no  manner  of  servile  work  l)e  done  on  the  Lord's  day;  pen- 
altv  \os.,  and  double  for  each  repetition. 

"That  no  "youths,  maydes,  or  other  persons"  meet  together  in  the  streets  or 
places  "for  sporte  or  play;"  penalty  ijr.,  and  double  for  each  rei)etition. 

"That  no  publick  house  sell  any  liquor  on  that  day  during  di\ino  ser\  ice,  un- 
less to  travelers. 

"  That  no  Negro  or  Indian  slaves,  above  the  number  of  four,  do  assemble  or 
meet  together  on  the  Lord's  day,  or  at  any  other  time,  at  any  place  from  their 
master's  service,  within  the  liberties  of  the  city. 

That  "  noe  such  slave  doe  goe  armed  att  any  time  with  guns,  swords,  clubs, 
sta\  es  or  any  kind  of  weapons  whatever,  under  the  penalty  of  being  whipped  at 
the  jjublitpie  whipping-post,  tenn  lashes,  unless  the  master  or  owner  of  such  slave 
will  pay  bs:  to  excuse  the  same." 

It  was  further  ordered — and  here  we  have  in  real  earnest  a  foreshadowing 
of  the  modern  police  system — that  a  Constable  with  his  staff  should  walk  about 
the  city  during  time  of  Divine  service  to  see  that  the  laws  were  obeyed,  and  fur- 
ther, that  the  Constable  of  each  ward  should  keep  note,  and  make  a  return  of  all 
strangers  who  came  to  reside  in  the  ward.  Penalties  were  established  for  neglect 
of  duty.  Besides,  the  "masters  of  publick  houses"  were  required  under  penalty 
of  ten  shillings  to  report  the  names  of  all  who  came  to  stop  at  their  houses,  and 
they  were  forbidden  to  harbor  any  person,  male  or  female,  who  was  "  suspected 
of  evil  name."  The  Constables,  too,  were  to  see  that  no  licpior  was  sold  during  the 
hours  of  Divine  service.  Twenty  cartmen  were  appointed,  "  and  no  more,"  un- 
der certain  regulations,  and  a  public  chimney-sweep  was  nominated,  who  was  to 
go  about  the  streets  announcing  his  approach  by  crying  out.  He  was  to  cleanse 
all  chimneys  at  the  rate  of  one  shilling  or  eighteen  pence  according  to  the  height 


Ol'h'  rO /./(•/■   PA'O/T.CVOA'S.  27 

of  the  house.  There  were  also  twenty-four  bakers  ajjixjinteci,  divided  into  six 
classes,  one  for  each  working  day  of  the  week. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  held  at  the  City  Hall  on  October 
13,  of  the  same  year,  it  was  ordered  "that  any  persons  chosen  to  serve  in  any 
of  the  offices  following,  and  shall  refuse  to  ser\'e,  shall  pay  the  fine  hereinafter 
expressed,  vi/  : 

"  A  Constable,  -----  -^5 

"  An  Assessor,      ------  3 

"  A  Common  Councilman.      -  -  -  -  -    7  loy. 

"  An  Alderman,       -        -  -  -  -  -  10 

"  The  Mayor,  -  -  -  -  -  -  20 

"  The  fines  to  be  paid  to  tlic  Citty  Treasurers  for  the  j)ul)litiue  use  of  the 
Citty." 

'I'he  Common  Council,  on  July  10,  1684,  convened  "  to  consider  of  a  way  more 
suitable  for  establishing  a  Watch  in  this  Citty,  it  being  thought  convenient  that  the 
military  officers  and  troopers  be  excused  therefrom,  and  proposes  a  rate  for  the 
same  on  each  house."  The  Constables  in 
the  five  wards  on  the  South  side  of  the 
Fresli  water  were  ordered  to  watch  by  turns 
successivelv  one  each  night  and  to  provide 
for  their  assistance  on  the  Watch  eight  per- 
sons as  they  should  think  fit  to  hire,  for 
whose  service  each  was  to  receive  twelve 
pence  per  night  out  of  the  City  Treasurv-. 

In  1686,  a  new  seal  was  granted  to  the 
city,  of  which  the  accompaning  cut  is  a  faith- 
ful reproduction.  Here  are  depicted  mill- 
sails  in  saltire;  a  bearer  in  chief  and  base, 
and  a  flour  barrel,  proper,  on  each  side,  sur- 
mounted by  a  coronet.  Supporters,  two  In- 
dian chiefs  proper;  the  one  on  the  dexter 
side  holds  a  war-club  in  his  right  hand;  the 
one  on  the  sinister  holds  in  his  left  hand  a  ^'"^^  ^eal  of  New  York  City, 

bow.  In  the  dexter  corner  over  the  Indian's  head  is  a  cross  patriarchal,  as  emblem- 
atic of  the  Gospel  to  which  he  is  subject.  On  the  scroll,  Sigil!  Civitat:  Ncv: 
Eborac.    The  whole  is  surrounded  by  a  wreath  of  laurel. 

On  April  22  the  Charter  commonly  known  as  Dongan's  Charter  was 
granted  to  the  City.  By  this  instrument — which  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
liberal  ever  decreed  to  a  colonial  city — the  ancient  municipal  privileges  of  the  cor- 
poration were  confirmed,  and  other  important  franchises  were  added.  This  docu- 
ment still  forms  the  basis  of  the  city's  rights  and  privileges.  It  provided  that 
"  for  the  better  government  of  the  said  city,  liberties  and  precincts  thereof,  there 
shall  be  fore\er  hereafter  within  the  said  city"  a  Mayor  and  Recorder,  Town 
Clerk  and  six  Aldermen,  and  six  Assistants;  also  one  Chamberlain  or  Treasurer, 
one  Sheriff,  one  Coroner,  one  Clerk  of  the  Market,  one  High  Constable,  seven  Sub- 
Constables,  and  one  Marshal  or  Sergeant-at-Mace.  The  Governor  retained  the 
appointment  of  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  Sheriff,  Coroner,  High  Constable,  Town 


28 


O UR    POLICE  PRO  TECTORS. 


Clerk,  and  Clerk  of  the  Markets,  in  his  own  hands,  leaving  the  Aldermen,  assist- 
ants, and  petty  Constables  to  be  chosen  by  the  people  in  annual  election.  The 
Charter  contained  various  regulations  similar  to  those  already  given. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  at  this  time  the  annual  cost  of  the  City 
Watch  Mas  about  j[^\^o,  while  the  salaries  of  the  Clerk,  Sergeant-at-Mace,  and 
Public  Whipper  aggregated  about  ^30. 

Leisler,  who  assumed  control  of  the  Government  after  the  removal  of  Ciover- 
nor  Dongan,  issued  a  ^jroclamation  on  the  fourteenth  of  October,  1689,  in  which, 
among  other  officials,  he  appointed  tlie  following:  Nicholas  Blanck,  Constable  for 
the  West  Ward;  Edward  Brinckmaster,  Constable  for  the  Dock  Ward;  John 
Thomas,  Constable  for  the  South  ^^'ard;  John  Ewoirts,  Constable  for  the  North 
Ward;  Daniel  Brevoort,  Constable  for  the  East  Ward;  Frederick  Ly mouse.  Con- 
stable for  the  Out  Ward;  and  John  Brevoort,  Constable  for  Harlem  division. 

As  illustrative  of  the  penal  institutions  of  the  times,  it  may  be  mentioned 

that  on  February  4,  1691,  it  was  ordered  that 
there  be  a  pillory,  cage,  and  ducking-stool 
forthwith  built. 

Perhaps  the  first  uniformed  policeman  was 
the  particular  bellman  mentioned  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  Common  Council  of  July 
8,  1693,  who,  it  was  ordered  by  the  Mayor, 
should  be  provided  with  "  a  coat  of  ye  citty 
livery,  with  a  badge  of  ye  citty  arms,  shoes 
and  stockings,  and  charge  itt  to  ye  account 
of  the  citty."  It  was  also  ordered  "that 
the  Treasurer  pay  to  Mr.  Smith,  Thirty-six 
shillings  to  buy  wood  for  the  watch."  The 
Cajjtains  of  the  Watch,  too,  were  instructed 
to  "  disburse  money  for  candles,"  and  bring 
in  their  accounts  ipiarterly  to  receive  or- 
ders on  the  Treasurer.  The  Overseers  made  a  report  recommending  that  ^50 
be  raised  for  furnishing  the  "  Night  Guard  of  the  City  "  with  fire  and  candles  for 
a  year.  The  suggestion  was  approved,  and  ordered  to  be  carried  out.  But  the 
next  year  the  Captains  had  to  find  sujjplies  again,  for  the  Council  ordered  the 
Mayor  to  draw  a  warrant  on  the  Treasurer  for  the  payment  to  each  Captain  of  ' 
the  Watch  seven  pounds,  fourteen  shillings  and  nine  jjence,  current  money  of  the 
Province,  "for  supplying  ye  Night  Guard  of  this  City  with  fire  and  candles  until 
the  first  day  of  August  last,  and  that  they  be  i)aid  out  of  the  Tax  raised  to  De- 
fray the  same."  Whatever  fell  short  in  the  tax,  the  Treasurer  was  authorized  to 
make  good  out  of  ordinary  revenue. 

For  the  enforcement  of  the  law  and  the  punishment  of  offenders  there  had 
already  been  erected  (1693)  a  i)illory,  cage,  whipping-post  and  ducking-stool,  on 
the  wharf  in  front  of  the  City  Hall.  Hither  were  brought  all  vagrants,  slanderers, 
pilferers,  and  truant  children,  to  be  exposed  to  the  public  gaze,  and  to  receive 
such  i)unishment  as  their  offences  might  warrant.  It  may  be  fully  understood 
that  such  i)unishments  were  meted  out  with  no  lenient  hand. 


First  Uniformed  Policeman. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


29 


Subsequently  it  was  ordered  that  payment  be  made  to  Captain  Brandt  Schuy- 
ler, Captain  Ebenezer  Willson,  Captain  John  Marrott,  Captain  John  l)c  Bruyer, 
Captain  John  De  Royster,  Captain  John  Kip,  and  Captain  John  Tudor,  "each 
ye  sum  of  nine  pounds,  current  money,  of  New  York,  itt  being  money  by  them 
disbursed  for  fire-wood  and  candles  for  ye  Night  Guards,"  from  first  August,  1696, 
to  first  August,  1697. 

There  was  a  complete  revolution  in  the  system  of  public  protection  at 
this  time.  This  was  brought  about  by  an  order  of  his  excellency  the  Governor, 
abolishing  the  city  militia  from  duty  as  Night  Guards,  (a  Military  AVatch) 
provided  the  officers  or  Magistrates  appointed  a  bellman  and  other  Civil  Watch, 
to  go  round  the  city  in  the  night  time  to  jjrevent  irregularities,  etc.  Therefore 
it  was  ordered  by  the  board  that  four  sober,  honest  men  be  appointed  to 
keep  watch  in  the  City  every  night  until  the  twenty-fifth  of  March  following,  and 
that  they  hourly  go  through  the  several  Wards  of  the  City  during  the  said  time,  in 
order  to  prevent  irregularities,  fire,  etc.  It  was  further  resolved  that  the  j)ersons 
so  api)ointed  Bellmen  and  Watchmen  should  give  security  in  the  sum  of  ^500 
that  they  would  well  and  truly  execute  the  said  offices  according  to  such  directions 
and  regulations  as  should  be  given  them  by  the  Mayor. 

On  October  17,  1698,  the  Mayor  was  again  admonished  to  appoint  four  "good 
and  honest  householders,"  to  watch  from  9  P.  M.  to  sunrise,  until  March  25 
following.  The  Mayor  announced  his  appointments  on  November  2  following. 
The  four  worthies  were  paid  jQdo  a  year  each.  They  were  supposed  to  make  a 
round  every  hour,  and  to  "  proclaim  the  season  of  the  weather  and  the  hour  of  the 
night."  If  they  met  any  disturbers  of  the  peace,  or  persons  lurking  about  other 
people's  houses,  they  were  to  secure  such  persons  until  next  morning,  "  that  they 
may  be  examined  by  the  Mayor  or  some  of  the  Magistrates,  and  dealt  with  as  the 
law  directs."  The  Constables  were  at  the  same  time  ordered  to  give  all  the  aid 
they  could  to  the  Watchmen.  The  Mayor,  on  November  2,  aj)pointed  three 
bellmen  at  a  salary  of  $60  a  year  each. 

This  action  was  repeated  up  to  October  26,  1700,  when  the  Mayor  was  or- 
dered to  appoint  a  Constables'  Watch,  to  consist  of  a  Constable  and  twelve  able 
men,  to  be  the  Watch  of  the  city,  "  to  take  care,  and  keep,  and  preserve  the  peace, 
etc.,  and  that  the  Constables  of  each  ward  do  take  their  guns,  and  that  the  High 
Constable  take  care  that  the  said  Watch  be  duly  set  and  kept,  and  that  the  Mayor 
provide  fire  and  wood  for  the  same." 

Two  years  subsecpiently  it  was  ordered  that  all  persons  summoned  to  do  dutv 
on  the  Constables'  Watch  who  should  neglect  or  refuse  to  serve,  for  everv  such  of- 
fence should  forfeit  the  sum  of  six  shillings. 

The  old  "  Stadt  Huys  "  at  Coenties  Slip  had  become  so  dilapidated  that 
the  Mayor  and  Corporation — finding  it  impossible  to  meet  there  any  longer — 
were  compelled  to  remove  to  the  house  of  George  Reparreck,  next  door,  it  was 
therefore  resolved  to  sell  this  rickety  structure  and  to  build  a  new  Stadt  Huys. 

The  principal  event,  it  is  averred,  which  settled  the  character  of  Wall  Street 
as  the  centre  of  interest  in  the  city,  and  which  brought  about  it  the  leading  men 
of  business  and  professional  life,  was  the  erection  (1699)  of  the  City  Hall,  oppo- 
site Broad  Street,  which  building  became  aftenvard  the  Capitol  of  the  United 


3° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


States,  and  the  site  of  which  is  still  in  use  for  public  purposes.  The  upper  end  of 
Broad  Street  was  considerably  elevated,  and  there  was  no  continuation  of  the 
Street  beyond  the  City  wall  (Wall  Street),  although  a  lane  had  been  marked  out 
on  the  present  line  of  Nassau  Street,  which,  being  afterwards  improved,  was 
designated  as  "  the  street  that  runs  by  the  pie-woman's."  The  design  of 
the  proposed  building,  by  James  Evetts,  architect,  was  submitted  in  1698, 
and  the  plan  was  approved.  The  foundation  was  laid  in  the  fall  of  1699,  and 
the  building  was  finished  in  the  following  year.  The  City  Hall  remained  in  use 
for  the  objects  for  which  it  was  erected  for  about  a  century,  and  was  demolished  in 
181 2,  when  the  present  City  Hall  was  built.  It  is  thus  described:  "The  first  floor 
was  entered  by  a  flight  of  steps  in  front,  which  led  into  a  corridor  more  than  half 
the  building  in  width,  extending  through  to  the  rear.  On  the  west  side  of  this 
hall  there  was  a  room  in  the  front  appropriated  to  the  fire  engine  of  the  City,  and 
a  dungeon. in  the  rear  for  criminals.    On  the  opposite  side  was  a  branch  of  the 


City  Hall,  Wall  Street. 


hall  opening  into  the  keeper's  room  in  the  rear,  and  in  front  into  a  stairway  to  the, 
second  story.  This  story  was  occupied  in  the  centre  above  the  hall  by  the  court 
room,  having  on  the  east  side — above  the  engine-house — the  jury-room.  The  oppo- 
site side  was  mostly  taken  up  by  the  stairway,  except  the  Common  Council  room, 
which  was  in  the  northeast  corner.  The  garret  was  used  as  the  debtor's  prison." 
As  one  of  the  adjuncts  of  the  seat  of  justice,  a  cage,  pillory  and  stocks  were  set 
up  in  the  public  thoroughfare  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  After  the  revo- 
lutionary war  this  building  received  additional  historic  interest  as  the  Capitol  of 
the  nation  and  the  first  place  of  meeting  of  the  Congress  of  1789. 

In  1702  a  proclamation  was  made,  warning  all  persons  to  do  duty  on  the 
Constables'  Watch,  under  penalty  of  six  shillings  fine  for  every  instance  of  negli- 
gence. On  October  26,  of  this  year.  Aldermen  Corbett  and  Smith  and  Messrs. 
Laroux  and  Cooper  were  appointed  to  agree  with  four  or  five  "  able  cittizens 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


31 


to  be  the  Watch  and  beUmen  of  this  Citty  to  Ajjril  i,  following."  This  committee 
reported  on  December  i,  as  follows: 

"  Pursuant  to  an  order  of  the  Common  Council,  made  the  26th  day  of  this  In- 
stant Montii  of  October,  we  have  agreed  with  Robert  Druinmond,  Richard  Years- 
ley,  Edmund  Thomas,  and  John  Vanderbeeck,  four  able-botlied  C'ittizens  of  this 
Citty  to  be  the  Watch  and  ]?ellmen  of  this  Citty  from  the  ist  of  November 
next  ensuing  until  the  ist  day  of  April,  then  next  following,  which  service  they 
are  duly  and  diligently  to  attend  by  going  every  hour  in  the  night  through  the 
severall  streets  of  this  Citty  and  publishing  the  time  of  night,  and  also 
to  apprehend  all  disturbers  of  the  peace,  felons,  &c.,  also  to  take  care  that 
no  damage  be  done  in  the  Citty  by  fire  or  any  other  casualties  as  much 
as  in  them  lies;  for  which  service  they  are  to  have  the  sum  of  forty-four 
])ounds,  current  monev  of  New  York,  six  ])ounds  whereof  to  be  paid  them  in  six 
weeks,  and  the  remainder  at  the  expiration  of  the  time;  and  that  a  Lanthorn, 
Bell,  and  hour-glass  be  provided  them  att  the  Citty's  charge." 

The  method  of  procedure  in  case  of  fire  is  worth  recording.  The  Watch- 
man who  discovered  it  gave  the  alarm  with  his  rattle,  and  knocked  at  the 
doors  of  the  houses  as  he  sped  past,  shouting  to  the  occupants  to  throw  out  their 
buckets.  The  ringing  of  the  bell  at  the  fort  spread  the  alarm  further.  It  may 
be  inferred  that  these  methods  made  it  lively  for  the  resident  population  when- 
ever a  fire  broke  out  after  bedtime.  When  the  buckets  were  thrown  out  they 
were  picked  up  by  whoever  was  the  first  to  pass  on  the  way  to  the  fire.  It  was 
the  custom  for  nearly  every  householder  to  render  assistance  to  extinguish  fires, 
whether  by  night  or  day.  When  they  were  extinguished,  the  buckets  were  taken 
in  a  wagon  to  the  City  Hall,  where  they  were  restored  to  their  owners. 

A  new  duty  was  imposed  on  the  Constables  of  the  several  wards.  This  was 
to  visit  every  house,  and  see  whether  the  inhabitants  kejjt  the  number  of  fire  buck- 
ets required  by  law.  Those  who  had  not  the  proi)er  number  were  to  l)e  warned 
to  obtain  them  under  pain  of  prosecution.  It  was  the  duty  of  the  Aldermen 
to  instruct  the  Constables  in  their  several  wards  to  "search  for  all  inmates  of  the 
houses  "  they  visited,  "and  to  return  the  names  thereof  to  the  Mayor  or  Alder- 
man." The  Constables  were  required  to  "  make  a  presentment  of  all  such 
persons  as  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  clean  their  streets,  and  of  all  such  as  in  any 
way  break  the  Holy  Sabbath,  or  commit  other  misdemeanors."  The  Aldermen 
were  called  upon  to  see  that  the  Constables  did  this  duty,  and  were  to  present 
the  names  of  delinquents  to  the  Mayor  or  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  for  pun- 
ishment. A  resolution  was  also  adopted,  providing  for  the  erection  of  a  cage, 
whipping-post,  pillory,  and  stocks  before  the  City  Hall,  the  expense  to  be 
defrayed  "out  of  the  surplusage  of  the  three  hundred  pounds  raised  in  this 
City,  which  is  not  yet  appropriated." 

The  annual  expenditure  in  1710  was  £2-]-]  ^s.  Among  the  items  of  expen- 
ditures were:  Bellmen's  salaries,  £,z^\  lanterns  and  hour  glasses,  ^3;  and  fire 
and  candles  for  Constables,  jQ^. 

The  old  records  of  this  time  abound  in  items  characteristic  of  the  manners 
and  ideas  of  the  time,  and  the  condition  of  the  city.  Thus  we  find  that  in  1710 
the  total  income  of  the  city  was  ^294  yj.  6</.,  and  the  annual  expenditure  ^277  4J. 
Among  the  items  making  up  the  latter  total  were:  Bellmen's  salaries,  ^36;  lan- 
terns and  hour-glasses,  £i\  and  candles  for  the  Constable's  Watch,"  j/;3.  The 


32 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


streets  were  still  lit  after  the  primitive  fashion  adopted  in  the  end  of  the  preced- 
ing century  (1697),  a  lantern  being  set  up  on  a  pole  in  front  of  every  seventh 
house,  the  inhabitants  of  the  other  six  contributing  to  the  cost  of  maintenance. 

In  1712  several  fires  of  supposed  incendiary  origin  took  place  in  New  York, 
and  great  alarm  prevailed  among  the  inhabitants.  Many  arrests  were  made,  and 
nineteen  negroes  and  one  white  man  were  executed. 

The  ideas  which  prevailed  at  this  period  regarding  the  treatment  of  crimi- 
nals were  neither  enlightened  nor  humane.  The  modes  of  punishment  inflicted 
arrest  the  eye  with  wonder.    A  few  instances  must  suffice  : 

"Clause,  Robin,  Quaco  and  Sam,  negro  slaves,"  say  the  old  records,  "were 
convicted  in  this  year  of  the  murder  of  Adiran  Hoghlandt,  in  the  eleventh  year  of 
the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lady  Anne,"  and  sentenced  in  the  following  terms: 

"  It  is  considered  by  the  Court  that  the  aforesaid  Clause  be  broke  Alive  upon 
a  Wheel,  and  so  to  continue  languishing  until  he  be  dead  ;  and  his  head  and  Quar- 


First  Execution  in  , New  York.    (The  Commons:  City  Hall  Park.) 


ters  to  be  at  the  Queen's  disposal.    That  the  aforesaid  Robin  be  hung  up  in  , 
chains  alive,  and  so  to  continue  without  any  sustenance,  until  he  be  dead.  That 
the  aforesaid  Quaco  be  burnt  with  fire  until  he  be  dead  and  consumed.    And  that 
the  aforesaid  Sam  be  hanged  by  the  neck  until  he  be  dead." 

Mars,  a  negro  slave  was  tried  in  1708  "att  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of 
the  Peace  at  the  City  Hall  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  May,  in  the  sixth  year  of  the 
reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lady  Anne."    The  record  of  the  court  proceedings  says: 

"Itt  is  presented  that  a  negro  man,  commonly  called  Mars,  a  slave  of  Jacob 
Rognicr  of  the  City  of  New  York,  with  force  and  arms,  in  and  upon  Ephraim 
Pierson,  then  Constable  of  the  Watch  of  the  said  City  of  New  York,  did  make 
an  assault,  and  did  beat,  wound,  with  evil  intent,  so  that  his  life  he  did  despair, 
and  other  harms  to  him  did,  to  the  grevious  damage  of  the  said  Ephraim 
Pierson.  ***** 

Therefore  it  is  considered  by  the  Court  that  the  said  negro,  Mars,  on  the  6th 
day  of  August  aforesaid,  in  the  year  aforesaid,  between  the  hours  of  ten  and 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


33 


twelve  in  the  forenoon  of  the  same  day,  he  strip])e(l  from  the  middle  upwards, 
and  tyed  to  the  tail  of  a  cart,  at  the  City  Hall  aforesaid,  and  he  drawn  from 
thence  to  the  Broadway  in  the  said  city,  and  from  thence  to  the  Custom  House, 
thence  to  Wall  Street,  and  from  thence  to  the  City  Hall  again,  and  that  he  he 
whii)i)ed  ujjon  the  naked  hack  ten  lashes  att  the  Corner  of  Every  street  he  shall 
pass,  and  that  he  afterwards  he  discharged  from  his  Im])risonment,  ])av  his  fees, 
&c." 

The  punishment  of  whipping  was  more  generally  inflicted  at  the  whipjMng- 
post  than  in  the  manner  here  indicated,  and  that  instrument  of  correction  had 
been  removed  in  1710  from  Coenties  Slip  to  Broad  Street  near  the  City  Hall. 

Another  characteristic  sentence  was  imposed  in  1712  hy  "a  Court  held  for 
the  tryal  of  Negro  and  Indian  Slaves,  at  the  Citty  Hall  of  the  City  of  New  York, 
on  Tuesday  the  15th  of  Ai)ril."  Tom,  the  slave  of  Nicholas  Rosevelt,  was 
the  culprit  in  this  case.  He  was  sentenced  to  he  "carryed  from  hence  to 
the  place  whence  he  came,  and  from  thence  to  the  place  of  execution;  and 
there  to  he  hurned  with  a  slow  lire,  that  he 
may  Continue  in  Torment  for  Eight  or  ten 
hours,  and  continue  hurning  in  the  said  fire 
until  he  he  dead,  and  Consumed  to  ashes." 

Mrs.  Johanna  Christiana  Young,  and 
another  female,  her  associate  from  Philadel- 
phia, "being  found  guilty  of  grand  larceny, 
at  the  Mayor's  Court,  are  to  he  set  on  two 
chairs  exalted  on  a  cart,  with  their  heads  and 
faces  uncovered,  and  to  be  carted  from  the 
City  Hall  to  that  part  of  Broadway  near  the 
old  English  church,  from  thence  down  Maiden 
Lane,  then  down  the  Fly  to  the  White  Hall, 
thence  to  the  church  aforesaid,  and  then  to 
the  whipping-post,  where  each  of  them  is  to 

receive  thirtv-nine  lashes,  to  remain  in  jail  .    .  „ 

'  Whipping-Post. 
for  one  week,  and  then  to  depart  the  city." 

Nor  are  these  cases  of  an  exceptional  character;  such  sentences  were  com- 
mon enough  in  those  days. 

Something  by  way  of  explanation  of  the  instruments  and  methods  by  which 
criminals  were  punished,  may  be  mentioned  at  this  part  of  our  narrative,  suppli- 
mentary  to  what  has  already  been  said  on  the  same  subject.  The  early  annals  of 
New  York,  as  we  have  seen,  make  frequent  mention  of  these  instruments  of  torture. 
They  were,  in  fact,  a  part  (and  by  no  means  an  insignificant  part)  of  the  correc- 
tional institutions  of  the  city.  Mention  has  been  made  of  the  cage,  stocks,  pillorv, 
whipping-post  and  ducking-stool — all  parts  of  the  established  plan  "  to  hold  the 
wicked  and  to  punish  guilt."  They  stood  in  front  of  the  City  Hall,  and  were  kept 
in  good  repair.  That  they  were  not  there  for  any  idle  show  we  have  evidence  in 
abundance.  The  first  instruments  of  the  kind  mentioned,  as  has  been  pointed 
out,  stood  in  front  of  the  old  City  Hall,  at  Coenties  Slip.  When  the  new  City 
Hall  was  built  at  the  head  of  Broad  Street,  on  Wall  Street,  these  appliances  were 
removed  thither.    They  were,  some  ten  years  later  (about  17 10),  removed  to  the 


34 


'OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


upper  end  of  Broad  Street,  a  little  below  the  City  Hall.  The  law  was  no  respecter 
of  sex,  and  females  were  subjected  to  this  form  of  punishment  quite  frequently, 
the  following  being  by  no  means  an  exceptional  case:  "  A  woman  was  whipped 
at  the  whipping-post,  and  afforded  much  amusement  to  the  spectators  by  her  re- 
sistance." The  extract  is  taken  from  a  newspaper  of  the  time.  Also:  "James 
Gain,  pursuant  to  sentence,  stood  in  the  pillory,  near  the  City  Hall,  and  was  most 
severely  pelted  by  great  numbers  of  the  spectators;  a  lad  was  also  branded  in  the 
hand."  These  modes  of  punishment  (barbarous  in  the  extreme)  were  derived 
from  Holland  and  England,  which  is  also  true  of  the  forms  of  law,  the  judiciary 
systems,  and  all  that  pertained  to  the  administration  of  justice.  The  public  whip- 
per,  in  early  times,  was  a  familiar  functionary.  In  1713  Richard  Cooper  was  ap- 
pointed to  this  office,  at  a  salary  of  ^^5.  The  practice  of  whipping  and  the  ap- 
pliances of  the  whipping-post  were  introduced  into  all  the  American  colonies.  In 
all  the  New  England  towns  the  whipping-post  was  the  recognized  adjunct  of 
the  courts,  and  flagellation  was  constantly  resorted  to  for  all  forms  of  offences, 
whether  religious,  social  or  political.  In  the  State  of  Delaware  the  knout  sur- 
vives, and  the  whipping-post  still  stands  a  silent  but  most  suggestive  satire  upon 
nineteenth  century  civilization. 

In  1730  the  celebrated  Montgomerie  Charter  was  granted  to  the  city.  This 
is  the  second  in  the  series  of  documents  on  which  the  municipal  rights  still  rest. 
It  ordained  that  there  should  forever  be  "one  Mayor,  one  Recorder,  seven  Alder- 
men, seven  assistants,  one  Sheriff,  one  Coroner,  one  Common  Clerk,  one  Cham- 
berlain, one  High  Constable,  sixteen  Assessors,  seven  Collectors,  sixteen  Con- 
stables, and  one  Marshal,"  to  compose  the  City  Government.  The  Charter  ap- 
pointed Edmund  Peers,  High  Constable;  John  Scott,  Constable  for  the  South 
Ward;  Christopher  Nicholson,  Constable  for  the  Dock  Ward;  Timothy  Bontecon, 
Constable  for  the  North  Ward;  John  Abrahamson,  Constable  for  the  East  Ward, 
and  Arent  Bussing,  Constable  for  the  Harlem  Division  of  the  Out  Ward. 

The  instrument  also  provided  that  within  forty  days  after  date  of  its  publi- 
cation, the  freemen  of  the  city  should  assemble,  and  by  a  i)lurality  of  voices,  choose 
from  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  wards  one  additional  Constable  for  each  ward, 
except  the  Out  Ward,  which  was  to  have  three  more,  two  for  the  Bowery  Division, 
and  one  more  for  Harlem.  It  was  further  ordered  that  on  the  festival  of  St. 
Michael,  the  Archangel,  every  year,  the  freeholders  of  the  several  wards  should 
meet,  as  appointed  by  the  Aldermen,  and  elect  for  each  ward,  except  the  Out 
Ward,  one  Alderman,  one  Assistant,  two  Assessors,  two  Collectors,  and  four  Con- 
stables. The  Mayor,  on  the  same  day,  it  was  arranged,  should  appoint  a  High  Con- 
stable. The  appointment  of  the  Mayor  himself,  and  of  the  Sheriff  and  Coroner, 
still  rested  with  the  Governor  and  his  Council. 

During  the  twenty  years  subsecjuent  to  the  granting  of  Montgomerie's  Char- 
ter, the  city  advanced  considerably  in  its  municipal  affairs.  A  poor-house  and 
watch-houses  were  built,  fire  engines  were  imported,  and  a  Fire  Department  was 
])ermanently  established. 

Those  who  find  fault  with  the  alleged  unsanitary  condition  of  our  thorough- 
fares, should  feel  comforted  upon  perusal  of  this  presentment  by  the  Grand 
Jury,  a  reduced  facsimile  of  the  original. 


OUR  POLICK  PROTECTORS. 


35 


36 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


It  was  resolved  (July  9,  1731),  "to  build  a  watch-house  forthwith,"  on  the 
south  side  of  the  cage  in  Broad  Street,  and  a  committee  of  Aldermen  was  ap- 
pointed to  effect  the  necessary  preliminary  arrangements.  On  the  twenty-sixth  of 
the  following  month  this  committee  submitted  their  report,  which  was  adopted. 
Their  report  set  forth  that  the  said  watch-house  "  ought  to  be  twenty-eight  foot 
long  and  eighteen  foot  broad,  with  two  rooms,  one  of  them  eighteen  foot  long, 
and  the  other  ten  foot,  with  afire-place  in  each  room,  with  two  doors  to  the  south- 
east corner  thereof  and  to  the  south,  and  the  other  to  the  east  side  of  the  said 
corner,  with  three  lights  in  the  large  room,  and  one  small  ditto  in  the  small  room." 


First  Main  Watch-house,  Wall  and  Broad  Streets. 


The  entire  expense  of  which,  according  to  computation,  was  to  amount  to  about 
^60.  This  watch-house  stood  until  1789,  when  it  became  so  dilapidated  that 
its  removal  became  necessary,  and  a  new  one  was  erected. 

Robert  Crannoll,  Marshal  of  the  city,  was  appointed  Supervisor  of  the  Watch 
on  December  14,1731.  He  was  required  to  perform  all  the  duties  of  that  office, 
to  provide  fire  and  candle  for  the  Watch,  to  keep  the  key  of  the  watch-house,  to  keep 
the  watch-house  clean,  and  take  care  that  the  chimney  thereof  be  swept  and 
cleaned  as  often  as  there  should  be  occasion.  For  whjch  services  he  was  allowed 
a  salary  of  j[^2o  j)er  annum. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Common  Council,  held  on  the  same  date,  a  law  remodel- 
ing the  system  of  night  watching  was  three  times  read  and  approved.  It  was 
then  ordered  that  "  the  same  be  forthwith   jjrinted   and  i)ublished,  and  the 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


37 


same,  after  the  ringing  of  three  hells,  was  puhlished  accordingly."  This  law 
opened  with  a  long  preamble,  setting  forth  that  all  inhabitants  of  the  city,  "south 
of  Fresh  Water  "  whether  "  freemen  of  the  city  "  or  mere  residents,  provided  they 
were  i)hysically  able,  ought  by  reason  of  their  habitation  to  keep  watch  for  the 
"  preservation  of  the  King's  peace,  and  for  the  arresting  and  apprehending  of  all 
night-walkers,  malefactors,  and  suspected  persons,  which  shall  be  found  passing, 
wandering  and  misbehaving  themselves."  The  preamble  further  set  forth  that 
the  functions  of  a  Constable  extended  not  only  to  the  ward  in  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed, but  also  to  the  whole  city.  It  was  declared  too,  that  "  there  is  now, 
and  of  late  years  hath  been,  by  reason  of  great  numbers  of  people  privately  coming 
into  the  said  city  from  all  parts,  some  whereof  are  suspected  to  be  convict  felons, 
transported  from  Great  Brittain."  For  this  reason  it  was  set  forth  that  the  need 
for  a  strong  and  efficient  watch  was  very  great. 

After  this  formidable  opening,  the  "  Mayor,  Recorder,  and  Aldermen  assem- 
bled," went  on  to  ordain  that  each  one  of  the  Constables  of  the  six  wards  on  the 
south  side  of  Fresh  Water,  in  turn,  together  with  eight  able-bodied  Watchmen  (or 
as  many  more  as  the  Mayor  and  three  Aldermen  might  from  time  to  time  direct), 
should  keep  watch  every  night  at  the  public  watch-house,  or  such  other  point  as 
might  be  selected,  from  April  i  until  Michaelmas  Day,  from  nine  o'clock  in  the 
evening  until  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  ;  and  from  Michaelmas  Day  to  April  i, 
from  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  It  appears  that 
the  Aldermen  and  assistants  had  lately  taken  "an  exact  survey  "  of  the  six  wards, 
and  made  a  list  of  all  the  inhabitants  and  housekeejiers  in  them,  who  were  able  to 
watch  or  find  Watchmen.  I'rom  this  it  appeared  that  some  of  the  wards  were 
much  larger  than  others,  and  ought  therefore  to  furnish  a  greater  number  of  men 
to  the  Watch.  In  order  to  equalize  the  burden,  therefore,  it  was  ordained  that  ail 
the  citizens  dwelling  south  of  Fresh  Water  should  watch  according  to  the  follow- 
ing arrangement: 

Inhabitants  of  the  East  Ward  for  seventeen  nights,  beginning  December  2. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  Dock  Ward  next  in  order  for  twelve  nights,  from 
December  19;  and  when  it  came  to  their  turn  again,  for  thirteen  nights. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  North  Ward  for  twelve  nights,  from  and  including 
December  31. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  South  Ward  for  ten  nights,  beginning  January  12. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  West  Ward  for  eight  nights,  from  January  22  inclusive 
to  the  end  of  the  month. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  Montgomerie  Ward  for  eight  nights,  from  January  30 
to  February  7. 

When  all  had  performed  duty  in  this  manner,  the  East  Ward  was  to  begin 
again,  and  so  on.  The  Alderman  and  Assistant  of  each  ward  were  to  detail  the 
Constables  in  their  turn  to  "  have  the  rule,  care,  and  oversight  of  the  Watch," 
and  were  also  to  choose  from  among  the  inhabitants  the  necessary  number  to 
watch  with  the  Constable.  They  were  instructed  to  "begin  at  one  certain  place* 
in  detailing  the  citizens,  and  "  proceed  and  go  forwards  in  an  orderly  manner," 
until  the  whole  ward  had  watched,  whereupon  they  were  to  begin  again.  Citizens 
who  did  not  choose  to  take  their  regular  turns  were  obliged  to  find  substitutes. 


38 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  Constable  whose  turn  it  was  had  to  give  the  citizens  a  day's  notice  of  their 
tour  of  duty,  waiting  on  the  Alderman  or  Assistant  in  advance  to  obtain  the  list  of 
names.  The  notice  of  watch  duty  was  either  to  be  personal,  or  else  in  writing, 
left  at  the  house  of  the  person  to  be  notified.  A  list  of  these  persons  was  then 
to  be  delivered  to  the  Constable  whose  turn  it  was  to  command  the  Watch. 
"And  if  any  person,"  the  ordinance  proceeds,  "  appointed  and  warned  to  watch  or 
to  find  an  able  and  fit  person  to  watch  in  his,  her,  (woman's  rights  seem  to  have 
been  practically  recognized,  as  she  was  eligible  to  do  service  on  the  ^^'atch  or  find 
a  substitute,)  or  their  stead  and  room,  as  aforesaid,  make  default  in  not  watching 
and  performing  the  duty  of  a  Watchman  as  aforesaid,  or  being  drunk  on  the  said 
Watch,  leaving  the  Watch  before  the  time  of  watching  be  expired,  or  otherwise 
misbehaving,  (it  is  ordered)  that  then  every  such  person  so  refusing,  leaving 
the  Watch,  misbehaving  himself,  or  making  default  as  aforesaid,  and  not  hav- 
ing just  and  reasonable  cause  for  such  his  default  as  shall  be  allowed  of  by 
the  Mayor  of  the  said  city  or  the  Alderman  of  that  ward  for  the  time  being,  shall 
forfeit  and  pay  for  every  such  default  the  sum  of  eight  shillings,  current  money, 
aforesaid." 

The  city  fathers  further  provided  for  the  appointment  of  a  Supervisor  of 
the  Watch  "to  take  care  and  oversee  that  the  Watch  and  watches  within  the  said 
city  henceforth  be  duly  kept,"  or  else  that  the  forfeits  be  paid.  Boys,  appren- 
tices, or  servants,  were  not  to  be  permitted  to  serve  on  the  Watch,  but  only  "  able 
and  sober  men  of  good  reputation."  A  long  paragraph  is  devoted  to  defining  the 
duties  of  the  Supervisor.  It  is  a  mere  amplification  of  the  phrase  that  he  is  to 
see  the  Watch  "duly  kept." 

At  the  same  meeting  at  which  this  enactment  was  made  Mr.  Robert  Cran- 
nell  was  appointed  Marshal  of  the  City,  and  the  Mayor  issued  his  warrant  to 
Edward  Brewen,  the  Public  Whipper,  for  the  sum  of  for  a  cjuarter  year's 
salary. 

The  system  thus  elaborated  does  not  appear  to  have  survived  long,  for,  in 
1734,  an  ordinance  went  into  operation  providing  that*  twelve  persons,  including 
two  Constables,  should  be  hired  to  be  the  City  Watch  during  the  winter.  One 
of  the  Constables  was  to  be  on  duty  with  five  men  ever)'  alternate  night,  and  the 
Watch  was  to  be  called  the  Constable's  Watch,  and  was  to  be  at  the  orders  of  the 
Mayor  or  other  officials.  The  corporation  supplied  fire  and  light,  and  paid  eacR 
man  _;^5,ioj.  for  service  from  December  4  to  May  i  following,  each  of  the  Con- 
stables "  for  their  encouragement,"  receiving  20^.  additional. 

In  1735  six  Watchmen  were  appointed  to  serve  for  two  months.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Common  Council,  held  on  October  31,  1735,  ^'^'^  Richard  being 
Mayor,  it  was  agreed  to  appeal  to  the  General  Assembly  to  levy  j[,T)Oo  on  the  real 
and  personal  estate  of  the  city  to  defray  the  expense. 

In  October,  1738,  twelve  Watchmen  were  appointed  to  ser\-e  till  the  first  of 
May,  "who,  together  with  the  Constables  in  their  turns,  are  to  be  the  Constable  and 
Night-watch."  The  number  was  reduced  in  the  next  year  to  three.  In  October, 
1 74 1,  the  deputy  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  brought  in  a  draft  of  a  bill  for 
a  Night-watch,  which  was  ordered  to  be  carried  to  the  General  Assembly. 

In  1740  occurred  that  celebrated  scare  known  in  history  as  the  Negro  Plot. 


OLK  J'OLJCK  PROrECrORS. 


39 


Whether  any  conspiracy  existed  against  the  lives  and  property  of  the  colonists  is 
a  question  that  can  never  be  set  at  rest  now.  There  can  he  no  doubt,  however, 
that  several  unfortunates  suffered  death,  just  as  if  they  had  been  actual  conspira- 
tors, and  that  the  entire  community  was  stricken  with  terror  at  the  i)rospect 
of  ])illage  and  assassination.  One  result  of  the  affair  was  the  appointment  in  i  741 
of  thirty-six  night  watchmen,  including  three  overseers.  They  were  divided  into 
three  reliefs  of  eleven  men  each,  and  these  took  regular  turns  in  guarding  the  city. 
The  hours  of  duty  were  from  an  liour  after  sunset  to  the  beating  of  the  reveille 
next  morning.  The  expense  of  this  Watch  was  defrayed  from  a  tax  of  ^^5741 
2J.,  which  the  Municipality  was  authorized  to  raise  by  a  special  Act  of  the 
General  Assembly. 

.Vbout  the  year  17 14  the  paupers  were  beginning  to  lie  both  numerous  and 
troulilesome,  and  it  was  proposed,  instead  of  maintaining  tiiem  1)\'  weekly  pittances, 
as  had  liitherto  been  done,  to  provide  a  house  wliere  they  could  be  cared  for  at 
the  public  expense,  and  be  made  to  contribute  somewhat  towards  their  li\  eiihood. 
This  s(  heme,  however,  was 
not  carried  into  effect  until 
1734,  when  a  commodious 
house  was  erected  on  the 
commons,  in  the  rear  of  the 
l)resent  City  Hall,  and  on 
the  site  of  the  future  "  old 
Alms  House."  The  build- 
ing was  forty-six  feet  long, 
twenty-four  feet  wide,  and 
two  stories  high,  with  a 
cellar  ;  and  was  furnished 
with  implements  of  labor 
for  the  use  of  the  inmates. 
The  Churchwardens  were 
appointed  as  Overseers  of 
the  Poor,  and  all  paupers 
were  recpiired  to  work  under  penalty  of  receiving  "  moderate  "  correction.  As 
the  building  was  also  a  house  of  correction  it  was  used  as  a  sort  of  calaboose  for 
unrulv  slaves,  their  masters  having  permission  to  send  them  thither  for  punishment. 

A  number  of  police  regulations  were  adopted  in  August,  1742.  One  of  these 
ordered  that  tweU  e  men,  with  a  Constable,  constantly  watch  every  Sunday  "  from 
sunrise  to  sunset,  and  that  such  Watch  be  continued  in  turn  as  the  Night-watch 
are."  Another  provided  that  on  every  Sunday  morning  from  daylight  to  the  time 
of  the  setting  of  the  military  guard,  and  from  five  o'clock  P.  M. — when  the  guard 
was  dismissed — until  the  evening  Watch  came  on,  means  be  adopted  "to  prevent 
the  irregularities  lately  so  much  practiced  by  negroes,  children,  and  others  on  the 
Sabbath  day."  The  metliod  was  for  one  Alderman,  one  petty  Constable,  and 
four  firemen  to  walk  around  the  city  during  the  hours  indicated,  while  on  alternate 
Sundays  the  Assistant  Alderman,  the  High  Constable  or  Marshal,  one  petty  Con- 
stable, and  three  firemen  should  serve. 


First  Poor  House  (City  Hall  Park). 


4° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  rules  of  1741  regarding  the  Night-watch  were  in  effect  renewed,  the 
ground  being  stated  that  of  recent  years  great  numbers  of  convicts  had  come 
into  the  city,  and  it  was  necessary  to  provide  against  "  insurrections  and  the 
plots  of  slaves."  Constables  who  failed  in  their  duty  were  to  be  fined  ten 
shillings  ;  no  boys  or  apprentices  were  to  lie  allowed  on  the  Watch  ;  and  the 
Constable  in  charge  was  to  send  out  the  first  rounds  precisely  an  hour  after  sun- 
set, and  immediately  on  the  return  of  the  first  rounds  should  send  out  another. 
The  rounds  consisted  of  four  Watchmen,  and  their  duty  was  to  walk  the  streets, 
lanes,  wharves,  and  alleys,  and  they  were  not  to  return  to  the  watch-house  in  less 
than  an  hour,  except  upon  extraordinary  occasions.  Upon  the  return  of  the 
second  rounds,  the  Constable  in  charge  was  obliged  to  go  out  himself  with  the 
remaining  three  Watchmen,  and  do  just  as  his  predecessors.  The  process  was 
then  repeated,  and  in  the  morning  the  Constable  called  the  roll  to  see  that  all  his 
men  had  done  full  duty.  The  actual  expense  of  the  Watch  department  was 
thereby  increased  from  al)out  ^^50  to  ^{^448. 

In  this  year,  Robert  Bowne,  a  Quaker,  being  elected  Constable  for  Mont- 
gomerie  Ward,  refused  to  serve,  on  the  groimd  that  Quakers  were,  by  law, 
exempt  from  such  duty.  The  case  being  carried  to  the  Chief  Justice  it 
was  decided  in  favor  of  the  Quaker,  and  a  new  election  was  therefore  ordered. 

In  1746  the  Recorder  proposed  to  the  Common  Council,  on  the  part  of  a 
joint  committee  of  the  Assembly  and  Council  that  the  latter  body  should  have  a 
small  Watch-house  built  near  the  Powdpr  House.  The  committee  proposed  to 
supply  AVatchmen  until  a  proper  magazine  could  be  erected  within  the  stockades. 
This  proposal  was  approved  by  the  Common  Council,  and  the  committee  charged 
with  enlarging  the  Poor  House  was  intrusted  to  build  the  Watch-house.  The 
military  watch  that  the  troublous  times  rendered  needful  was  a  sore  burden  to 
the  New  Yorkers. 

On  June  3,  1747,  a  committee  of  five  Aldermen  were  appointed  to  prepare 
a  draft  of  an  address  and  petition  to  his  Excellency,  the  Governor,  to  ease  the 
city  of  the  burden  of  keeping  a  military  watch.  This  committee,  under  instruc- 
tions, reported  the  following  day. 

The  petition  represented  that  many  of  the  inhabitants  "  have  three  or  four 
sons  and  as  many  servants  or  apprentices,  who  are  obliged  to  watch  in  their  turns, 
the  consequence  of  which  is  a  loss  of  about  forty  shillings  to  every  such  inhabi- 
tant." The  petition  concludes  by  asking  his  Excellency  to  order  down  "  one  of 
the  Independent  Companies  now  at  Albany,  or  one  of  the  companies  of  the  new 
levies  now  also  there,  or  such  i)art  of  either  of  them." 

The  Common  Council,  it  is  cpiite  i)lain  from  the  records,  had  an  inordinate 
love  of  detail.  Instances  of  this  have  been  seen  already;  another  is  to  be 
found  in  the  minutes  of  December  20,  1750.  The  manner  in  which  the  six 
Watchmen  were  ordered  to  perform  their  rounds  is  as  follows  :  Two  of  them 
were  to  go  out  first,  one  of  them  to  carry  a  bell,  and  the  other  his  staff.  The 
bell  was  to  be  rung  "in  the  most  public  places,"  and  the  time  of  night  was  to  be 
proclaimed.  The  other  four  Watchmen  were  to  set  out  soon  after  the  first  two, 
and  take  a  different  route,  all  meeting  together  at  places  appointed  by  the  person 
having  charge  of  the  Watch. 


I 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  41 

These  Watchmen,  or  Bellmen  as  they  were  sometimes  called,  or  among  the 
Dutch,  "  Kloppermannen,"  carried  with  them  a  kind  of  a  bell,  a  lantern,  and  an 
hour-glass.  At  every  house,  with  loud  clattering  of  their  "  Klopper,"  they  cried 
out  "  the  time  of  the  night,  and  the  season  of  the  weather."  They  were  em- 
ployed only  during  the  winter  time,  or  from  first  of  November  to  the  twenty-fifth 
of  March,  and  received  ^^15  each.  They  furnished  their  own  fire  and  light. 
The  expense  of  the  Watch  varied  from  ^60  to  ^36,  or  ^9  per  man,  during  the 
winter  season.  The  average  expense  from  the  year  1 700  to  1 740  was  ^{^^44  per 
annum. 

It  is  with  a  sigh  of  profound  relief  that  one  turns  to  consider  the  nocturnal 
habits  of  "  The  Finest  "  after  reading  the  following  account  of  the  jjroceedings 
of  the  Watch  in  bygone  days  :  "At  the  ringing  of  the  bell  of  the  Fort" — it 
seems  as  if  our  forefathers  could  do  nothing  without  ringing  a  bell — "  at  nine 
o'clock,  a  Sergeant-Major,  with  his  halberd,  j)roceedcd,  followed  by  the  A\'atch,  to 
each  of  the  city  gates,  which  he  locked  for  the  night.  He  then  stationed  each 
man  at  his  particular  post,  and  to 
secure  the  vigilant  discharge  of  his 
duty,  each  Watchman  was  re([uirfd 
to  go,  once  every  hour,  through  that 
j)art  of  the  city  which  was  allotted  to 
him,  and  with  a  bell  to  proclaim  the 
time  of  the  night  and  the  state  of  the 
weather — a  regulation  which,  no 
doubt,  secured  a  vigilant  discharge 
of  the  Watchman's  duty.  But  it 
must  have  been  disturbing  to  all  but 
sound  sleepers  to  have  had  their 
slumbers  broken  at  regular  intervals 
by  the  loud  ringing  of  a  bell,  and  a 
hoarse  voice  announcing  such  infor- 
mation as,  "  Past  two  o'clock,  and  a 
dark  and  cloudy  morning." 

The  English  Watchman,  in  no  essential  particular,  differed  from  his  Dutch 
predecessor.  Both  went  about  performing  their  duties  in  the  most  lugubrious 
fashion — carrying  their  bells,  hour-glasses,  lanterns  and  staffs — like  some  protean 
character  of  the  stage  who  is  equipped  to  represent  Diogenes,  the  Man  with  the 
Scythe,  a  grave  digger  and  a  dustman. 

The  practice  of  the  Watch  calling  out  the  time  of  night  at  regular  intervals 
was  borrowed  from  Germany,  where,  in  the  burghs  or  towns,  it  was  at  first  the 
custom  to  station  guardians  of  the  night  in  the  steeples  of  churches  or  other 
elevated  places;  and,  as  a  security  against  their  going  to  sleep,  to  require  tiiem 
every  hour  to  proclaim  the  hour  of  the  night.  When  this  was  changed  to  a  regu- 
lar patroling  of  the  streets,  the  custom  of  calling  the  hour  was  continued  probably 
for  the  same  reason.  The  German  Watchman,  who,  like  the  generality  of  his 
countrymen,  was  of  a  musical  turn  of  mind,  accompanied  the  calling  of  the  time 
of  the  night  by  singing  a  verse  of  a  religious  song,  inculcating  some  precept  of 


42 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Christian  doctrine,  the  words  being  so  arranged  or  varied  as  to  be  applicable  to  a 
particular  time  of  the  night.  Following  is  a  translation  of  a  verse  of  one  of 
these  Watchman's  songs  : 

"  Hark  ye,  neighbors,  and  hear  me  tell 
Ten  now  strikes  on  the  belfry  bell, 
Ten  were  the  holy  commandments  given 
To  man  below,  by  God  in  heaven. 
Human  watch  from  harm  can't  ward  us; 
Yet  God  will  watch  and  guide  and  guard  us. 
May  He,  through  his  heavenly  might. 
Give  us  all  a  blessed  night." 


Old  Jail  (City  Hall  Park). 


The  old  Jail  was  built  in  1758  on  what  was  then  known  as  "the  fields,"  the 
City  Hall  Park,  of  the  present  day.  It  was  a  small  stone  building,  nearly  square^ 
three  stories  in  height,  having  its  main  entrance  on  the  south  side.  The  old  Jail 
continued  to  be  the  prison  of  the  city  until  1775,  when  the  new  Bridewell  was 
erected,  and  on  the  occupation  of  the  city  by  the  British  they  were  both  turned 
into  military  prisons.  The  Jail  was  then  known  as  the  "  Prevost,"  or  "  Prevo," 
and  became  famous  under  the  control  of  Ca])tain  William  Cimningham,  Provost 
Marshal,  who,  by  the  appointment  of  (General  Gage,  was  at  the  head  of  the  i)olice 
of  the  city. 

In  1 758  there  was  another  change  of  system,  back  to  the  Citizens'  Watch. 
Under  the  new  rules,  the  inhabitants  of  the  West  Ward  were  to  do  duty  tor  nine 
nights  successively;  those  of  the  South  Ward  for  five  nights;  of  thcj  Dock  Ward 
for  five  nights;  of  the  East  Ward  for  ten  nights;  of  the  North  Ward  for  eight 
nights;  and  of  the  Montgomerie  Ward  for  eleven  nights.    When  all  had  watched, 


OUR  POLICE  rROTECTORS. 


43 


they  were  to  begin  over  again,  and  so  on.  In  1761,  however,  we  find  once  more  a 
return  to  jviid  watchers,  for  on  December  28,  Mr.  Stoutenburgh,  presumably  a 
member  of  the  Common  Council,  was  authorized  by  that  body  to  advertise  for 
men  to  "  light  the  lamps  speedily  to  be  erected,"  and  to  watch  the  city.  Again,  in 
1762,  a  committee  was  ai)pointed  to  arrange  terms  with  persons  who  offered  their 
services  as  Watchmen,  and,  later  in  the  same  year,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
prei)are  estimates  of  the  expense  of  watching  and  lighting  lamjjs  during  the 
ensuing  year. 

Bv  act  of  assembly,  authority  was  given  to  the  corporation,  in  1761,  to  y)lace 
public  lamps  in  the  streets,  which  became  a  source  of  considerable  expense  to  the 
city.  The  cost  after  the  system  became  established,  say  for  the  second  year,  1763, 
was  found  to  be  about  ;^20o  per  annum.  Four  years  subsequently  the  expense 
of  lighting  and  watching  the  city  had  increased  to  ^1,400  per  annum. 

Thevear  1764  was  marked  in  the  ])olice  annals  by  the  erection  of  a  new  pil- 
lorv  with  a  large  wooden  cage  behind  it,  between  the  new  Jail  (the  present  Hall  of 
Records)  and  the  Work-house,  which  occupied  the  site  of  the  present  City  Hall. 
The  cage  was  for  the  punishment  of  disorderly  boys  who  "  publically"  broke  the 
Sabbath. 

The  system  showed  signs  of  considerable  progress  and  development  about 
this  time.  In  1767  the  Mayor  was  requested  by  the  Common  Council  to  apply  to 
the  General  Assembly  for  power  to  raise  _;^i,4oo  for  defraying  the  expenses  of 
maintaining  Watchmen,  and  of  lighting  and  supplying  the  lamps. 

A  similar  application  was  made  in  1 772  for  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  for  raising 
the  sum  of  _;^i,8oo  to  defray  the  expense  attending  the  public  lamps  and  watching 
the  city.  In  July,  1 773,  a  resolution  was  passed,  allowing  the  Marshals  and  Con- 
stables two  shillings  for  every  vagrant  they  arrested.  In  1774,  sixteen  men  were 
employed  to  watch  and  to  light  the  street  lamps  every  night.  Their  annual  salary 
was  fixed  at  ^^32.  There  were  also  employed  eight  Watchmen,  to  do  duty  on 
alternate  nights,  receiving  a  salary  of  16  per  annum  each.  This  Watch  was  set 
from  March  10  to  September  10  at  nine  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  remained  on  duty  to 
four  o'clock  next  morning.  During  the  other  six  months  the  hours  were  from  ten 
in  the  evening  to  six  the  next  morning. 

In  June,  1775,  the  committee  appointed  to  draw  up  some  necessary  orders 
and  regulations  respecting  the  City  Watch, presented  the  same,which  were  approved, 
and  it  was  ordered  that  copies  be  delivered  to  the  Captains  of  the  Watch  for  their 
guidance.  These  orders  and  regulations  are  not  inserted  in  the  record.  The 
Watchmen,  on  May  i,  1776,  were  reduced  in  number  to  a  Captain  and  three 
men. 

The  old  ]>ridewell  formerly  stood  in  City  Hall  Park,  between  the  City 
Hall  and  Broadway.  It  was  erected  in  1775,  ^"^^  ^^'^^  demolished  in  1838.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  with  due  ceremony  by  Mayor  Hicks.  The  building  was 
built  of  dark  grey  stone,  two  stories  high,  besides  the  basement,  with  a  pedi- 
ment in  the  front  and  in  the  rear,  which  were  carried  uj)  a  story  higher.  The 
centre  apartments  were  allotted  to  the  keeper  and  his  deputies.  On  the  first 
floor  on  the  right,  there  was  an  aj)artment  called  the  Long  Room,  and  on  the 
left  a  similar  apartment  ;  on  the  second  floor  there  were  two  wards,  the  one 


44 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


called  the  Upper  Hall,  and  the  other  the  Chain  Room.  The  upper  hall  was 
appropriated  to  the  higher  class  of  convicts. 

The  old  Bridewell  derives  its  principal  interest  from  its  being  used  by  the 
British,  during  the  Revolution,  as  a  place  of  confinement  of  American  soldiers 
who  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  taken  prisoners.  Here,  as  in  all  other  places 
used  for  that  purpose  in  this  city,  oruelty,  misery,  and  starvation  agonized  its  help- 
less victims. 

The  first  Bridewell  in  New  York  was  built  as  early  as  1734,  and  it  continued 
to  be  occupied  for  many  years  as  a  house  of  correction. 


The  Old  Bridewell  (City  Hall  Park.) 

The  City  Hospital,  between  Duane  and  Anthony  Streets,  upon  the  west  side 
of  Broadway,  was  commenced  in  the  year  1771,  and  completed  before  the  war  of 
Independence,  when  it  was  converted  into  a  barrack  for  the  reception  of  troops. 
It  was  not  until  January  3,  r79i,  that  it  was  opened  for  the  admission  of  patients. 
This  hospital  was  the  scene  of  "  the  Doctor's  riot."  The  public  mind  had  been 
excited  over  rumors  that  the  cemeteries  had  been  rifled  of  dead  bodies  by  the  stu- 
dents for  anatomical  subjects.  On  Sunday  morning,  April  13,  i788,a  mischievous 
boy  had  climbed  on  a  ladder  to  one  of  the  hospital  windows,  and  his  curiosity  to 
know  what  was  going  on  inside  was  gratified  by  having  an  arm  flourished  in  his  face. 
The  arm  aforesaid  was  wielded  by  a  student,  but  the  member  was  not  his  own — it 
was  part  of  a  subject  on  the  dissecting  table.    The  boy,  aghast  with  horror,  ran 


OUR  rOIJCK  PKOTF.Cl'ORS. 


45 


Home  and  spread  the  news  that  llie  students  were  cutting  up  dead  bodies.  The 
hospital  was  soon  surrounded  hy  an  infuriated  mob,  who  burst  in  the  doors.  The 
doctors  took  refuge  in  the  jail,  where  they  Avere  with  difificulty  protected.  The 
mob,  bent  on  wreaking  vengeance  on  all  the  doctors  in  the  city,  started  for  the 
house  of  Dr.  Cochrane,  which  they  ransacked  from  cellar  to  garret  in  search  of 
the  doctor  and  anatomical  subjects.  The  house  of  Sir  John  Temple  narrowly  es- 
caped destruction.  Noticing  the  name,  tlie  mob  mistook  "  Sir  John  "  for  surgeon, 
and  that  titled  personage  came  near  being  reduced  to  the  mutilated  condition  of 
one  of  the  surgeons' 
dissecting  subjects. 
^V"hile  endeavoring  to 
disperse  the  mob, 
Secretary  Jay  and 
Baron  Steuben  were 
severely  wounded. 
Mayor  Duane  and 
(iovernor  Clinton 
then  gave  the  order 
to  the  military  to  fire, 
and  five  persons  were 
killed  and  seven  or 
eight  badly  wounded. 
The  crowd  then  fled. 

We  have  now  ar- 
rived at  the  trouljlous 
period  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, when  the  mili- 
tary officers  usurped 
all  the  functions  of 
government,  and  the 
citizens  lay  at  the 
mercy  of  an  unscrup- 
ulous  soldiery. 
Everything  was  then 
done  in  compliance 
with  orders  from  the 
commanders  of  the  British  troops,  and  the  interests  of  the  King  were  the  fore- 
most consideration. 

The  defeat  of  the  Patriot  army  in  the  Battle  of  Long  Island  on  August  27, 
1776,  led  to  the  occupation  of  the  city  by  the  British  a  fortnight  later.  Very  shortly 
after,  the  whole  western  side  of  the  city  from  Bowling  Green  to  the  present  line  of 
Vesey  Street  was  swept  by  fire,  Trinity  Church  being  among  the  edifices  destroyed. 
Immediately  after  this  disaster,  Major-General  James  Robertson,  one  of  the  Brit- 
ish commanders,  issued  the  proclamation  of  which  the  following  is  a  literal  copy: 

"Whereas,  there  is  ground  to  believe  that  the  Rebels,  not  satisfied  with  the  De- 
struction of  Part  of  the  City,  entertain  Designs  of  burning  the  Rest  ;  And  it  as 


46 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


thought  that  a  Watcl^  to  inspect  all  Parts  of  the  C'ity,  to  apprehend  Incendiaries, 
and  to  stifle  Fires  before  they  rise  to  a  dangerous  Height,  might  be  a  necessary  and 
proper  means  to  prevent  such  a  calamity  ;  Many  of  the  principal  Inhabitants  have 
applied  to  me  to  form  such  a  Watch,  and  have  all  offered  to  watch  in  person. 

I  do  therefore  require  and  direct  That  all  Persons  may  take  a  Part  in  this 
Matter,  and  turn  out  to  Watch  when  called  for.  A  sense  of  duty  and  Interest 
will  lead  all  good  Subjects  and  Citizens  cheerfully  to  give  their  Attendance  ;  And 
any  who  refuse  to  take  Part  in  preserving  the  City  will  be  judged  unworthy  to  in- 
habit it.  I  have  appointed  Persons  to  summon  and  Superintend  the  Watch  of  each 
Ward,  and  the  number  of  Men  to  l)e  given  by  each  is  subjoined. 

Signed  : 

JAMES  ROBERTSON, 

Major-General,  Commander  in  New  York. 

The  Out  Ward  to  furnish  fourteen  men  each  night.  Montgomerie  Ward  to 
furnish  fifteen  men  each  night.  North  Ward  to  furnish  fifteen  men  each  night. 
These  to  meet  at  the  Guard  Room  near  Cuyler's  Sugar  House. 

West  Ward  to  furnish  six  men  each  night.  South  Ward  to  furnish  four  men 
each  night.  Dock  Ward  to  furnish  ten  men  each  night.  East  Ward  to  furnish 
sixteen  men  each  night.    These  to  meet  at  the  Guard  House  in  Hanover  Scjuare. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  foreign  troops  were  more  exigent  than  the  regular 
City  government  had  ever  been.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  if  they  were  as  well  or 
as  cheerfully  served.  The  following  year  (1777),  Major-General  Robert  Pigot 
commanding  in  the  city,  issued  a  supplementary  proclamation,  as  follows  : 

Whereas,  by  a  Proclamation  issued  by  Major-General  James  Robertson,  who 
lately  commanded  in  New  York,  a  City  Watch  was  established,  and  all  Persons, 
Inhabitants  of  said  City,  were  thereby  ordered  to  take  their  turn  in  Watching, 
when  called  on  for  that  purpose: 

And  Whereas,  the  Necessity  of  Keeping  up  the  said  Watch,  and  a  punctual 
attendance  thereto,  must  appear  evident  to  every  good  Citizen  ;  and  it  having 
been  represented  unto  me,  that  several  Persons,  Inhabitants  of  this  City,  altho' 
duly  warned  to  take  their  Turn  in  Watching,  have,  notwithstanding,  either  neg- 
lected or  refused  to  give  their  Attendance  : 

I  have,  therefore,  thought  fit  to  issue  this  Proclamation,  hereby  requiring  all 
Persons,  residing  in  the  City  of  New  York,  to  take  a  part  in  a  Matter,  so  neces- 
sary for  the  Preservation  of  this  City,  hereby  informing  all  such  Persons  as  refuse 
or  neglect  to  give  their  attendance,  that  they  will  be  judged  unworthy  Inhabitants, 
and  will  be  ordered  to  remove  accordingly.  And  I  do  hereby  require  the  Per- 
sons heretofore  appointed  to  Superintend  the  said  Watch  that  they  make  return 
to  me  of  all  persons  who  shall  hereafter  refuse  or  neglect  to  watch  when  called 
upon  for  that  purpose  in  order  that  they  may  be  dealt  with  accordingly: 

Given  under  my  hand  at  New  York  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  February,  in 
the  seventeenth  year  of  His  Maje.sty's  reign,  1777. 

R.  T.  PIGO  r." 

It  was  not  easy  work  to  keep  the  citizens  up  to  watching  in  the  interest  of  the 
King,  and  every  year  brought  a  fresh  proclamation.  Major-General  Daniel 
Jones,  "  Commanding  His  Majesty's  Forces  on  the  Island  of  New  York,  Long 
Island,  Staten  Island,  and  the  Posts  depending,"  issued  one  on  May  4,  1778,  the 
body  of  which  ran  as  follows  : 

"  Whereas,  it  is  thought  expedient,  in  order  to  give  the  necessary  Assistance 
to  the  Commandant  of  the  City,  that  a  Superintendent-General  of  the  Police 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  47 

should  be  appointed;  I  do  hereby  appoint  Andrew  ElHot,  Esq.,  Superintendent- 
General  of  the  Police  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  its  Dependencies,  with 
Powers  and  Authorities  to  issue  such  orders  and  Regulations  from  Time  to  Time 
as  may  most  effectually  tend  to  the  Suppression  of  Vice  and  I^icenliousness;  the 
Support  of  the  Poor;  the  Direction  of  the  nightly  Watch;  the  Regulation  of 
Markets  and  Ferries;  and  all  other  Matters,  in  which  the  P^conomy,  Peace,  and 
good  Order  of  the  City  of  New  York  and  its  Environs  are  concerned.  The 
Sui)erintendent-General  will  be  assisted  in  the  Administration  of  the  Police  by 
David  Mattiiews,  Escp,  Mayor  of  this  City;  and  I  so  hereby  enjoin  and  re(iuire 
all  Persons  whatever,  to  pay  due  obedience  to  the  Superintendent-General,  the 
Mayor,  and  all  others  acting  in  authority  imdcr  them,  in  the  Execution  of  their 
Duty;  and  all  Military  Officers  commanding  Guards,  to  assist  them  when  it  shall 
be  found  necessary." 

Mr.  Elliot  used  his  powers  for  very  little  purpose  except  the  annoyance  of 
patriotically  inclined  persons.  The  next  document  in  order  bears  date  of  June 
18,  1778.  It  is  an  order  issued  by  Charles  Rooke,  an  Aide-de-Camp,  who  opens 
by  speaking  of  the  great  service  which  the  City  Watch  "established  soon  after  His 
Majesty's  Troops  took  possession  of 
New  York,"  had  done  in  preserving 
the  "  Safety  and  good  Order  of  the 
City."  "The  Cheerfulness  and 
Alacrity  with  which  this  duty  has 
been  performed,"  he  says,  "does 
Honour  to  the  Inhabitants.  The 
General,"  he  says,  "  recommends  a 
steady  Perseverance  in  this  essential 
public  Service.  That  it  may  be  the 
less  burdensome  to  the  good  Citi- 
zens, he  shall  grant  as  few  exemp-  "-"^^  ^"^  '^^y  °^  "-^^  Bndeweli. 
tions  as  possible."  He  orders  that  the  inferior  officers,  artificers,  and  laborers 
employed  in  the  King's  service  are  to  take  a  share  in  the  City  Watch  when  their 
duties  will  permit  of  it. 

The  following  document  is  worth  quoting,  as  developing  the  military  use  of 
the  Police: 

TO  THE  POLICE. 

The  Commandant  hereby  appoints  Jeronymus  Alstyne  and  John  Armory, 
Directors  of  the  City  Watch,  under  the  order  of  the  Police. 

The  Police  are  to  order  such  nightly  watch  and  make  such  disposition  of 
them  as  the  security  of  the  City  may  retpiire. 

The  former  regulations  of  the  Commandant  are  to  continue  in  force  and  the 
neglects  of  duty  are  to  be  punished  according  to  those  regulations,  which  the 
Police  are  to  see  duly  executed. 

The  fines  arising  from  such  neglects  are  to  be  paid  to  Mr.  Smith,  Treasurer 
of  the  City  Funds,  and  applied  to  pay  such  expenses  as  this  establishment  may 
incur. 

By  order  of  Commandant, 

ANDREW  ELLIOTT,  Superintendent-General. 

DAVID  MATTHEWS,  Mayor. 

PETER  DU  BOIS,  Magistrate  of  Police. 

New  York,  May  21,  1779. 


48  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

But  the  knell  of  England's  power  in  America  had  already  rung.  Disaster  had 
met  her  forces  in  the  field.  The  result  of  the  war  was  easily  foreseen.  The  ener- 
gies of  the  New  York  garrison  were  now  directed  mainly  to  persecuting  the  patriot 
residents,  so  many  thousands  of  whom  died  in  the  extemporized  prisons  in  city 
and  harbor. 

The  Watchmen  were  allowed  from  1780,  one  shilling  a  night  additional  to 
their  pay  for  services  during  the  months  of  January,  February  and  March. 

But  slight  progress  was  made  in  the  system  of  policing  the  city  under  British 
rule.    The  chapter  of  English  rule  in  New  York  closes  here. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


49 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  CITY  OUTGROWING  THE  SYSTEM  OF  WATCHING. 


1783-1830. 


The  City  divided  into  Seven  Wards. — New  York  described  as  "A  Strange 
Mosaic  of  Different  Nations." — The  Force  and  the  Pay  of  the  Men  in- 
creased.— Progress  of  the  Police  System  very  marked. — Establishing  a 
Police  Office  in  the  City  Hall. — Places  of  Confinement  :  State  Prison, 
Penitentiary,  Bridewell  and  Jail. — The  Watch  doubled  on  account  of 
the  increase  of  Crime. — Example  of  "A  Good  Arrest." — An  Act  estab- 
lishing Courts  of  Justices  ok  the  Peace  and  Assistant  Justices. — A  Law 
for  the  better  regulating  of  the  City  Watch. — Petition  for  an  In- 
crease of  Pay. — A  perfect  Police  of  extreme  importance. — Watchmen 
declared  not  eligible  to  act  as  Firemen. — The  Humane  Society. — Result 
OF  THE  Watch  Committee's  Investigation. — High  Constable  Hays. — His 

remarkable  career. — How  HE  SUPPRESSED  CrIME  AND  SCOURGED  CRIMINALS. 

"  I  ^ HE  third  period  in  the  history  of  New  York  now  opens.    The  City  is  a  free 


member  in  a  free  State.  She  manages  her  institutions  herself  for  thf 
benefit  of  her  people,  without  foreign  aid  or  interference,  and,  under  the  changed 
regime,  her  population,  wealth,  and  ])rosj)erity  increase,  and  her  system  of  gov- 
ernment develops  to  keep  pace  with  the  development  of  her  life  in  every  other 
phase.  In  that  system  of  government  no  branch  of  the  public  service  has  had  a 
broader  or  more  successful  growth  than  the  public  policing  of  the  city.  It  will  be 
the  province  of  this  and  following  chapters  to  describe  that  growth  in  detail. 

After  the  evacuation  of  the  city  by  the  British  on  November  25,  1783,  no 
immediate  change  was  made  in  the  municipal  system.  The  authority  of  the 
Dongan  and  Montgomerie  Charters  was  suffered  to  subsist,  the  State  of  New  York 
assuming  the  functions  previously  reserved  to  the  English  Crown  or  its  represen- 
tatives. The  city  remained  divided  into  seven  wards,  an  Alderman  and  an 
assistant  being  chosen  from  each  annually  by  the  people.  The  Mayor  and  other 
high  officials  were  appointed  by  the  state  government.  Half  the  city  was  still  in 
ruins  from  the  fire  of  1776;  the  other  half  was  dilapidated  and  impoverished  by 
the  period  of  war  and  hostile  occupation.  The  work  of  rebuilding  was  soon 
begun  however,  and  both  literally  and  figuratively,  the  city  speedily  rose  from  its 
ashes.  The  early  mixture  of  races  among  the  population  has  already  been  alluded 
to.  This  had  become  so  much  more  marked  about  the  period  of  independence 
that  the  people  of  New  York  were  described  as  "  a  strange  mosaic  of  different 
nations."    How  much  more  true  would  the  phrase  be  at  this  day;  l)ut  is  it  not 


5" 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


out  of  this  mingling  of  blood  that  much  of  the  energy,  thrift,  and  keenness  of  the 
people  has  been  derived. 

It  is  plain,  from  figures  which  come  down  to  us  in  the  public  records,  that  no 
time  was  lost  in  putting  things  in  order  in  the  city.  Arrangements  appear  to  have 
been  made  with  great  promptitude  for  a  system  of  watching,  and  for  lighting  the 
streets,  for  the  accounts  of  the  City  Treasurer  show  that  drafts  were  made  for  this 
purpose  from  January  i,  1784,  forward.  These  expenditures  were  marked  by 
great  liberality  as  compared  with  those  of  the  Colonial  days;  but  it  must  be  taken 
into  account  that  extensive  repairs  in  lamps,  watch-houses,  and  other  appurten- 
ances were  necessary,  before  any  effectual  service  could  be  obtained.  Neverthe- 
less the  appropriations  were  extremely  liberal  for  the  period.  For  the  first  years 
of  independence,  the  sums  expended  for  watching  and  lighting  were: 


This  Watch  expenditure,  apart  from  the  outlay  involved  in  lighting  the  streets 
for  the  year  beginning  May  i,  1786,  and  ending  May  i,  1787,  placed  the  cost  of 
the  Watch,  which  consisted  of  a  Captain  and  twenty-eight  men,  at  ^1724  8^.,  of 
which  jP^^o  was  for  wood  and  candles,  and  the  rest,  _5^i674  8j.,  was  for  salaries. 
These  were  computed  at  the  rate  of  J^-x,2  a  week  for  the  entire  Watch,  and  the 
Captain  had  eight  shillings  a  night  or  ^2  i6j.  a  week,  while  the  twenty-eight 
Watchmen  had  three  shillings  a  night,  or        \s.  per  week  each. 

Constables'  fees  were  fixed  by  law  in  1789  as  follows:  For  serving  a  warrant, 
\s.  (yd.  mileage,  for  every  mile  going  only,  six  pence. 

For  levying  a  fine  or  penalty  to  the  amount  of  twenty  shillings  or  under,  one 
shilling  ;  and  on  all  sums  above  twenty  shillings,  at  the  rate  of  one  shilling  in  the 
pound.  Taking  a  defendant  in  custody  or  a  witness,  one  shilling;  conveying  a 
prisoner  to  jail,  one  shilling,  if  within  one  mile,  and  for  every  mile  more  going 
only,  sixpence. 

The  committee  appointed  to  regulate  the  city  Watch  were  ordered  to  inquire 
into  the  state  of  the  Watchmen's  caps,  and  report  the  same  to  the  Board,  and 
also  whether  an  additional  number  of  Watchmen  (and  how  many)  was  necessary 
to  fully  patrol  a  part  of  the  outward  ward.  The  Common  Council  concluded  not 
to  enforce  regulations  made  by  the  above  committee,  looking  to  the  increase  of 
the  Watch,  until  the  Legislature  should  have  authorized  the  raising  of  a  sufficient 
sum  to  defray  the  extra  expense  attendant  on  the  augmentation  of  the  City 
Watch.  An  allowance  was  made  to  Constables  and  Marshals  for  conveying 
prisoners  to  Bridewell,  and  the  pay  of  the  former  was  placed  at  four  shillings  per 
night  during  January,  February  and  March,  and  three  shillings  per  night  for  the 
remainder  of  the  year. 

In  1787-8  the  misfortunes  and  sufferings  of  prisoners  confined  in  the  jail 
for  debt,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  public.  A  benevolent  society,  which  had 
interested   itself    in   behalf  of   the  unfortunate  prisoners,   sent  a  memorial 


Dec.  31,  1783,  to  Aug.  I,  1785 
Aug.  I,  1785,  to  Oct.  I,  1786. 
Oct,  I,  1786,  to  Sept.  I,  1787. 


£  s  d 
4509  18  10 
.3302  4  10 
3284  19  II 


Total 


-^"097    3  7 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  51 

to  both  branches  of  the  State  Legislature,  "  in  humble  confidence  that  the  wis- 
dom of  the  Legislature  will  provide  a  remedy  for  an  evil  productive  of  con- 
secjuences  dangerous,  and  destructive  to  an  alarming  degree."  According  to 
this  memorial  the  poor  prisoners  suffered  great  iiardships,  besides  their  loss  of 
liberty.  It  appears  as  if  the  atrocities  practiced  by  British  jailors  had  to  some 
extent  produced  a  similar  disregard  of  human  suffering  in  the  breasts  of  the 
officials  that  succeeded  them.  The  prisoners  confined  in  the  jail,  we  learn, 
were  "  subjected  to  the  danger  arising  from  putrid  and  contagious  disorders, 
occasioned  by  crowded  rooms  and  corrupted  air,  and  liable  to  become  useless, 
if  not  pernicious  members  of  society,  from  the  great  danger  they  are  in  of  ac- 
quiring habits  of  intemperance  and  debauchery,  while  attempting  to  drown 
the  recollection  of  their  present  misfortunes  and  distresses  by  the  excessive  use 
of  spirituous  liquors."  From  the  second  of  January,  1787,  to  the  third  of  Decem- 
ber, 1788,  there  had  been  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  commitments 
to  the  jail  for  debt;  seven  hundred  and  sixteen  of  these  had  been  confined 
for  sums  recoverable  before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  many  of  these  under 
twenty  shillings.  In  December,  1788,  there  were  eighty  debtors  in  jail,  forty  of 
whom  were  locked  up  for  sums  under  twenty  pounds. 

The  Watch  in  1788  consisted  of  one  Captain  and  thirty  men.  The  former 
was  paid  eight  shillings,  and  the  latter  three  shillings  a  night,  which  amounted  to 
^34,  6j.  per  week,  and  jQ'i-I^Z,  12s.  per  year.  For  supplying  the  same  with  wood 
and  candles,  ^{^50.  It  was  proposed  to  add  fifteen  more  men,  which  would  raise 
the  Watch  to  forty-five  men  per  night,  making  an  extra  expense  of  ^15,  1$^-  per 
week,  or  ^^819  per  year.  There  was  also  an  additional  expense  for  the  winter 
(three  months)  of  ^^202,  10s.  making  a  grand  total  of  ^2855,  2s.  Their  pay  was 
increased  in  December  one  shilling  per  man  per  night. 

On  December  31  of  the  same  year,  however,  twenty  men  were  added  to  the 
force,  in  consequence  of  the  frequent  robberies  which  were  taking  place  in  the 
city.  This  extra  protection  was  not  of  long  continuance;  for,  on  April  7,  1789, 
the  Common  Council  adopted  a  resolution  to  discharge  all  extra  men.  But  a  slow 
increase  was  soon  inaugurated.  On  October  23,  two  men  were  added,  and  the 
number  was  gradually  increased  in  this  way.  A  new  watch-house  was  built 
in  the  City  Hall  at  Broad  and  Wall  Streets,  where  the  sub-treasury  now  stands, 
and  there  the  Watchmen  were  obliged  to  parade  at  seven  o'clock  on  winter 
evenings  and  eight  in  summer.  Toward  the  close  of  1789,  it  was  ordered  that  the 
Watchmen  be  allowed  four  shillings  per  night  from  the  first  of  December  to 
first  of  March  ensuing,  and  the  "Assistant  Foreman"  of  the  Watch  was 
allowed  an  addition  of  a  shilling  a  night  to  his  pay  above  what  the  rank  and  file 
received. 

The  High  Constable,  in  1793,  was  enjoined  to  direct  that  two  or  more  of  the 
Constables,  those  of  the  Harlem  Division  of  the  Seventh  Ward  excepted,  on  every 
Sunday  during  the  time  of  Divine  service,  by  turns,  should  walk  through  the 
several  streets  with  their  staffs  and  cause  this  law  (a  law  for  the  due  observance 
of  the  Lord's  Day)  to  be  duly  kept  and  observed;  and  to  that  end  the  said  High 
Constable  and  other  Constables  were  authorized  to  enter  into  all  or  anv  public 
inns,  victualers  or  ordinary-keepers;  and  if  any  person  should  be  found  tippling 


52 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


therein,  or  that  strong  liquor  was  sold  therein  contrary  to  law,  they  should  make 
complaint  thereof,  that  the  same  might  be  punished. 

Along  towards  1796,  the  progress  of  the  police  system  became  very  marked. 
Four  more  men  had  been  added  ;  the  pay  of  all  was  now  increased.  On 
January  11,  1796,  it  was  determined  that  until  May  i  of  each  year,  the  Cap- 
tains of  the  Watch  should  receive  eleven  shillings  a  night;  the  assistants,  seven 
shillings;  and  the  privates  five  shillings  and  sixpence.  By  the  close  of  the  year,  too, 
the  new  watch-house  at  the  head  of  Chatham  Street  was  reported  complete  and 
ready  for  occupancy.  A  committee  was  then  appointed  to  make  recommendations 
as  to  the  number  of  men  to  be  assigned  to  the  new  house.  This  committee  made  a 
thorough  report,  recommending  that  the  Captain  and  one  assistant  be  stationed 
at  the  main  watch-house.  Broad  and  Wall  Street;  and  one  assistant  at  the  new 


First  Alms  House,  Chambers  Street.     Erected  1  795. 

house.  The  additional  number  of  men  to  be  employed  was  sixteen.  The  committee 
counseled  that  the  rounds  should  be  performed  by  three  bands  of  three  men„ 
each  relieving  each  other;  and  that  seven  sentries  should  be  posted  as  follows: 
one  at  the  watch-house  door;  one  at  the  intersection  of  Pearl  and  Chatham 
Streets;  two  at  the  ship-yard;  one  at  the  "upper  box"  in  the  Bower}';*one  in 
Division  Street;  and  one  "  in  Mr.  Ivers'  ropewalk." 

A  man  could  be  both  a  policeman  and  a  politician  in  those  days.  We 
learn  that  in  1796  Alexander  Lamb,  one  of  the  Captains  of  the  City  Watch, 
being  about  to  depart  for  Albany  to  attend  his  duty  as  a  Member  of  Assembly,  it 
was  ordered  that  Nicholas  Lawrence,  his  assistant,  take  charge  of  the  Watch 
until  his  chief's  return. 

The  Watch  Department  was  under  the  immediate  direction  of  the  Corpor- 
ation.   It  was  the  duty  of  the  Captains,  under  the  direction  of  the  Watch  Com- 


OUR  POLICE  PROTF.CTORS.  53 

mittee,  to  fix  the  rounds  of  the  Walcliiiicn,  prescribe  their  duties,  and  visit  their 
stations.  When  a  Watchman  was  guilty  of  misconduct,  the  Captain  of  the  dis- 
trict might  suspend  him  till  the  pleasure  of  the  Common  Council  was  known. 
He  was  obliged  to  make  a  return,  early  in  the  morning,  to  the  Justices  of  the 
Police,  of  the  number  and  names  of  Watchmen  attending  the  preceding  night, 
and  the  defaulters,  if  any. 

The  estimate  for  the  support  of  the  city  in  1800  was  as  follows  : 


Alms  House  $30,000.00 

Bridewell   5,000.00 

Roads   7,550.00 

Streets   5,000.00 

Support  of  prisoners   3,000.00 

Contingencies  , .  .  .  .  29,450.00 

Watch   25,000.00 

Lamps   15,000.00 

Wells  and  jiumps   2,500.00 

City  contingencies   7,500.00 

Total  $130,000.00 

An  estimate  of  the  expenses  of  the  city  for  the  year  1801  contained  the 
following  : 

Watch,  consisting  of  two  Captains,  two  Deputies,  and  seventy-two  men, 

52  weeks,  at  $368.50  per  week  $19,162.00 

Extra  Watch  : .  2,000 . 00 

Total  $21,162  .00 


There  were  four  places  of  confinement  in  New  York  City :  three  for  felons 
and  one  for  debtors.  These  were:  i,  the  State  Prison;  2,  Penitentiary; 
3,  Bridewell;  4,  Jail.  The  State  Prison,  a  south-east  view  of  which  is 
given  in  the  accompanying  cut,  was  "situated  at  Greenwich,  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  the  City  Hall,  and  occupying  one  of  the  most  healthy  and 
pleasant  spots  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson."  It  was  a  strongly  built  struc- 
ture, of  the  Doric  order,  and  was  constructed  of  free  stone,  the  windows  being 
grated  with  iron  for  security.  It  was  two  stories  high,  of  fifteen  feet  each,  be- 
sides the  basement,  and  had  a  slated  roof.  Rising  from  the  centre  there  was  a 
neat  cupola,  in  which  a  bell  was  hung.  The  centre  of  the  principal  front,  towards 
Washington  Street,  was  projected  and  surmounted  by  a  pediment,  as  was  also 
the  west  front.  The  whole  front  measured  two  hundred  and  four  feet  in 
length,  and  there  were  four  wings,  which  extended  backwards  towards  the  river. 
The  building  and  yards  covered  four  acres,  and  the  whole  was  inclosed  by  a 
stone  wall  twenty-three  feet  high  on  the  river  side,  and  fourteen  feet  in  the 
front. 

No  convict  whose  sentence  was  below  three  years  imprisonment  was  admitted 
into  this  prison. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1796,  a  bill,  "  P'or  making  alterations  in  the 
criminal  laws  of  the  State  and  the  erecting  of  a  State  Prison,"  was  introduced 


54 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


into  the  Senate  by  General  Philip  Schuyler,  of  Revolutionary  memor^',  and  be- 
came a  law  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  March  of  the  same  year.  By  this  law  two 
State  Prisons  were  directed  to  be  built — one  at  New  York  and  the  other  at 
Albany.  The  plan  of  the  prison  at  Albany  was  afterward  relinquished,  and 
the  whole  of  the  money  appropriated  for  both  prisons  was  directed  to  be  ap- 
plied to  the  one  in  this  city.  It  was  begun  in  the  summer  of  1796,  and  so  far 
finished  that  the  first  prisoners  were  received  into  it  in  the  summer  of  1797. 
The  original  cost  of  the  grounds,  buildings,  and  wharf,  was  two  hundred  and 
eight  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  forty-six  dollars.  It  was  in  later  years  used 
as  a  brewery — thus  retaining  its  traditions. 

On  March  2,  1798,  an  act  was  passed  establishing  a  police  office  in  this  city, 
the  location  to  be  selected  by  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Commonalty.  The 
object  was  to  facilitate  the  apprehension  of  criminals.  The  Chancellor,  Mayor, 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Recorder  and  Aldermen  were  to  act  in  the  office 
as  conservators  of  the  peace.  Two  Justices  of  the  Peace,  at  a  salary  of  $750,  were 
appointed,  one  at  least  to  be  in  attendance  daily  at  the  police  office.  This  office 
was  located  in  the  City  Hall.  A  tax  levy  of  $3,000  was  also  authorized  for 
employing  night  watchmen  and  lamplighters  for  one  year,  the  Mayor  and  Com- 
monalty to  determine  the  number  of  men  required.  On  March  20th  of  the  suc- 
ceeding year,  the  Mayor,  etc.,  were  authorized  to  raise  by  tax  a  sum  not  to  exceed 
$32,000,  for  purchasing  oil,  paying  Watchmen,  cleaning  wells,  etc.  A  similar  law 
was  passed  for  several  successive  years. 

There  was  no  material  change,  then,  until  September  of  this  year,  when  the 
Common  Council  resolved  to  double  the  Watch  on  account  of  the  increase  in 
crime.  In  May,  1799,  Mr.  Culbertson,  who  had  been  the  Captain  from  the  time 
of  the  evacuation,  died,  and  Mr.  Van  Wart  was  appointed  in  his  place.  In  1801, 
a  second  Captain  was  appointed,  the  number  of  men  being  then  seventy-two. 

The  duties  of  the  police  were  discharged  by  three  Justices,  appointed 
for  the  purpose  by  the  Council  of  Appointment,  and  removable  at  pleasure. 
The  Chancellor,  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  Members  of  the  Common 
Council,  as  conservators  of  the  peace,  might  attend  and  assist  the  Police  Jus- 
tices. A  court  was  held  every  day,  except  Sunday;  at  which  one,  at  least,  of 
the  Justices,  and  the  Police  Clerk,  were  in  constant  attendance  at  sunrise  every 
morning  to  take  cognizance  of  offences  committed  against  the  good  order  and 
peace  of  the  city. 

An  act  regulating  the  fees  of  the  several  Officers  and  Ministers  of  Justice 
within  this  State,  passed  April  8,  1801,  regulated  Constables'  fees  as  follows: 

For  serving  a  warrant  nineteen  cents;  serving  a  summons,  twelve  and  a  half 
cents;  mileage,  for  every  mile  going  only,  six  cents;  levying  a  fine  or  penalty  to  the 
amount  of  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  or  under,  twelve  and  a  half  cents;  and  all 
sums  above  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  at  the  rate  of  twelve  and  a  half  cents  on 
every  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents.  Taking  a  defendant  in  custody  or  a  mittimus, 
twelve  and  a  half  cents;  conveying  a  person  to  gaol,  twelve  and  a  half  cents,  if 
within  one  mile;  and  for  every  mile  more  going  only,  six  cents. 

In  1802  six  new  "Captains  or  Commanders  of  the  City  Watch  "  were  ap- 
pointed.   Their  duties  were  to  direct  the  Watchmen,  and  visit  the  different 


OUR  POLICE  PROTF.CTORS.  55 

stations,  each  in  his  district,  once  a  night.  The  number  of  Watchmen  was  now 
one  hundred  and  twenty,  and  the  system  just  at  this  time  cost  an  average  of  about 
$25,000  a  year.  No  person  could  l)e  employed  upon  the  Watch  who  was  not  a 
citi/en  of  the  United  States.  The  Captains  had  to  report  daily  to  the  Police 
Justice  the  names  of  all  the  men  who  had  been  on  duty  the  night  before,  and  they 
had,  besides,  to  keep  registers  containing  similar  information.  It  was  defined  as 
the  duty  of  every  Watchman  to  continue  sober,  orderly,  and  vigilant,  and  in  every 
respect  to  obey  the  commands  of  the  Captain  of  his  district — rules  of  conduct 
not  unworthy  the  respect  of  the  Watchmen  of  the  present  time.  The  old  law 
goes  on  thus: 

"If  any  watchman  shall  sleep  while  on  his  station,  or  committ  any  Act  of 
violence  except  such  as  may  be  strictly  necessary  in  the  execution  of  his  duty,  or 
disobey  such  orders  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  given  him,  it  shall  be  the  duty 


Old  State  Prison. 


of  the  several  Captains  or  Commandants  without  delay  to  report  the  name  of 
such  offenders  together  with  his  offense  to  the  Mayor,  or,  in  his  absence,  to  the 
Recorder,  who  are  hereby  authorized  and  directed  immediately  to  supersede  such 
offender,  and  to  appoint  some  proper  person  in  his  stead."  The  sti])end  of  the 
guardians  of  the  peace  was  again  increased  at  this  time,  each  W'atchman  being 
allowed  five  shillings  and  six  pence  for  every  night's  serv  ice,  the  Captains  receiv- 
ing eleven  shillings. 

In  August  of  this  year  the  city  was  divided  into  three  ])olice  districts,  as 
follows: 

First  District. — To  begin  at  the  ferry  stairs  at  the  lower  end  of  Cortland 
Street,  thence  to  Broadway,  thence  to  Chatham,  to  the  Brick  meeting,  down 
Beekman  to  Pearl,  to  the  head  of  Peck  Slip,  to  East  River. 

Second  District. — To  begin  at  the  east  side  of  Peck  Slii),  to  run  up  East  River 
to  Bullock  Street,  to  Bowery  Lane,  thence  through  William  Street  to  Broadway, 
down  to  the  Arch  Bridge  to  the  place  of  intended  canal;  up  the  line  of  the 


56 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


canal  to  head  of  same;  to  Cross  Street,  to  Tryon  Row,  to  Chatham  Street,  to  the 
Brick  meeting,  thence  down  the  line  of  the  First  District  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Third  District. — To  begin  at  the  place  of  beginning  of  the  First,  to  continue 
by  the  line  of  the  same  to  the  Brick  meeting,  to  the  line  of  the  Second  District,  to 
William  Street,  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  outlet  of  the  meadow  of  Anthony 
Lispenard,  into  the  North  River;  thence  down  said  river  to  the  first  place  of 
beginning. 

The  Committee  reported  that  the  most  proper  place  for  the  erection  of  a 
watch-house  for  the  Third  District  "  appears  to  be  on  a  certain  gore  of  ground 
owned  by  this  Board  at  the  intersection  of  Hudson,  Barley  and  Duane  Streets, 
sufficient  for  the  same  and  probably  of  small  value  for  any  other  particular 
purpose." 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  Second  and  Third  Districts  covered  so  large  a 
space  of  ground,  the  Watch  was  ordered  to  patrol  in  lieu  of  having  regular  stands, 
except  the  Jail  and  Bridewell,  and  such  other  places  as  the  Mayor  for  the  time 
being  should  especially  point  out. 

In  1803,  an  ordinance  was  passed  formally  designating  the  Commandants 
"  Captains  of  the  Night  Watch."  The  number  of  privates  was  again  increased  to 
one  hundred  and  forty.  This  was  the  year  when  the  foundation  of  the  present 
City  Hall  was  laid.  It  was  a  year  of  activity,  and  brought  forth,  among  other 
things,  a  new  set  of  regulations  for  the  Watch.  The  city  was  divided  into  three 
districts,  fifty  men  being  assigned  to  the  first;  fifty-four  to  the  second;  and 
thirty-six  to  the  third.  Two  Captains  were  appointed  to  each  district,  and  they 
were  ordered  to  fix  the  stations  or  rounds  for  the  men,  whom  they  had  power  to 
suspend  for  misconduct,  pending  the  final  action  of  the  Common  Council,  which 
alone,  it  would  appear,  had  power  to  discharge  a  Watchman.  The  Captains 
were  required  to  give  personal  attendance  to  their  districts  every  second  night  ; 
and  were  liable  to  immediate  removal  from  office  in  case  of  any  neglect 
of  dut\-.  Every  Captain  had  to  keep  a  roll  of  men  who  performed  duty 
each  night,  and  of  absentees,  and  to  furnish  a  transcript  of  the  entries  every 
morning  to  the  Magistrates.  Watchmen,  even  though  assigned  to  particular 
stations,  were  required  to  give  assistance  at  any  point  where  disorder  might 
break  out.  Intoxication  or  other  faults  on  their  part  was  to  be  forthwith 
reported  by  the  Captains  to  the  Mayor,  or  Recorder  ;  and  vacancies  in  their  ranks 
by  death  or  otherwise  were  to  be  similarly  announced.  Every  Captain,  as  well  as 
every  Watchman,  was  placed  under  the  orders  of  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  or  any  of  the 
Aldermen  ;  and  all  officers  were  expressly  cautioned  to  detain  prisoners  until  dis- 
charged by  proper  magistrates.  The  pay  of  these  guardians  of  the  peace  will 
strike  the  M  orld  of  to-day  as  ridiculously  small  ;  but  it  must  be  rememl)ered  that 
at  this  early  period,  the  purchasing  power  of  money  was  much  greater  than  now, 
one  dollar  then  being  at  least  as  good  as  two  at  the  present  time.  The  Captains 
pay  was  set  by  the  ordinance,  which  we  have  just  been  quoting,  at  $1.50  for  every 
night's  actual  service,  and  each  of  the  other  AV'atchmen  at  70  cents. 

The  following  persons  were  appointed  Captains  of  the  Night- Watch  :  Nicho- 
las Lawrence  and  William  Van  Zandt,  First  District  ;  Magnus  Beekman,  Nathan 
H.  Rockwell,  Second  District  ;  Jacob  Hays,  Charles  Van  Orden,  Third  District. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


57 


No  better  illustration  could  be  afforded  of  the  pinching  official  economy 
practised  in  those  days  than  the  recorded  fact  that  "  the  comptroller  was  directed 
in  1803  to  let  out  the  upi)er  part  of  the  Watch-House  in  the  First  District." 

The  High  Constable,  under  the  Dongan  charter  (1686),  and  under  the 
Montgomerie  charter  (1730),  was  appointed  by  the  Mayor  yearly  on  the  feast  of 
St.  Michael,  September  29.  The  time  of  appointment  was  changed  by  an  act 
l)assed  April  5,  1804,  to  the  third  Tuesday  of  November.  According  to  the 
former  charter  seven  Constables  were  to  be  elected  and  chosen  annually,  viz. : 
one  for  each  of  the  first  wards  respectively,  and  two  for  the  out  ward.  The  num- 
ber was  increased  to  sixteen  under  the  latter  charter,  two  of  whom  were  to  be 
elected  annually,  for  each  of  the  first  si.\  wards  respectively,  and  four  for  the  out 
ward.  Should  an  elected  Constable  refuse  to  serve,  he  was  liable  to  be  fined  5, 
and  another  was  elected  in  his  place.  It  was  his  dut\-  to  attend  upon  the  Mavor, 
Recorder,  and  on  any  of  the  Aldermen,  to  execute  their  commands  ;  to  aid  and 
obey  the  Inspectors  at  the  election  for  charter  offices.  The  number  of  Marshals 
was  again  increased  to  eighteen  by  the  act  of  1801.  These  were  elected  by  ballot 
(two  from  each  ward)  on  the  third  Tuesday  and  Wednesdav  in  No\emI)er,  and 
were  sworn  into  office  on  the  first  Monday  in  December.  It  was  a  part  of  their 
duty  to  attend  fires,  with  their  badges  of  authority.  The  })ower  of  appointment 
and  displacing  Watchmen,  Bellmen,  etc.,  was  conferred  on  the  Common  Council 
by  the  Montgomerie  charter.  This  charter  also  assigned  the  Mayor,  Deputy 
Mayor,  Recorder  and  Aldermen,  by  virtue  of  their  offices,  to  be  Justices.  The 
act  of  1 80 1  provided  for  the  appointment  of  two  Special  Justices,  as  often  as 
should  be  deemed  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the  peace.  One  of  these 
Special  Justices  and  his  clerk,  throughout  the  day  attended  at  the  police  office  for 
the  execution  of  business.  Each  Special  Justice  was  allowed  a  salary  of  $750 
per  annum,  "  together  with  such  fees  as  are  by  law  allowed  to  Justices  of  the 
Peace."  The  Justices  examined  persons  detained  by  the  Night-Watch  and  made 
such  order  on  each  case  as  justice  might  require.  They  superintended  and 
directed  the  discharge  of  the  Night-Watch  every  morning  upon  the  conclusion  of 
the  services  of  the  night.  These  Special  Justices  were  invested  with  the  powers 
of  Aldermen  in  certain  cases. 

The  Montgomerie  charter  made  the  number  of  Aldermen  six.  The  Dongan 
charter  increased  the  number  to  seven,  and  in  1803,  by  act,  the  number  was 
increased  to  nine.  They  were,  under  the  charters  named,  chosen  annually,  one  for 
each  ward  by  the  electors  of  each  ward,  on  the  feast  of  St.  Michael.  By  the  Act 
of  1804  they  were  elected  by  ballot,  on  the  third  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  of 
November.  The  Aldermen  were  invested  with  magisterial  powers  ;  any  one  of 
them  might  commit  to  the  common  jail  persons  guilty  or  suspected  of  crimes 
and  misdemeanors  ;  to  the  bridewell  or  workhouse,  rogues,  vagabonds  and  sus- 
picious persons.  According  to  the  Dongan  charter,  the  Mayor  and  Recorder, 
"with  three  or  more  Aldermen,"  were  assigned  Justices  of  the  Peace,  to  hear  and 
determine  all  causes  within  the  city.  Like  powers  were  conferred  upon  them  by 
the  Montgomerie  charter. 

Marshals  and  Constables  were  ordered  in  1805  to  go  about  the  city  during 
the  warm  season,  and  ajjprehend  and  bring  before  the  Magistrates  all  vagrants, 
that  they  might  "be  dealt  with  according  to  law. 


58 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


By  resolution  of  the  Board,  it  became  the  duty  of  the  Aldermen  and  assist- 
ants of  each  ward,  at  least  once  in  every  week,  at  such  hour  as  they  should  deem 
proper,  to  visit  the  watch-houses,  and,  if  possible,  the  several  watch-posts,  and 
inspect  into  the  conduct  of  the  Captains,  Assistants,  and  Watchmen,  and  report 
weekly  to  the  Common  Council.  The  Watch  Committee  were  also  required  to 
notify  the  Aldermen  and  Assistants  in  rotation,  who  were  detailed  for  such  duty, 
beginning  at  the  First  Ward. 

The  year  1805  gives  us  an  early  example  of  a  "  good  arrest."  It  was  rewarded 
by  the  Common  Council,  though  not  with  surprising  liberality.  On  July  8  the 
Watch  Committee  recommended  the  appropriation  of  $23  to  reward  the  Mar- 
shals and  Watchmen,  who  apprehended  Francisco,  a  Portuguese,  charged  with  mur- 
der. The  allowance  was  made,  being  divided  as  follows  :  $5  to  Richard  Nixon, 
and  $2  each  to  N.  Hill,  J.  Lockwood,  J.  Williams,  Stephen  Hall,  Robert  Furlong, 

 Banta,  P.  Paulding,  Thomas  Darling,  and  Thomas  Freeburn.    Francisco  was 

afterwards  committed  and  executed. 

In  .1806  the  Legislaure  fixed  the  Constable's  bond  at  $500,  and  the  bond  of 
the  Justices'  Clerks  at  $2,500.  The  Board  of  Health  was  authorized  to  raise 
$25,000  by  lottery,  the  money  to  be  applied  to  the  erection  of  buildings  for  the 
accommodation  of  persons  suffering  from  malignant  diseases,  and  twelve  men 
were  added  to  the  Watch.  The  men  returned  to  the  charge  respecting  their  pay. 
Their  petition  was  referred  to  the  Watch  Committee.  The  Common  Council 
resolved  that  no  person  should  thereafter  be  appointed  Watchman  until  he 
had  been  inspected  and  approved  by  the  Watch  Committee.  This  Com- 
mittee was  authorized  to  station  a  guard  before  any  church  during  the  hours 
of  worship  on  the  request  of  the  congregation.  The  removal  of  the  Watch- 
men's boxes  was  ordered,  as  being  obnoxious  during  summer,  and  a  preamble 
was  adopted  setting  forth  that  several  Watchmen  in  the  Third  District  were 
reported  by  Captain  Goodheart  to  be  also  firemen,  and  when  fire  broke  out  left 
their  regular  posts  to  aid  in  extinguishing  it.  This  was  followed  by  a  resolution 
that  no  fireman  should  be  a  Watchman  of  the  city.  The  City  Superintendent  of 
Repairs  was  instructed  to  furnish  painted  and  numbered  staves  to  Constables  and 
Marshals. 

An  act  for  establishing  Courts  of  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Assistant  Justices, 
in  and  for  the  City  and  County  of  New  York  (April  6,  1807),  empowered  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  council  of  ap- 
pointment, to  appoint  and  commission  "one  proper  person"  in  and  for  each  of 
the  respective  wards  of  the  city,  to  be  known  and  distinguished  by  the  name  of 
Assistant  Justices  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

In  like  manner  a  Justices'  Court  was  appointed,  consisting  of  three  Justices, 
who  held  court  in  the  City  Hall. 

Constables  and  Marshals  attending  the  former  courts  were  entitled  to  the  fol- 
lo^ving  fees  : 

Cents. 

For  serving  every  Summons .  .  •  •  19 

For  serving  every  Warrant  25 

For  returning  a  Summons  or  Warrant   6 

For  .taking  the  defendant  into  custody  on  a  mittimus,  commitment  or  execution,  12 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


For  serving  an  execution  for  $2.50  or  under  25 

And  for  every  $2.50  and  more,  at  the  additional  rate  of   6 

For  traveling,  if  above  one  mile,  for  every  mile,  going  only  12^ 

For  summoning  a  Jury  37  i 

For  going  with  the  plaintiff  or  defendent  to  procure  security  25 

For  notifying  jjlaintiff  for  trial  12 

'J'he  following  fees  were  allowed  to  the  Constables  and  Marshals  assigned  to 
the  latter  court  : 

Cents. 

For  serving  every  Summons  19 

For  serving  every  Warrant  37 i 

For  taking  a  Bail  Bond  25 

For  returning  a  Summons  or  Warrant   6 

For  summoning  a  Jury  50 

For  taking  the  defendant  into  custody  i2i 

For  conveying  a  person  to  jail  i2i 

For  serving  an  execution  25 

For  traveling,  if  above  one  mile,  going  only  i2i 

For  procuring  security,  with  plaintiff  or  defendant  25 

For  notifying  defendant  to  give  security  i2i 

For  notifying  plaintiff  for  trial  i2i 

For  serving  a  subpoena  on  each  witness  i2i 


On  January  4,  1808,  the  Common  Council  passed  a  law  for  the  better  regu- 
lation of  the  City  Watch.  Six  persons  were  appointed  (citizens  and  householders) 
who  were  denominated  Captains  of  the  Night-Watch,  and  placed  in  command  of 
the  other  Watchmen.  In  like  manner,  six  Assistant  Captains  were  appointed,  to 
take  charge  of  the  Watch  and  do  other  duties  during  the  night  when  the  Captain 
was  absent  from  the  watch-house  upon  his  necessary  duties.  Such  assistant,  in 
addition  to  his  pay  as  Watchman  was  entitled  to  receive  the  sum  of  eighteen  cents 
for  every  night  he  was  so  employed.  Other  Watchmen  were  likewise  appointed, 
and  placed  under  the  command  and  directions  of  the  Captains  of  the  Night-Watch  ; 
and  twelve  other  persons  were  added  to  each  of  the  companies  of  the  Watch, 
and  were  denominated  substitutes.  They  possessed  the  same  power  and  were 
subject  to  the  same  regulations,  and,  when  employed,  were  entitled  to  the  same 
pay  as  the  regulars. 

It  was  the  duty  of  the  Captains  to  fix  the  stations  or  rounds  of  the  Watch- 
men within  their  respective  districts  ;  to  prescribe  the  duties  of  the  Watchmen, 
and  to  see  that  such  duties  were  faithfully  executed  ;  to  visit  each  of  the  fixed 
stations  of  the  Watchmen  under  his  command  at  least  once  every  night. 

Each  Captain  was  entitled  to  receive  $1.50  for  ever)' night's  actual  service, 
and  each  of  the  other  Watchmen,  75  cents. 

Each  Captain  and  every  other  Watchman  should  obey  all  orders  given  by  the 
Mayor,  Recorder  or  either  of  the  Aldermen,  and  also  of  the  Justices  of  the  Police, 
on  pain  of  removal  from  office. 

The  above  ordinance  was  followed  by  the  appointment  of  forty-eight  Watch- 
men. 

The  City  Hall  Park  at  this  period  was  a  piece  of  enclosed  ground  consisting  of 
about  four  acres,  planted  with  elms,  palms,  willows,  and  catalpas,  the  surrounding 
foot-walks  being  encompassed  with  rows  of  poplars.    '*  This  beautiful  grove,"  in  the 


6o 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


language  of  a  writer,  of  the  period,  "  in  the  middle  of  the  city,  corabines  in  a 
high  degree  ornament  with  health  and  pleasure;  and  to  enhance  the  enjoyment 
of  the  place,  the  English  and  French  Reading-room,  the  Shakespeare  Gallery,  and 
the  theatre,  offer  ready  amusement  to  the  mind  ;  while  the  Mechanic's  Hall,  the 
London  Hotel,  and  the  New  York  Gardens  present  instant  refreshment  to  the 
body.  Though  the  trees  are  but  young,  and  of  few  years'  growth,  the  Park  may 
be  pronounced  an  elegant  and  improving  place."  The  City  Hall  Park  apparently 
has  not  improved  with  age.  It  would  hardly  be  in  accordance  with  the  facts  to 
describe  it  now  as  "an  elegant  and  improving  place." 

By  act  of  the  legislature,  passed  April  8,  1808,  any  person  convicted  of  petit 
larceny  before  any  court  of  general  sessions  of  the  peace,  should  be  punished  by 
fine,  not  exceeding  $200,  or  imprisoned  in  the  county  jail  or  prison  any  term  of 
time  not  exceeding  three  years,  or  by  whipping  not  exceeding  thirty-nine  lashes 


School  House.  Engine  House.  Bridewell.  City  Hall. 

The  Park  in  1808. 


for  one  offence.  This  law  made  it  the  dutv  of  any  of  the  courts  of  general  ses- 
sions of  the  peace,  where  any  corporal  punishment  should  be  directed  to  be 
inflicted,  as  aforesaid,  to  direct  any  Constable  or  Constables  attending  such  court 
to  inflict  said  punishment,  which  direction  such  Constable  or  Constables  were 
recpiired  to  obey. 

In  1810  it  was  ordered  that  Watchmen  should  be  stationed  nightly  at  the 
Potter's  Field.  This  is  a  significant  order.  It  may  easily  be  inferred  that  the 
young  doctors  of  those  days  found  the  same  difficulty  as  those  of  to-day  in  obtain- 
ing a  sufficient  supply  of  dissecting  material.  But  now  the  salary  question  comes 
up  again,  and  now  at  last  something  practical  is  done.  On  February  26, 
several  petitions  were  received  from  citizens,  asking  an  increase  of  pay  for  the 
Watchmen.  The  city  fathers  took  almost  a  year  to  think  it  over  ;  but  on  March 
25,  181 1,  the  Police  Committee  reported  the  draft  of  a  memorial  to  the  legisla- 
ture, and  a  bill  to  be  enacted,  which  were  approved,  and  ordered  to  be  engrossed 
and  presented  by  the  Mayor  to  the  legislature.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the 
memorial  : 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  6i 
To  THF,  HoNORAiii.i:,  THK  Lkc.isi.ati-rk  of  New  York,  int  Senate  and  Assembly 

ASSKMHI.Kl)  : 

The  Memorial  of  the  Mayor,  Aldcrnu-ii,  .iiul  C 'ominoiialtv  of  the  Citv  of 
New  York  respectfully  shewith  : 

That  a  perfect  Police,  is  in  the  opinion  of  your  memorialists,  of  extreme 
importance  in  every  city,  and  particularly  in  one  daily  and  rapidly  increasing  like 
the  City  of  New  York.  In  perfecting  such  a  police,  the  activity  of  the  inferior 
officers  and  agents  of  the  police  magistrates  is  every  way  important  and  compe- 
tent. Rewards  are  conse(iuently  necessary  to  stimulate  such  activity.  At  present 
there  are  constables  and  marshals  in  the  service  of  the  city  police,  whose  com- 
pensation arises  from  very  trivial  fees  which  are  allowed  them  by  law,  and  which 
are  the  same  in  all  cases,  whether  such  cases  are  important  or  unimportant.  It 
is  very  apparent  to  your  memorialists  that  in  cases  of  difficulty  and  importance, 
the  established  fees  of  office  can  hold  out  very  little  inducement  for  increased 
exertion,  and  that,  therefore,  capital  criminals  may,  through  the  want  of  competent 
remuneration  to  these  inferior  officers  of  justice,  baffle  pursuit  and  escape  the 
penalties  of  the  law. 

Your  memorialists  are  therefore  anxious  that  some  remedy  be  applied  to  this 
gross  defect,  and  they  beg  leave  to  suggest  the  following  : 

Since  the  first  establishment  of  a  police  office  in  the  City  of  New  York,  large 
(juantities  of  property  of  various  kinds,  and  considerable  value,  seized  under  sus- 
picion of  being  stolen,  have  devolved  to  the  office  by  remaining  unclaimed  liy  any 
owner,  and  from  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  such  ])roperty,  the  expenses  of  the 
office  have  been  annually  paid,  and  a  large  surplus  left  in  the  hands  of  the  magis- 
trates, unappropriated.  The  proceeds  of  this  unclaimed  property,  with  occasional 
assistance  from  the  public  revenue  of  the  State,  will  form  a  sufficient  fund  more 
effectually  to  encourage  the  vigilance  and  activity  of  the  several  branches  of  a 
police,  confessedly  of  great  benefit  to  the  whole  State  of  New  York. 

Your  Memorialists  therefore  pray  that  provision  be  made  by  law  for  the 
disposal  of  the  property  so  remaining  in  the  said  office  unclaimed,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  every  six  months,  and  that  the  proceeds  thereof  may  be  paid  into  the 
Treasury,  and  an  established  salary,  in  addition  to  the  existing  fees,  mav  be  allowed 
out  of  the  public  Treasury  to  such  Constables  and  Marshals  as  the  Police  Magis- 
trates may  select,  on  account  of  their  vigilance  and  fidelity,  to  attend  at  the  said 
office,  and  execute  their  commands." 

This  was  a  step  in  advance  ;  yet,  it  will  be  seen,  it  leaves  the  poor  Watch- 
man unprovided  for.  It  is  not  likely  that  the  police  of  to-day  would  be  content 
to  rely  on  the  leavings  of  the  Property  Clerk's  office  for  their  pay  ;  neither  are  the 
owners  of  stolen  goods,  as  a  rule,  so  accommodating  as  to  leave  their  property 
to  benefit  the  public  finances. 

The  legislature  (April  9,  181 1,)  passed  an  act  embodying  the  main  features 
contained  in  the  memorial  of  the  corporation,  as  aforesaid.  This  act  provided  for 
the  appointment  of  one  Special  Justice,  and  directed  that  all  Special  Justices 
should  be,  ex-officio,  Judges  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions.  It  empowered  the 
Mayor,  from  time  to  time,  to  select  as  many  Marshals  and  Constables  as  he  should 
deem  necessary  to  perform  police  duty,  who  were  to  report  daily  at  the  police  of- 
fice and  execute  the  orders  of  the  Justices.  For  these  services  Constables  were 
allowed  extra  compensation  in  the  discretion  of  the  Justices  and  approval  of  the 
Mayor.  The  Special  Justices  were  also  given  control  of  the  Watchmen,  insofar 
as  their  orders  related  to  the  detection  of  criminals.  The  appointment  of  Mar- 
shals was  limited  to  sixty.  The  act  also  provided  that  two  Aldermen  should  at- 
tend the  court  of  General  Sessions  and  act  as  Justices,  and  that  another  Special 


62 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Justice  should  be  appointed.  The  Mayor  was  empowered  to  select  the  Constables 
and  Marshals,  who  were  to  attend  the  court  as  policemen.  Unclaimed  ])roperty 
was  directed  to  be  sold,  the  proceeds  to  be  paid  to  policemen  for  extraordinary 
services. 

The  Special  Justices  received  from  the  Common  Council  the  use  of  the 
watch-room  and  adjoining  room  of  the  New  City  Hall  for  the  performance  of 
their  duties. 

It  was  again  re-enacted  in  this  year  that  Watchmen  were  not  eligil)le  to  ac- 
cept the  office  of  firemen,  and  new  staves  were  ordered  for  the  use  of  the  Consta- 
bles. 


City  Hall. 


Constables,  before  taking  office,  were  obliged  to  give  a  bond  with  two  sureties, 
by  whii.li  such  Constables  agreed  to  pay  to  any  person  the  amount  he  might  become 
liable  for  on  account  of  any  execution  he  might  collect.  The  amount  of  the 
bond  is  not  stated,  but  tlie  bond  should  be  approved  by  the  Supervisors,  and 
jjlaced  in  the  custody  of  the  Town  Clerk.  Police  Justices  were  required  to  ac- 
count semi-annually  (January  and  July)  to  the  Mayor,  as  to  what  stolen  goods 
remained  unclaimed  in  the  police  office,  and  to  advertise  the  same  in  one  daily 
newspaper.  Constables  and  Bailiffs  were  ordered  to  arrest  all  persons  who  dis- 
turbed religious  worship  on  the  Sabbath,  or  who,  on  the  same  day,  exhibited  any 
show,  promoted  or  aided  in  horse-racing,  or  who  sold  any  liquor  within  one  mile 
of  the  place  of  meeting,  under  a  penalty  of  twenty-five  dollars.  Suits  against  a 
Constable  were  to  be  brought  within  two  years  after  his  term  of  office,  for  failure 
to  properly  perform  his  duty. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  63 

ji 

The  foundation  stone  of  the  City  Hall  was  laid  on  September  26th,  1803, 
during  the  mayoralty  of  Edward  Livingstone.  It  was  finished  in  181 2,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  half  a  million  dollars. 

The  building  is  of  a  scjuare  form,  two  stories  in  height,  besides  a  basement 
story.  It  has  a  wing  at  each  end,  projecting  from  the  front,  and  in  the  centre 
the  roof  is  elevated  to  form  an  attic  story.  The  whole  length  of  the  building  is 
two  hundred  and  si.xteen  feet,  the  breadth  one  hundred  and  five  feet,  and  the  height 
fifty-one  feet.  Including  the  attic  story,  it  is  si.\ty-five  feet  in  height.  The  front 
and  both  ends,  above  the  basement  story,  are  built  of  native  white  marble,  from 
Stockbridge,  Massachusetts;  and  the  rest  of  the  building  is  constructed  of  brown 
freestone.  The  roof  is  covered  with  copper,  and  there  is  a  balustrade  of  marble 
entirely  around  the  top.  Rising  from  the  middle  of  the  roof  is  a  cupola,  on 
which  is  placed  a  colossal  figure  of  Justice,  holding  in  her  right  hand,  which  rests 
on  her  forehead,  a  balance;  and  in  her  left,  a  sword  pointing  to  the  ground.  The 
first  story,  including  the  portico,  is  of  the  Ionic,  the  second  of  the  Corinthian, 
the  attic  of  the  Fancy,  and  the  cupola  of  the  Composite  order.  The  first  design 
was  that  the  whole  should  be  built  of  marble,  but  marble  was  high,  the  city 
fathers  were  economical,  and  it  was  desirable  to  make  a  saving.  On  that  ac- 
count, and  it  being  maintained  that  the  population  would  never,  to  any  extent, 
settle  above  Chambers  Street,  and  therefore,  as  the  rear  of  the  hall  would  not 
come  into  public  view,  it  was  concluded  to  build  this  portion  of  the  edifice  with 
red  freestone.  This  accounts  for  the  difference  between  the  front  and  rear. 
What  a  commentary  on  the  phenomenal  growth  of  the  cit}-. 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  compensation  to  be  allowed  to  the 
officers  attending  the  police  offices,  on  February  3,  181 2,  reported  that  they  had 
examined  the  accounts  of  the  officers,  and  were  satisfied  that  these  were  accurate 
both  as  to  the  time  given  the  i)ublic  service,  and  the  expenses  incurred.  The  re- 
port goes  on  thus  : 

"With  respect  to  the  amount  of  compensation  to  be  given  to  them,  consider- 
ing the  difficulty  and  personal  danger  frecjuently  attending  a  discharge  of  their 
duty,  as  well  as  the  importance  of  it  to  the  public,  your  committee  respectfully 
recommend  that  the  several  Constables  and  Marshals  assigned  to  attend  the 
Police  Office  (in  the  watch-room  in  the  new  City  Hall),  be  allowed  the  sum  of  $2 
for  every  twelve  hours  they  shall  be  employed  in  that  dut\-  on  special  occasions, 
and  by  direction  of  any  one  of  the  Special  Justices  in  the  day  time,  and  the  ad- 
ditional sum  of  Si  for  every  twelve  hours  they  shall  be  employed  in  the  night 
time,  and  in  that  i)roportion  for  any  longer  or  shorter  time  ;  and  that  the  accounts 
be  jjresented  hereafter  in  the  name  of  the  High  Constable,  and  certified  to  by  the 
Special  Justices." 

On  April  6,  181 2,  an  ordinance  of  the  Common  Council  increased  the 
number  of  Captains  and  Assistant  Captains,  respectively,  to  eight.  The  latter 
were  to  receive,  in  addition  to  their  pay  as  Watchmen,  fifty  cents  for  ever}'  night 
they  were  so  employed.  Twelve  substitutes  were  appointed  and  added  to  each 
of  the  companies  of  the  Watch,  who  were  entitled  to  a  like  pay  as  the  regular 
Watchmen,  whenever  so  employed. 

The  city  was  divided  into  four  police  districts. 

Each  Captain  was  entitled  to  receive  one  dollar  and  eighty-seven  and  a 
half  cents  for  every  night's  actual  service,  and  each  of  the  other  Watchmen 
received  eighty-seven  and  a  half  cents. 


64 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


An  ordinance  was  adopted  on  August  3,  providing  for  the  appointment  of 
a  Standing  Committee  of  Police,  to  consist  of  three  members  of  the  Common 
Council,  and  vested  with  all  the  usual  powers  for  the  promotion  of  police 
efficiency,  the  committee  being  authorized  to  act  in  concert  with  the  magistrates 
of  the  city  to  that  end. 

Next  comes  a  clause  ordering  "  that  a  company  not  exceeding  one  hundred 
active  citizens  should  be  organized  in  each  ward,  under  the  direction  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Police  and  Magistrates,  as  an  extraordinary  City  Watch,  to  be  armed 
with  watch  clubs,  and  to  have  an  object  placed  in  their  hats  when  on  duty,  written 
'  City  Watch.'  "  This  body  was  to  have  a  Captain  and  assistant,  and,  on  an 
alarm  being  given,  it  was  to  assemble  at  the  City  Hall  to  execute  the  behests  of 
the  Mayor  and  Magistrates.  A  third  section  of  the  same  ordinance  placed  $500 
at  the  disposal  of  the  Magistrates,  to  be  used  as  might  appear  best  toward  the 
suppression  of  crime. 

The  Grand  Jury  took  a  hand  in  police  affairs,  making  a  presentment  to  the 
effect  that  a  Watchman  should  be  stationed  at  each  church,  and  should  have 
ready  access  to  the  bell,  so  that  he  might  be  able  to  give  an  immediate  alarm  in 
case  of  fire.  The  Grand  Jurors  also  thought  the  Watchmen,  in  crying  fire,  should 
be  directed  to  name  the  place  where  the  flames  were  raging.  This  presentment 
was  referred  by  the  Common  Council  to  the  Watch  Committee. 

The  Captains  of  the  Watch  were  charged  with  superintending  the  trimming 
and  care  of  the  lamps  in  their  districts,  "  the  people  employed  by  the  corpora- 
tion having  been  guilty  of  neglect  and  impositions."  A  month  later,  however, 
the  Lamp  Committee  expressed  disapproval  of  the  Watchmen  lighting  the  lamps, 
but  were  in  favor  of  their  extinguishing  them  at  a  certain  hour.  Incidents  like 
these  are  eminently  indicative  of  the  state  of  the  city  during  the  period  treated  of. 
The  reader  may  find  unfailing  food  for  reflection  by  comparing  the  electric  fire 
alarm  system  and  the  electric  lighting  of  to-day  with  the  church  bell  ringing  and 
oil  lamp  trimming  that  prevailed  in  the  life  of  his  grandfather. 

By  the  act  of  ninth  of  April,  181 3,  the  city  was  divided  into  ten  wards:  the 
electors  of  each  ward  to  choose  one  Alderman,  one  Assistant  Alderman,two  Assess- 
ors, one  Collector,  and  two  Constables.  The  Mayor,  Recorder,  and  not  less  than 
five  Aldermen,  and  five  Assistant  Aldermen  to  be  a  quorum  of  the  Common  Council. 
The  Mayor,  Recorder,and  Aldermen  had  the  power  of  Police  Judges,empowered  to 
act  as  conservators  of  the  peace.  Under  this  law,  a  police  office  was  established 
and  the  Police  Judges  (otherwise  called  Special  Justices),  were  authorized  to  exer- 
cise certain  j)owers,  which  belonged  to  Aldermen  when  out  of  sessions. 

Furthermore,  it  should  be  lawful  for  the  Chancellor,  ever}'  of  the  Judges  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  and  every  of  the  Aldermen,  whenever 
they  should  deem  the  occasion  to  require  it,  to  be  in  the  said  office,  "  and  then 
and  there  to  do  every  act  which  they  shall  deem  requisite  to  be  done  by  them  as 
conservators  of  the  peace."  This  act  provided  also  for  the  appointment  of  three 
Special  Justices,  "  as  often  as  it  sliall  be  deemed  necessary,"  for  preserving  the 
peace  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  likewise  a  clerk  of  the  police  office.  The 
salary  of  each  Special  Justice  was  fixed  by  law  at  the  rate  of  $750  per  annum, 
together  with  certain  fees  named  in  the  statute. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


65 


The  Mayor  of  the  city,  from  time  to  time,  was  authorized  to  select  as  many 
Constables  and  Marshals  as  he  might  deem  requisite  for  police  officers,  whose 
duty  it  should  be  to  attend  daily  at  the  police  office  and  execute  the  orders  and 
commands  of  the  Justices.  The  proceeds  of  sales  of  unclaimed  property  were 
applied  to  compensate  the  said  police  officers  for  extraordinary  services,  and  to 
promote  the  detection  and  apprehension  of  offenders.  It  was  the  duty  of  the 
Watchmen  to  obey  such  orders  and  directions  as  they  should  from  time  to  time 
receive  from  the  Special  Justices  relative  to  the  detection  and  apprehension  of 
offenders.  It  was  the  duty  of  the  Justices,  or  one  of  them,  to  examine  all  persons 
apprehended  and  detained  in  custody  liy  the  Night-Watches,  and  to  make  such 
order  thereon  as  the  circumstances  of  each  case  and  justice  should  require,  and 
likewise  to  superintend  and  direct  the  discharge  of  the  Watch  every  morning 
upon  the  conclusion  of  the  ser\'ice  of  the  night.  The  act  limited  the  number  of 
Marshals  to  sixty. 

One  of  the  earliest  statutes  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1683  was  for  the  re- 
lief of  the  poor.  In  1699  a  law  was  passed  for  the  relief  of  the  jjoor  at  their 
homes;  and  about  17 14  the  first  alms  house  was  built,  on  the  present  site  of  the 
City  Hall.  In  1795  a  lottery  of  ^10,000  was  granted  for  a  new  alms  house,  and 
the  large  brick  Iniilding  on  the  Park  near  Chambers  Street  was  erected.  This 
building  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1854.  In  181 1,  a  tract  on  the  East  River,  at 
the  foot  of  Twenty-sixth  Street,  was  bought;  and  the  first  stone  was  laid  August 
I,  181 1.  The  main  building  at  Bellevue  Hospital  was  opened  April  22,  1816,  as  a 
hospital,  penitentiary,  and  alms  house,  at  a  cost  of  $421,109. 

The  buildings  occupied  by  the  alms  house  stood  at  Bellevue,  on  the  banks 
of  the  East  River.  The  principal  building  fronted  the  river.  It  was  a  plain 
stone  structure,  three  stories  high,  with  slated  roof.  The  first  stone  of  the  alms 
house  was  laid  August  i,  i8n,  and  it  was  opened  in  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1816.  The  inappropriateness  of  the  location  of  the  alms  house  at  Chambers 
Street  soon  became  manifest,  and  in  18 10  the  site  at  Bellevue,  containing 
between  six  and  seven  acres,  was  purchased  and  buildings  commenced,  which 
were  finished  and  occupied  in  18 12.  The  city  authorities  then  agreed  to  de- 
vote the  old  building  toward  encouraging  several  enterprises  of  a  public  character 
then  recently  started,  and  accordingly  appropriated  its  rooms  for  their  occupancy, 
and  adopted  for  it  the  name  of  the  New  York  Institution. 

A  committee  of  the  Common  Council  which  was  appointed  to  consider  the 
subject,  reported  on  February  12,  1816,  that  "an  entire  new  modification"  of  the 
Justices'  Courts  was  desirable.  This  committee  recommended  that  the  city  be 
divided  into  five  districts,  of  which  the  Ninth  Ward  was  specified  as  one.  Four 
Justices  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  Council  of  Appointment — a  body  many  of 
the  functions  of  which  are  now  vested  in  the  Governor  of  the  State — for  the  first 
four  districts  ;  the  Corporation  was  to  appoint  two  for  the  Fifth  District  or 
Ninth  Ward.  All  these  Justices  were  to  hold  court  at  such  times  and  ])laces  as 
the  Corporation  might  direct,  and  they  were  to  make  a  return  of  all  their  fees, 
paying  the  amount  of  them  monthly  to  the  Chamberlain.  Fuel,  candles  and  sta- 
tionery were  to  be  supplied  by  the  city.  It  was  further  proposed  to  extend  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Justices  to  cases  in  which  $50  or  under  was  involved,  the 


66 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


jurisdiction  being  concurrent  with  that  of  the  Mayor's  Court  over  $25,  and  the 
defendant  having  the  option  of  removing  the  case  to  the  latter  tribunal  on  giving 
security.  Another  suggestion,  which  shows  growth  in  liberality,  forbids  that  any 
man  who  actually  supported  a  family  should  be  imprisoned  for  a  debt  less  than 
$25  ;  and  finally  it  was  proposed  that  the  Justices  should  have  power  to  grant 
new  trials,  and,  except  in  the  Ninth  Ward,  should  be  salaried  officers,  paid  by  the 
city.  All  tliese  suggestions  were  approved  by  the  Common  Council,  which 
instructed  the  Corporation  Counsel  to  prepare  a  corresponding  memorial  and 
bill  for  presentation  to  the  legislature.  This  was  done,  and  an  act  founded  on 
the  outline  here  given  was  adopted.  In  181 7  the  salary  of  Police  Justices 
was  set  at  $750  per  annum.  The  Clerks  of  the  police  courts  about  the  same 
time  made  a  successful  effort  to  have  themselves,  in  common  with  Constables 
and  Marshals,  exempted  from  militia  duty. 


Alms  House,  Bellevue. 


The  Humane  Society  (1817),  it  is  to  be  presumed,  from  their  j)rinted 
"  directions  to  prevent  the  fatal  effects  of  drinking  cold  water,"  had  'but 
slight  sympathy  with  the  principles  of  St.  John.  The  remedy  for 
which,  as  i)rescril)ed  by  this  excellently  humane  society,  was  "  spirits 
and  water,"  or,  in  other  words,  "  grog."  "  With  the  view  of  carrying 
into  effect  the  foregoing  directions,"  it  is  stated  "  the  Society  have  appointed 
six  i)hysicians,  *  *  *  whose  province  it  is  to  take  charge  of  such  j)er- 
sons  as  are  contemplated  in  this  provision,  and  on  whom  our  citizens  are  re- 
([uestcd  to  call  when  accidents  of  this  nature  may  occur."  Verily,  that  was  a 
humane,  not  to  say  a  philanthropic  society. 

The  Police  Committee  was  ordered  in  181 7  to  report  upon  the  propriety  of 
allowing  further  compensation  to  peace  officers  for  the  arrest  of  felons.  The  re- 
port was  made  on  November  17,  and  four  propositions  which  it  contained  were 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


67 


agreed  to.  These  were  :  First,  that  the  Police  Committee  be  authorized  to  pay 
officers  for  extraordinary  services  in  arresting  criminals,  such  sums,  not  exceeding 
$100  in  any  one  case,  as  they  might  deem  just  ;  Second,  that  sixty-two  cents  be 
allowed  to  every  officer  who  should  arrest  on  process,  a  prisoner  who  should  be  com- 
mitted and  afterwards  released  or  convicted;  Third,  that  every  Watchman  who  at- 
tended court  on  subpoena  as  required  by  the  District  Attorney,  in  consequence  of 
his  being  a  Watchman,  should  be  allowed  $2  for  each  case  of  felony  in  which  he  so 
attended  ;  and  Fourth,  that  Marshals,  when  not  attached  to  a  court,  and  Consta- 
bles should  be  allowed  %\  for  every  attendance  on  subpoena. 

Constables  and  Marshals  when  summoned,  were  obliged  (Act  March  5,  1819) 
to  attend  the  sittings  of  the  courts  of  Common  Pleas,  Oyer  and  Terminer,  Cien- 
eral  Sessions  and  the  jail  delivery,  for  which  services  they  were  each  paid  $1.50  per 
day.  Constables  were  forbidden  (Act  April  7,  1820)  to  buy  or  become  interested  in 
any  bill  or  promissory  note,  debt,  etc.,  nor  lend  any  money  on  any  debt  for  the 
purpose  of  getting  it  in  his  hands  for  collection,  under  penalty  of  fine,  imprison- 
ment and  forfeiture  of  office.  Upon  warrant  for  the  non-payment  of  rent.  Con- 
stables and  Marshals  were  empowered  to  remove  defaulting  tenants  (Act  April 
13,  1820).  A  subsequent  act  provided  that  Constables  should  receive  reason- 
ble  compensation  for  services  performed,  and  for  which  no  sijecified  compensa- 
tion had  been  allowed  by  law. 

By  an  act  of  ninth  February,  1 788,  justices  of  the  peace  were  authorized  to  com- 
mit, for  sixty  days,  any  vagrant,  disorderly  person,  etc.,  on  their  own  views,  with- 
out a  trial  by  jury.  By  an  act  of  March  3,  1820,  the  term  of  commitment  was 
extended  to  six  months.  Thus  the  jjolice  justices  had  the  power  of  taking  up  and 
imprisoning  any  individual  at  their  discretion,  without  the  form  of  trial  by  jury, 
although  this  provision  was  in  direct  collision  with  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  which  declares  that  "  the  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impeach- 
ment, shall  be  by  jury."  The  police  at  thi^-  time,  it  is  alleged,  with  regard  to 
crimes,  were  rather  remarkable  for  success  in  detecting,  than  for  vigilance  in  pre- 
venting them.  The  police  of  the  city  were  not,  it  would  appear,  over-efficient  or 
zealous. 

By  act  of  the  legislature  of  this  year,  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  five  .Mdermen 
and  five  Assistants,  were  deemed  necessary  to  form  a  ipiorum  for  the  transact- 
ing of  any  business.  In  the  same  act  it  w,is  provided  that  the  salary  of  the 
Mayor  might  be  seven  thousand  dollars  jier  annum,  l)ut  could  not  be  less  than 
five  thousand  dollars,  and  after  being  fixed,  it  could  not  be  lessened  during  the 
holding  of  the  then  incumbent.  Formerly  the  salary  arose  chiefly  from  per- 
quisites of  office. 

The  Mayor's  Court  was  held  in  the  City  Hall.  The  Mayor,  Recorder, 
and  .\ldermen  constituted  this  court,  though  the  Mayor  and  Recorder  might 
meet  without  the  Aldermen.  The  court  held  its  sittings  on  the  third  Monday 
of  every  month.  The  charter  of  this  court  is  dated  April  22,  1686.  As  a  Court 
of  Justice  the  Mayor's  Court  stood  very  high  in  public  estimation. 

Then  there  were  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States;  the  Circuit  Court 
of  the  United  States;  the  Surrogate's  Office;  the  Marine  or  Justices' Court — 
this  court  consisted  of  three  Judges  or  Justices,  who  were  appointed  by  the 


68 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Council  of  State,  two  of  which  should  always  preside.  They  met  every  law- 
ful day  at  ten  o'clock,  and  were  empowered  to  try  actions  for  debt  to  the 
amount  of  one  hundred  dollars;  to  determine  as  to  seamen's  wages  to  any 
amount,  and  in  actions  of  assault,  battery  and  false  imprisonment  among  sea- 
men and  passengers.  It  was  distinct  from  all  other  courts  of  justices;  had  no 
power  to  hold  sessions  of  the  peace  but  as  to  keeping  the  peace  it  had  the  same 
power  as  other  magistrates. 

Besides  the  Marine  Court,  there  was  a  Justices'  Court  held  in  every  ward, 
in  which  one  person  presided,  who  was  called  an  Assistant  Justice.  He  tried 
questions  of  debt  and  trespass  to  the  amount  of  twenty-five  dollars,  and  gen- 
erally all  actions  competent  to  all  other  justices  in  the  State  where  the  amount 
did  not  exceed  twenty-five  dollars.  The  Justices  of  these  courts  were  remuner- 
ated out  of  fees  prescribed  by  law,  on  the  proceedings  in  their  respective  courts. 

A  change  was  effected  in  the  law  concerning  Assistant  Justices,  on  January  4, 
1820,  by  reducing  their  number,  as  follows  :  One  was  appointed  for  the  first, 
second,  and  third  wards,  one  for  the  fourth  and  sixth  wards,  one  for  the  fifth  and 
eighth  wards,  and  one  for  the  seventh  and  tenth  wards  ;  each  Justice  to  hold  a 
court  for  the  trial  of  causes  to  the  amount  of  fifty  dollars  and  under.  The  salary 
of  each  was  one  thousand  seven  hnndred  and  fifty  dollars  per  year,  and  certain 
fees  were  allowed  when  more  than  twenty-five  dollars  was  recovered.  It  was 
not  lawful  for  more  than  thirty  of  the  Marshals  to  serve  processes  issuing  out 
of  the  court  of  any  Assistant  Justice,  such  Marshals  to  be  commissioned  by  the 
Mayor. 

The  first  faint  movement  towards  uniforming  the  peace  officers  was  to  oblige 
them  to  wear  a  certain  style  of  hat  to  distinguish  them  from  the  general  crowd. 
On  July  23,  182 1,  the  order  to  wear  these  hats  was  abolished;  a  painted  plate  to 
be  worn  by  each  ofificer  when  on  duty  in  front  of  his  own  cap,  was  made  optional. 
Another  and  more  pleasing  enactment  was  adopted,  as  a  sort  of  Christmas  present, 
on  December  24  of  this  year.  This  allowed  Captains  and  privates  of  the  Watch  one 
dollar  a  day  each  for  attendance  at  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  on  duty,  growing 
out  of  their  duties  as  Watchmen.  The  next  year,  this  rule  was  made  to  include  the 
Court  of  Oyer  and  Termimer.  The  same  committee  which  reported  this  ordi- 
nance, was  also  ordered  to  consider  the  petition  of  the  Watchmen  for  an  increase 
of  salary.  The  committee  found  that  there  were  a  great  number  of  applications 
for  berths  as  Walchmen,  and  that  neither  mechanical  labor  nor  the  cost  of  li\ing 
was  higher  than  it  was  when  the  pay  was  set  at  the  figure  that  then  prevailed. 
An  increase  was  therefore  opposed.  In  1825,  however,  a  resolution  was  carried 
allowing  the  Captains,  assistants,  and  Watchmen  of  the  different  districts  of  the 
City  Watch,  a  compensation  of  twelve  and  a  half  cents  a  night  additional  to  their 
regular  pay. 

The  Watch  Committee  was  instructed  to  investigate  the  method  of  con- 
ducting the  Watch  which  prevailed,  and  report  thereon  to  the  Common  Council. 
The  report  was  rendered  April  24,  1826,  and  it  opened  with  an  assurance  that  the 
committee  had  exerted  themselves  to  obtain  that  practical  information  necessary 
to  form  correct  opinions.  The  result  of  their  labors,  laid  before  the  Board,  is  as 
follows  : 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


69 


"  Your  Committee  have  on  various  occasions,  and  at  such  unexpected  seasons 
as  to  render  it  certain  that  their  visits  were  not  anticipated,  visited  the  watch- 
houses,  have  found  them  clean  and  orderly,  as  far  as  regards  the  Watchmen,  and 
that  in  general,  proper  respect  is  paid  to  the  commanding  officers,  and  a  whole- 
some subordination  used  in  all  their  regulations.  The  Watchmen  as  a  body  are 
men  to  whom  your  Committee  feel  confident  our  citizens  may  properly  confide 
the  safety  of  their  lives  and  ])roperty  ;  tliey  are,  however,  men,  and  it  would  hence 
be  unreasonable  to  ex])ect  that  they  should  be  faultless,  or  that  there  should  not 
be  among  them  those  who  dishonor  their  station,  and  have  been  found  and  ])njmptly 
dismissed,  and  your  Committee  believe  that  a  rigid  adherence  to  the  i)resent  test 
for  qualifications  will  rid  the  Watch  of  its  im])roi)er  members,  and  insure  to  the 
city  a  corps  whose  active  exertions  and  integrity  may  be  relied  on." 

Notwithstanding  this  high  praise,  the  committee  found  the  system  in  need  of 
improvement.  The  whole  number  of  Watchmen  in  the  city  at  this  time  was  two 
hundred  for  each  night's  serv  ice,  including  officers.  The  force  was  apportioned  as 
follows  : 

Districts.  Postmen.  Roundsmen.  Totals. 

First,  64  12  76 

Second,  52  8  60 

Third,  50  8  58 

Three  Captains  and  three  Assistants,        -       -       -  -  6 


Grand  Total,  -  200 
The  Postmen  were  to  include  those  stationed  at  public  buildings  and  the 
cupola,  and  doormen  at  the  watch-houses.  This  left  the  Captains  and  assist- 
ants, and  ninety-seven  men,  to  protect  the  streets  during  the  night.  'I'he  commit- 
tee believed  the  number  wholly  insufficient  to  guard  the  city.  After  making 
every  effort  by  rearrangement  of  the  posts  to  make  the  existing  force  as  efficient 
as  possible,  the  investigators  were  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  twenty-four  men 
ought  to  be  added.  They  reported,  however,  against  the  addition  of  a  new  dis- 
trict, on  the  double  ground  of  expense  and  the  difficulty  of  locating  the  new 
house.  They  recommended,  however,  the  addition  of  six  Assistant  Captains  to 
the  Watch,  two  for  each  district,  to  be  on  duty  alternate  nights.  Besides,  the  estab- 
lishment of  relief  watch-houses  was  advocated,  the  distance  of  the  outposts 
from  the  main  houses  re(iuiring  too  much  time  in  relieving.  To  meet  this  de- 
mand it  was  proposed  to  erect  a  watch-room  in  the  rear  of  a  new  engine-house, 
then  in  course  of  erection  at  Delancey  and  Attorney  Streets;  for  the  use  of  the 
Second  District,  and  to  use  the  room  over  the  engine-house  at  Hudson  and 
Christopher  Streets  for  the  Third  District.  Each  of  these  relief  houses  was  to 
be  placed  under  command  of  an  Assistant  Captain,  and  the  assignment  of  men 
to  them  was  to  be  left  to  the  Captains  and  the  Police  Committee.  "  If  the  fore- 
going recommendations  of  your  Committee  are  carried  into  effect,"  the  report 
says,  "  the  numlier  of  Watchmen  employed  for  eacli  night  will  be  two  hundred 
and  twenty-seven,  and  there  will  be  constantly  on  ihity  three  Captains,  six  Assist- 
ants, and  one  hundred  and  nine  Watchmen,  ninety-four  of  the  latter  being 
Postmen  and  fifteen  Roundsmen,  whose  duty  it  is  to  visit  the  posts  by  divisions 
every  two  hours  during  the  night."  The  estimated  cost  of  these  improvements 
was  ten  thousand  dollars  From  a  resolution  appended  to  the  committee's  report 
it  is  gathered  that  the  boundaries  of  the  three  Watch  districts  were  as  follows  : 


70 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


First,  commencing  at  the  foot  of  North  Moore  Street  to  Chapel  Street, 
thence  through  Chapel  to  White  Street,  to  Orange  Street,  through  Orange  to 
Bayard,  through  Bayard  to  Mulberry,  through  Mulberry  to  Chatham,  down  James 
to  East  River,  and  including  all  that  part  of  the  City  north  and  west  of  said  line. 

Second,  commencing  at  the  foot  of  James  Street,  to  Chatham  Street,  through 
Chatham  to  Mulberry,  through  Mulberry  to  Bayard,  through  Bayard  to  Orange, 
through  Orange  to  Grand,  through  Grand  to  Mulberry,  through  Mulberry  to 
Broome,  through  Broome  to  the  Bowery  as  far  as  the  Lamp  and  Watch  Districts 
extend,  including  all  north  and  east  of  the  said  line. 

Third,  all  the  city  in  the  Lamp  and  Watch  Districts  not  included  in  the 
above. 

All  the  recommendations  of  the  committee  just  quoted  were  adopted  by  the 
Common  Council,  and  were  speedily  put  in  operation. 


First  House  of  Refuge,  1806. 


The  Society  for  the  Reformation  of  Ju\enile  Delinquents  made  an  applica- 
tion to  the  City  Council  for  a  grant  of  land  for  the  proposed  institution.  The 
committee  to  whom  the  request  was  referred  recommended  "  that  the  piece  of 
ground  lying  at  the  junction  of  the  Bloomingdale  and  Old  Post  roads,  on  which 
the  U.  S.  Arsenal  was  situated,  which  was  granted  on  the  17th  November,  1807, 
by  the  corporation  to  the  General  (Government,  upon  the  express  condition  and 
understanding  that  the  same  should  be  used  for  the  i)urjiose  of  an  arsenal  and  de- 
posit of  military  stores,  and  whenever  it  should  cease  to  be  used  for  such  pur- 
poses it  was  to  revert  to  the  corporation,  should  be  conveyed  to  the  board  of 
managers  of  the  Society,  whenever  they  obtained  from  the  General  Government 
a  conveyance  of  the  interest  they  had  in  the  grounds." 

In  addition  to  this  they  proposed  to  convey  to  the  Society  the  triangular  plot 
in  front,  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  roads.  The  memorial  to  the  government 
was  granted,  and  the  government  stores  were  removed  to  Castle  AN'illiam,  the  bar- 
racks being  turned  over  to  the  Society. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


71 


The  site  now  forms  part  of  Madison  S(iuarc,  lying  between  Twenty-third 
and  Twenty-sixth  Streets,  and  Madison  and  Fifth  Avenues.  Here  on  the  first 
of  January,  1825,  in  the  old  barracks  occupied  during  the  Avar  of  1812-15,  purified, 
refitted,  and  prepared  for  a  limited  number  of  inmates,  the  New  York  House  of 
Refuge  was  opened.  At  first  there  was  but  one  long  building;  subsequently  addi- 
tions were  made  as  the  number  of  inmates  increased,  as  represented  below,  'i'he 
building  was  burned  down  in  the  year  1835. 

Hy  act  of  April  15,  1826,  the  fees  of  Constables  and  Marshals  employed  in 
the  Police  office  were  fixed  as  follows;  For  serving  a  warrant  or  summons  within 
one  mile,  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents,  and  six  and  a  cpiarter  cents  for  returning 
if  the  party  was  arrested  or  served.  l'"or  every  mile,  going  only,  twelve  and  a 
hall  cents  mileage;  tor  taking  the  defendant  in  custody  on  commitment,  twelve 


House  of  Refuge. 

[As  it  looked  after  extensions  were  added.] 


and  a  half  cents;  for  conveying  the  party  to  prison,  if  within  a  mile,  twelve  and 
a  half  cents;  for  going  with  a  defendant  to  procure  a  security,  when  ordered 
by  the  Justice,  fifty  cents;  for  serving  a  subpoena,  when  within  a  mile,  twelve 
and  a  half  cents,  and  twelve  and  a  half  cents  additional  for  every  additional 
mile,  going  only ;  for  serving  every  search  warrant  when  goods  were  not  found, 
one  dollar,  but  if  found  and  they  should  exceed  fifty  dollars,  then  any  sum  not 
over  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents,  which  the  Justice  might  direct. 

A  resolution  was  passed  August  4  of  this  year,  that  an  inquiry  be  made  into 
the  expediency  of  associating  with  the  several  Watch  departments  a  judicial  officer 
to  admit  prisoners  to  bail,  was  referred  to  the  Watch  Committee.  On  the  eleventh 
of  the  following  month  a  resolution  was  adoj)ted  providing  for  the  sitting  of 
Magistrates  on  Sundays,and  during  the  night — the  committee  on  applications  being 
instructed  to  ask  the  legislature  to  change  the  law  to  that  effect.  The  succeed- 
ing month  a  resolution  was  offered  providing  for  the  establishing  of  two  branches 


72 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


of  the  Police  Department,  to  be  located  at  the  watch-houses  of  the  Second  and 
Third  Districts,  each  having  Justices'  clerks  and  Marshals  to  attend  during  the 
day-time,  and  a  Justice  to  attend  at  night  to  dispose  of  the  cases  brought  up, 
thereby  relieving  the  Captains  of  the  responsibility.  In  the  month  of  December, 
six  new  posts  were  created:  two  in  the  First  District,  one  in  the  Second,  and  three 
in  the  Third. 

The  Watch  Committee  were  directed  to  employ  a  physician  to  atteud  cer- 
tain Watchmen  who  were  injured  in  the  riot  at  Anthony  Street,  near  Elm 
Street,  on  January  i,  1827.  On  the  fifteenth  of  the  same  month,  the  Watch 
Committee  were  directed  to  render  any  financial  assistance  necessar)-  to  the  fami- 
lies of  the  wounded  Watchmen.  The  following  month  provision  was  made  to  fine 
Constables  twenty-five  dollars  for  failing  to  attend  before  a  Justice  when  sum- 
moned to  do  so. 

Watchmen  were  required  by  ordinance  (July  13,  1829)  to  call  out  fires.  The 
Captains  of  each  Watch  District  were  ordered  to  instruct  the  Watchmen  under 
their  direction  to  cause  every  alarm  of  fire  to  be  made  as  general  as  possible,  by 
crying  aloud  the  name  of  the  street  or  post  where  the  fire  might  be. 

Watchmen  were  allowed  fifty  cents  for  attendance  as  witnesses  at  Special 
Sessions,  l^y  ordinance,  December  27,  1830. 

When  on  duty,  Watchmen  wore  a  fireman's  old-fashioned  leathern  hat,  bereft 
of  its  upright  front  plate.  This  hat  was  varnished  twice  a  year,  and  soon  became 
as  hard  as  iron.  From  this  they  came  to  l;e  called  "  Leatherheads."  They  were 
also  dul)bed  "Old  Charlies."  They  had  no  other  badge  of  office  than  this  hat, 
and  a  thirty-three  inch  club.  For  many  years,  like  their  Dutch  predecessors, 
they  called  out  the  hours  of  the  night,  but  this  practice  ceased  long  before  the 
old  Charlies  had  run  their  course.  For  over  half  a  century  the  city  was  jjoliced 
by  these  Watchmen.  The  system  worked  well  enough  while  the  city  remained 
in  its  "teens;"  but  an  ever  increasing  population,  and  a  constantly  expanding 
area,  in  time  called  for  a  change  in  the  management  and  organization  of  our 
public  guardians.  The  jaded  stevedore,  teamster,  or  mechanic,  could  hardly  be 
expected  to  display  much  enterprise  or  energ)-,  when,  on  each  alternate  night,  he 
sallied  forth  to  patrol  the  streets.  It  is  safe  to  assume  that  he  performed  hi^ 
duty  in  a  perfunctory  manner,  and  that  the  "knights  of  the  jimmy,"  and  othei 
midnight  marauders,  did  not  hold  him  in  especial  reverence  or  dread. 

The  only  day  police  during  the  regime  of  the  aforesaid  Leatherheads,  were 
the  Constables,  generally  two  from  each  ward,  and  the  Marshals,  who  were 
assigned  to  the  Courts.  It  was,  then,  the  province  of  the  Watchman,  or 
"  Leatherhead,"  to  jjrotect  life  and  property,  to  preserve  public  order,  and 
generally  to  keep  the  criminal  classes  within  proper  subjection.  He  did  not 
always  succeed  in  doing  this,  it  is  true;  but  perhaps  that  was  not  entirely  his 
fault.  The  young  bloods  of  those  days  took  liberties  with  this  official  personage 
which  no  young  man  of  our  time,  who  valued  his  health  and  reputation,  would 
dare  take  with  one  of  "The  Finest."  The  old  "  Leatherheads  "  had  often  to 
suffer  the  pranks  of  wild  young  men  about  town,  who,  like  their  cockney 
prototype,  thought  that  a  night's  spree  would  not  be  appropriately  ended  except 
they  had  played  some  practical  joke  on  the  City  Watch,  which  took  the  form 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


73 


generally  of  upsetting  a  watch-box  with  a  snoring  I.eatherhead  in  it,  or  to  lasso 
the  sentry-box  with  a  stout  rope,  and  drag  it  along  with  its  imprisoned  occupant. 
But  these  experiences  did  not  seriously  ruffle  the  temper  of  the  Watchmen,  and 
so  nobody  was  much  the  worse  off  for  those  irregular  pleasantries. 

Jacob  Hays  was  then  the  main  safeguard  of  the  city  during  business  hours. 
He  was  accustomed  to  go  the  rounds  with  a  few  Constables,  suppressing  tumults 
and  enforcing  ordinances. 

The  Watchmen  found  it  no  easy  task  to  cope  with  crime  and  criminals. 
Tlic  city  at  this  time  was  not  remarkable  for  the  peaceable  and  orderly  disposi- 
tion of  the  naturally  vicious  and  turbulent  portion  of  the  inhabitants.  Street 
brawls  and  election  riots  began  to  become  numerous.  Gangs  of  rowdies  not 
infrequently  indulged  in  a  series  of  serious  faction  fights,  and,  growing  tired  of 
this,  they  began  to  maltreat  peaceable  citizens.  Robberies,  liurglaries  and  general 
thievery  were  alarmingly  on  the  increase,  and  this  criminal  activity  was  not  in 
any  manner  counterbalanced  by  a  corresponding  energy  on  the  part  of  tlie  city's 
legally  constituted  guardians.  The  Watchmen  of  the  period  stood  in  wholesome 
terror  of  "the  lawbreakers  they  were  supposed  to  keep  within  proper  subjection. 
The  Constables  were  but  a  mere  corporal's  guard,  but,  under  tlie  skillful  and 
fearless  leadership  of  High  Constable  Hays,  they  did  much  towards  intimidating 
the  higher  order  of  culprits,  who  organize  crime  and  employ  others  to  execute 
tlieir  plans.  The  High  Constable's  duties  were  more  in  the  line  of  detecting  than 
preventing  crime,  and  his  services  in  this  respect  can  not  be  over-estimated. 

But  those  old  Watchmen  were,  as  a  class,  very  respectable  men,  and  many  of 
them  belonged  to  very  good  families. 

The  roughs  and  toughs  of  those  days  were  in  no  way  inferior  or  superior  tc 
their  congeners,  with  whom  our  citizens  are  but  too  familiar.  Nevertheless,  the 
statement  may  be  hazarded  that  the  Watchman's  lot  was  even  a  less  happy  one 
than  that  of  the  Policeman  of  the  present  day.  The  former  was  not  uniformed 
or  armed,  save  as  to  a  club;  he  was  not  so  well  protected  by  the  law  in  his  war- 
fare on  criminals;  the  system  lacked  effective  organization,  and  there  was  an 
entire  absence  of  that  esprit  du  corps  which  so  distinguishes  our  own  Police  force. 

"  New  York  City,"  says  Mrs.  Lamb,  in  the  history  of  the  City  of  New  York, 
"  by  this  time  appeared  like  a  youth  much  overgrown  for  his  years.  It  has  shot  up 
with  a  rapidity  that  defies  calculation."  Wealth  was  increasing  faster  than  sobriety 
was  inclined  to  measure.  Swarming  multitudes  from  every  quarter  of  the  globe 
were  rendering  the  community — in  a  certain  sense — unformed.  Educational  and 
charitable  institutions  were  multiplying. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  city,  to  keep  pace  witli  its  constantly  increasing 
population,  may  best  be  inferred  from  the  following  table:  The  population  in 
1790  was  33,131;  in  1800,  60,489;  in  1810,  96,373;  in  1820,  123,706;  in  1830, 
202,589. 

On  the  seventh  of  April,  1830,  an  amended  charter  was  granted  to  the  city, 
which  provided  for  separate  meetings  of  the  two  boards,  and  excluded  the  Mayor 
and  Recorder  from  the  Common  Council,  giving  the  Mayor,  however,  the  power  of 
approving  or  disapproving  the  acts  of  this  body.  In  the  course  of  the  following 
year  the  Fifteenth  Ward  was  added  to  the  city. 


74 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS 


CHAPTER  IV. 


PROGRESS  AND  REPEAL  OF  THE  OLD  WATCH  SYSTEM. 


1S31— 1S44. 


AVatchme'n  Dissatisfied  with  their  Pay. — The  Duty  of  Captains  at  the 
Breaking  Out  of  a  Fire. — Inquiring  Into  the  Expediency  of  Reor- 
ganizing THE  Police  Department. — Increasing  the  Number  of  Police 
Justices. — "The  Year  of  Riots." — Erection  of  New  Watch-houses. — 
The  Five  Points. — Necessity  of  an  Increase  in  the  Number  of 
the  Watch. — First  Attempt  at  Forming  a  Detective  Squ.\d. — 
The  Flour  Riots. — Reorganization  of  the  Watch. — Powers  of  the 
Mayor  over  the  Watch  Revoked  and  tr.ansferred  to  the  Common  Coun- 
cil.— The  Mayor  Reinvested  with  Supre.me  Police  Authority. — Mayor 
Morris'  Plan  of  Forming  the  Marshals  iNto  .\  Day  Police. — Report  of 
THE  Special  Committee  in  Relation  to  the  Reorganization  of  the 
W.vrcH. — Battery  Park  in  former  times. — High  Constable  Hays. — His 
Remarkable  Career. — How  He  Suppressed  Cri.me  and  Scourged  Crim- 
inals. 


HE  Night  City  Watchmen,  in  183 1,  became  dissatisfied  with  their  pay,  and 


two  hundred  and  fifty  of  their  number,  organizing  as  a  body,  petitioned 
the  Boards  of  Aldermen  for  an  increase  of  wages.  The  question  was  re- 
ferred to  the  Committee  on  Finance,  PoUce,  Watch  and  Prisons,  who, 
after  examining  several  of  the  officers  and  a  large  number  of  the  men,  ad- 
vised adversely  to  granting  the  petition.  Their  report  states  that  the  members 
of  the  Watch  were  paid  eighty-seven  and  a  half  cents  per  night,  the  men  alter- 
nating in  performing  the  duties,  and  that  the  majority  of  them  were  engaged 
in  other  pursuits  with  which  their  official  responsibilities  seldom  interfered.  In  the 
summer  season,  the  Watch  was  stationed  at  nine  o'clock,  and  was  discharged  at 
daylight,  the  men  having  half  the  time  to  rest,  the  force  being  divided  into 
two  squads,  each  serving  every  alternate  two  hours.  In  regard  to  the  com- 
plaint that  they  were  obliged  to  attend  the  Police  Courts  in  the  mornings  with 
their  prisoners,  the  committee  held  that  this  was  not  very  arduous,  as  two  men 
in  succession  were  assigned  to  that  duty,  and  that  the  turn  of  each  did  not  corae 
more  than  once  in  every  three  months. 

The  same  grievance  was  complained  of  in  1825,  and  this  led  to  an  advance 
from  seventy-five  cents  to  eighty-seven  and  a  half  cents  per  night,  that  continu- 
ing up  to  the  date  of  the  present  petition  for  more  pay. 

Reporting  on  the  complaint  of  the  Watchmen  that  they  were  obliged  to  at- 


*  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  75 

tend  court  as  witnesses,  without  receiving  sufficient  remuneration  for  the  time 
lost,  the  committee  held  that  the  two  dollars  allowed  them  for  every  case  in 
wiiich  they  were  summoned  was  a  reasonable  average  compensation,  and  should 
not  l)e  increased.  "  It  may  also  be  added,"  they  report,  "  as  evidence  of  the 
ecjuity  of  the  present  wages,   that  there  are  many  more  applications  of  good, 


Old  Leatherhead  taking  his  "  Refreshment  "  on  post. 

suitable  men  for  the  office  than  are  wanted."  In  conclusion  they  state:  "  Duly 
estimating  the  value  of  the  services  of  the  nightly  guardians  of  the  city,  on 
whose  vigilance  and  fidelity  the  safety  and  comfort  of  our  citizens  so  much 
depend,  and  without  taking  into  consideration  the  fact  that  the  expenses  of  the 
city  would  be  increased  upwards  of  fourteen  thousand  dollars  by  assenting 
to  the  present  petition,  the  committee  are  constrained  to  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  they  cannot  justly  recommend  an  advance  in  wages  to  the 
"Watchmen." 

Captains  were  notified  that  it  was  their  duty  to  see  that  the  church  bells 


76 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


should  be  rung  at  the  breaking  out  of  a  fire,  and  that  the  Watchmen  call  out  be- 
tween what  streets  the  fire  was  located,  under  penalty  of  dismissal,  even  though 
it  should  have  been  the  first  offence. 

Vagrant  children,  of  whom  there  appeared  to  have  been  a  great  number, 
incited  the  Aldermen  to  an  effort  to  remedy  the  evil.  They  directed  the  Police 
Justices,  through  their  special  officers,  to  use  all  lawful  means  to  arrest  such 
children,  particularly  those  loitering  around  junk  shops  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
city.    Those  that  were  taken  into  custody  were  sent  to  the  alms  house. 

It  appears  that  the  magistrates  were  authorized,  by  an  ordinance  of  the  Com- 
mon Council,  to  employ  the  officers  upon  important  business  by  the  hour.  The 
price,  as  stated  by  Justice  Weyman,  was  two  shillings  per  hour  by  night,  and 
one  and  four  pence  per  hour  during  the  day.  Their  employment  necessarily 
depended  upon  their  fitness  for  the  peculiar  business  to  which  their  atten- 
tion might  be  called,  by  the  discretion  of  the  magistrate.  As  the  officers  all 
conceived  themselves  equally  qualified  to  perform  any  duty  connected  with  the 
office,  and,  as  the  fact  was  otherwise,  a  proper  exercise  of  this  discretion  in  the 
magistrate  led  to  complaints  on  the  part  of  the  men  who  considered  themselves 
slighted. 

A  t;ommittee  having  been  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  reorgan- 
izing the  Police  Department,  delivered  their  report  on  January  i6,  1832.  The 
report  began  with  the  general  statement  that  in  the  increase  of  population  in  a 
city  like  New  York,  there  was  generally  a  corresponding  increase  of  crime,  and 
that  recent  experience  had  demonstrated  that  the  higher  and  bolder  grades 
of  criminals  were  seeking  this  land  to  terrify  the  peaceful  inhabitants,  to  set 
at  naught  the  ordinary  means  of  security,  and  to  render  dangerous  the  lives 
of  prosperous  citizens.  Mention  was  made  of  the  fact  that  when  the  popula- 
tion did  not  exceed  one  hundred  thousand,  a  Police  Department  with  three 
magistrates  was  conceived  to  be  all  that  was  necessary.  The  report  pointed 
out  that  with  a  population  of  upwards  of  two  hundred  thousand,  spread  over  an 
extent  of  land  which  rendered  it  not  only  hazardous,  but  difficult,  for  an*officer 
to  perform  his  duty  at  night,  an  extension  of  the  Police  Department  was  highly 
necessary.  The  committee  also  recommended  an  increase  in  the  number  of 
magistrates,  to  hold  their  offices  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  appointment  of  an  additional  Police  Justice,  and  in  the 
following  year  yet  another,  thereby  increasing  the  number  of  Police  Justices  to 
five. 

The  pay  of  Captains  of  the  Watch,  in  April,  1832,  was  fixed  at  one  dollar' 
and  eighty-seven  cents  per  night  each,  and  the  Assistant  Captains  received  one 
dollar  and  fifty  cents.  The  Watchmen  in  the  Fifteenth  Ward  were  increased  to 
such  a  number  that  ten  men  might  be  on  duty  in  that  Ward  at  one  time,  and 
that  their  line  of  patrol  should  extend  to  Fourteenth  Street.  The  rate  of  wages 
of  Watchmen,  for  each  and  every  night's  service,  was  established  at  one  dollar. 
The  Captain  of  the  Sub-watch  House,  at  the  corner  of  Delancey  and  Attorney 
Streets,  was  directed  to  have  two  more  men,  and  to  place  one  of  them  in  the 
cupola  of  the  said  Watch-howse  every  night  to  look  for  fires,  and  give  the 
alarm  by  ringing  the  bell,  and  to  hang  out  of  the  window  a  pole  with  a  lantern 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


11 


orr'the  end,  in  the  direction  of  the  fire,  that  the  firemen  and  citizens  might  know- 
in  which  direction  the  fire  was.  Also,  to  strike  the  bell  the  different  hours 
through  the  night. 

Another  ordinance  authorized  the  Special  Justices,  from  time  to  time,  to  select 
such  of  the  Constables  or  Marshals  as  they  might  deem  recjuisite,  to  act  as  Police 
officers,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  attend  daily  at  the  Police  offices  and  exe- 
cute the  commands  and  orders  of  the  said  Justices. 

The  Five  Points,  of  New  York,  has  acquired  a  most  notorious  distinction. 
Originally,  it  was  a  low,  swampy  pond,  which  was  gradually  filled  up,  and  as  it  be- 
came susceptible  of  occupation,  it  in  time  became  the  abiding  place  of  an  impover- 
ished and  desolate  population,  such  as  always  exist  in  large  cities.  The  locality, 
however,  by  degrees,  grew  to  be  so  notoriously  disorderly  that  it  was  common  for 
persons  from  the  country  to  request  the  protection  of  the  Police  that  they  might  visit 
the  scenes  of  crime  and  dissipation  rampant  there  at  all  times.  There  were,  it 
was  popularly  believed,  underground  passages  connecting  blocks  of  houses  on  dif- 
ferent streets,  and  the  well-known  names  of  Cow  Bay  and  Murderer's  Alley  were 
suggestively  characteristic  of  the  place.  Neither  education  nor  religion  shed  its 
softening  and  refining  influence  upon  the  abandoned  creatures  who  formed  this 
colony.  This  is  the  startling  picture  drawn  of  the  Five  Points,  at  a  time  that 
religious  influences  were  beginning  to  eradicate  this  moral  plague  spot: 

"  Certainly,  as  no  spot  of  ground  on  this  continent  had  the  reputation  of 
having  been  the  witness  of  more  crime,  so  no  spot  had  such  repulsive  features, 
or  where  want  and  woe  were  more  apparent.  Every  house  was  a  brothel, 
the  resort  of  persons  of  every  age,  sex,  and  color  ;  every  store  a  dram-shop, 
where  from  morning  till  morning  the  thieves  and  abandoned  characters  of  the 
town  whetted  their  depraved  tastes,  and  concocted  future  crimes  and  villainies." 

The  Police,  it  may  readily  be  believed,  were  not  over  anxious  to  intermeddle 
with  the  little  social  pleasantries  that  the  inhabitants  were  so  prone  to  indulge 
in.  Indeed,  Police  interference  of  any  kind  would  be  entirely  superfluous  and 
out  of  place,  as  the  Five  Points  was  a  very  active  social  volcano,  and  to  attempt 
to  stop  the  innumerable  small  eruptions  would  be  only  to  intensify  the  death- 
dealing  discharges  from  the  main  crater.  A  knowledge  of  these  facts  will  serve 
to  prepare  the  mind  of  the  reader  for  the  historical  realism  of  the  accompanying 
picture  of  the  Five  Points  in  its  palmiest  days. 

In  these  years,  the  vicinity  of  the  Five  Points  seemed  to  be  looked  upon  as 
needing  the  especial  care  of  the  Police.  The  lawlessness  of  the  neighborhood 
began  to  become  notorious,  and  for  the  purpose  of  restraining  the  criminal 
disposition  of  its  inhabitants,  three  additional  Watchmen,  besides  the  usual 
number,  were  assigned  for  that  duty.  Even  that  did  not  seem  to  satisfy  the 
Aldermen,  for  they  ordered  that  when  the  Watchmen  went  off  duty  at  daylight, 
two  additional  Policemen  should  patrol  the  neighborhood  until  the  Watch  was 
again  set  at  night.  But  it  was  "love's  labor  lost."  A  regiment  of  soldiers,  much 
less  a  handful  of  Police,  could  not  have  overcome  the  turbulence  and  depravity  of 
the  unregenerate  denizens.  In  this  year  also,  the  first  allowance  for  sweeping  the 
watch-houses  was  made,  the  average  amount  being  four  dollars  per  fortnight. 
The  question  of  detaining  prisoners  arrested  on  Saturday  until  Monday  morning. 


78 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


before  arraigning  them  in  court,  seems  to  have  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
Aldermen,  for  in  August  they  passed  a  resolution  directing  the  Police  Magistrates 
to  attend  at  the  respective  Police  offices  on  the  Sabbath  day. 

The  Mayor  in  his  message,  June  i8,  1832,  expressed  his  gratification  at  the  im- 
proved condition  of  the  City  Watch,  "  upon  which  the  repose  of  our  citizens, 
and  the  safety  of  our  property  so  essentially  depend."  "The  persons  so  en- 
gaged," said  the  Mayor,  "had  always  constituted  a  highly  respectable  class,  with 
some  few  exceptions,  and  under  the  judicious  arrangements  of  their  Captains, 
the  Watch  were  becoming  constantly  more  useful,  and  were  entitled  to  confidence 
and  encouragement." 

The  Finance  Committee — to  whom  was  referred  the  communication  from 
the  Comptroller  on  the  subject  of  extra  Police  services — on  July  23  re- 
ported that  the  thirty-fourth  section  of  the  Act  to  reduce  the  several  laws  re- 
lating particularly  to  the  State  of  New  York,  into  one  act,  together  with  the  re- 
port of  the  Police  Committee  adopted  by  the  Common  Council,  February  3, 
1 81 2,  authorized  the  Comptroller  to  make  such  payments  only  under  the 
certificate  of  the  Special  Justices.  In  the  present  case,  it  was  claimed  the  Ward 
Magistrates,  not  having  been  aware  of  such  regulation,  employed  officers  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  the  Special  Justices,  but,  as  this  was  evidently  done  in 
good  faith,  the  committee  recommended  that  the  Comptroller  pay  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-two  dollars  and  sixty-six  cents  to  such  officers.  The 
Common  Council,  while  adopting  the  report,  declared  it  to  be  their  opinion  that 
the  law  required  that  the  services  of  the  Police  officers  in  the  several  Wards 
should  be  obtained  solely  on  application  to  the  Special  Police  Magistrates,  in 
order  that  such  services  might  be  certified  to  by  them  according  to  law,  and  that 
no  bills  should  thereafter  be  paid  that  did  not  comply  with  these  conditions. 

Mayor  Lee,  in  his  annual  message,  in  the  succeeding  year,  expressed  the 
opinion  that  the  Watch  Department  required  the  immediate  attention  of  the 
Common  Council,  as  the  number  of  Watchmen,  however  faithful  and  vigilant, 
was  utterly  insufficient  to  guard  the  property  and  persons  of  the  citi- 
zens. There  were  some  watch-posts,  the  Mayor  said,  which  could  not  be 
carefully  patroled  in  a  less  time  than  from  one  to  two  hours.  From  the  best 
obtainable  information.  Mayor  I-ee  said  the  Watchmen  had  been  increased  not 
exceeding  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  per  cent.,  during  a  period  of  time  in 
which  the  population  and  the  property  of  the  city  had  been  augmented  one 
hundred  per  cent. 

During  the  year  1833  the  Watch  force  was  increased  from  time  to  time  by 
the  appointment  of  additional  men  for  the  different  Wards.  Watchmen  in- 
jured in  the  performance  of  their  duty  were  generally  allowed  a  sum  of  money, 
varying  according  to  the  extent  of  their  wounds. 

In  this  year  also  the  vices  of  drunkenness  and  pauperism  led  the  Aldermen 
to  incite  the  Police  to  renewed  efforts  to  suppress  the  same.  They  passed  an 
ordinance  for  the  severe  punishment  of  such  as  were  arrested,  when  the  testi- 
mony  of  the  officer  or  the  views  of  the  Magistrate  warranted  a  commitment. 
The  Constables  or  other  Police  officers  were  directed  to  watch  for  and  arrest 
habitual  drunkards,  persons  refusing  to  support  their  families,  lewd  women, 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  79 

alile-bodied  beggars,  lodgers  in  the  watch-houses,  persons  sleeping  in  out-houses, 
sheds,  carts,  or  in  the  open  air,  and  to  bring  them  before  the  Mayor,  Recorder, 
or  one  of  the  Aldermen  or  Special  Justices  for  examination.  If  convicted,  in 
the  generality  of  cases,  they  were  sent  to  the  alms  house,  where  they  were 
kept  at  hard  labor  for  a  period  not  exceeding  six  months.  If  old  offenders, 
they  were  sent  to  the  jjenitentiary.  For  a  simple  case  of  intoxication  a  fine  of 
five  dollars  was  imposed.  The  Police  were  also  directed  to  enforce  the  ordinance 
prohibiting  driving  through  the  streets  at  a  greater  speed  than  five  miles  an  hour, 
the  carrying  of  a  gun  or  a  pistol  for  the  purpose  of  fowling  on  Sunday,  or  hawking 
and  peddling  through  the  streets,  where  licenses  had  not  been  obtained.  Able- 
bodied  beggars  were  obliged  to  pay  for  their  board  at  the  alms  house  or  in 
lieu  thereof  serve  a  certain  number  of  days  at  any  hard  labor  designated  by  the 
Mayor.    When  an  officer  made  an  arrest  on  a  charge  of  assault  and  battery  he 


Rotunda,  City  Hall  Park. 


was  protected  if  his  prisoner  was  discharged,  by  the  complainant  being  obliged 
to  pay  the  costs  of  the  proceeding  or  suffer  imprisonment  for  not  more  than  two 
days.  Watchmen  were  also  specially  directed  to  arrest  and  bring  before  the  Re- 
corder all  children  found  begging,  so  that  they  could  be  sent  to  the  alms  house 
to  be  educated,  taken  care  of,  and  taught  some  useful  trade  in  order  to  make 
them  reputable  citizens. 

The  Rotunda  was  erected  in  i8r8  by  Vandelyn,  the  artist,  for  a  studio  and 
the  exhibition  of  panoramic  pictures.  The  post-office  was  installed  in  the  Rotunda, 
immediately  after  the  destruction  of  the  old  post-office  in  the  great  fire  of  1835. 
When  it  was  understood  the  government  proposed  to  accept  the  Rotunda,  the 
merchants  got  up  very  demonstrative  indignation  meetings  and  protests  against 
locating  a  post-office  so  far  up  town.  The  pressure  to  get  the  post-office  "  down 
town  "  still  continued,  and  advantage  was  taken  of  the  fact  that  the  Middle  Dutch 
Church  was  for  sale  to  procure  it  for  the  post-office.    This  was  in  1845. 


8o 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1833,  the  building  occupied  by  the  Upper 
Police  became  inadequate  for  the  public  use  and  the  Committee  on  Repairs  were 
directed  by  the  Aldermen  to  ascertain  what  alterations  were  necessary  to  prevent 
those  detained  for  examination  from  suffering  from  the  cold  during  the  winter 
season.  The  force  was  still  further  increased  by  the  appointment  of  new  men 
and  the  establishment  of  new  posts  in  the  different  Watch  districts. 

The  year  1834  may,  with  propriety,  be  called  the  year  of  riots,  the  civil 
authorities  being  obliged  for  the  first  ti«Tie  to  call  for  military  aid  to  assist 
in  maintaining  the  peace  of  the  city.  In  this  year  the  Mayor  was  elected  by  the 
city  for  the  first  time.  Hitherto  that  office  had  been  filled  by  appointment 
by  the  Governor  and  Council.  The  elections  were  then  held  for  three 
successive  days,  and  in  the  inefficient  condition  of  the  city  Police,  thev  were 
oftentimes  the  cause  of  great  excitement  and  turbulence.  The  Sixth  Ward 
remained  true  to  its  title  of  "  the  bloody  ould  Sixth,"  party  strife  running 
even  more  than  usually  high,  and  giving  rise  to  a  series  of  brawls  and  riots. 
Three  months  after  the  National  Guard  had  quelled  the  election  riots  they  were 
again  called  upon  to  put  down  a  disturbance  of  a  much  more  formidable  charac- 
ter. The  abolitionists  were  this  time  the  objects  of  the  fury  of  the  mob  ;  their 
meetings  were  attacked  and  broken  up  ;  and  the  mob  sacked  the  dwellings  and 
assaulted  the  persons  of  several  well-known  leading  abolitionists.  The  Twenty- 
seventh  Regiment,  N.  G.,  S.  N.  Y.,  Colonel  Stevens  commanding,  were  called  out 
to  disperse  the  mob.  The  latter  had  assembled  in  large  numbers,  and  erected  a 
barricade  of  carts,  barrels,  and  ladders,  chained  together,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Ludlow's  church,  Spring  Street,  between  Macdougal  and  Varick  Streets.  The 
regiment  first  met  the  rioters  in  large  force  in  Thompson  Street,  above  Prince.  The 
Aldermen  who  had  been  deputed  by  Mayor  Lawrence  to  accompany  the  mili- 
tary, and  to  direct,  as  magistrates,  the  action  of  the  regiment,  became  greatly 
alarmed,  and  endeavored  to  prevail  on  Colonel  Stevens  to  retreat  to  the  City  Hall. 
Colonel  Stevens  was  not  that  kind  of  man.  For  answer,  he  moved  two  com- 
panies up  to  the  barricades  under  a  shower  of  stones,  broke  it  up,  and  drove  the 
mob  before  him  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  Meeting  Justice  Olin  M.  Lowndes 
with  a  force  of  Police,  Col.  Stevens  turned  round  and  marched  back  against  the 
mob,  sending  them  flying  before  him,  demoralized  and  beaten.  The  riot  had 
been  effectually  put  down  and  peace  again  restored  without  the  firing  of  a  shot. 

The  other  riots  that  took  place  about  this  period  were  the  Stone-cutter's 
riots.  Five  Points  riots,  O'Connell  Guard  riots,  and  Chatham  Street  riots. 

On  the  night  of  December  16,  1835,  ^'^^  ^^^X  ^^'^^  visited  by  a  terrible  confla- 
gration, the  burnt  district  embracing  thirteen  acres,  in  which  nearly  seven  hun- 
dred houses  were  leveled  to  the  ground,  with  the  loss  of  over  seventeen  million 
dollars. 

During  these  years  additional  Watchmen,  who  merely  performed  Sunday  duty, 
were  appointed  whenever  the  Board  of  Aldermen  deemed  such  appointment 
necessary.  Their  pay  in  the  beginning  was  but  seventy-five  cents  a  day,  but  it  was 
gradually  increased  until,  in  the  year  1835,  '^^'^s  fixed  at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents 
for  each  day's  service.  The  date  of  payment  for  such  service,  however,  was  un- 
certain, as  the  Watchmen  so  employed,  after  making  out  their  bills  and  having 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  8i 

j> 

them  certified  to  by  their  superior  officers,  had  to  petition  the  Boards  to  pass 
a  resolution  directing  the  Comptroller  to  draw  his  warrant  in  their  favor.  The 
Boards  of  Aldermen  then  were  not  different  to  the  present  Boards  in  the  matter 
of  expediting  business.  The  bills  were  generally  for  a  small  amount.  It  was 
customary  in  those  days  to  allow  the  High  Constable  from  twenty  to  fifty 
dollars  for  the  employment  of  Special  Police  officers  to  do  duty  on  public  holi- 
days. Applications  for  these  ])ositions  were  numerous,  as  the  records  of  both 
Boards  show. 

During  the  years  1835-36,  the  growtii  of  the  city  demanded  an  in(  rcase  of 
Watchmen.  A  number  was  appointed,  two  new  watch-houses  were  erected,  and 
some  of  the  old  ones  were  altered  and  repaired.  Several  new  posts  were  created 
many  of  the  Watch  districts  being  extended  further  up  town. 

The  doings  of  the  Magistrates  seem  to  have  been  watched  with  unusual  in- 
terest by  the  Aldermen,  for  they  decreed  that  the  Police  Courts  should  be  kept 
open  from  the  discharge  of  the  Watch  in  tlie  morning  until  the  Watch  was  set  in 
the  evening,  so  that  prisoners  might  be  speedily  granted  justice.  Occasionally, 
during  these  years,  tiie  \\'atc]imcn,  for  extra  services  i)erformed,  were  allowed 
extra  pay,  and,  on  the  death  of  a  Watchman,  tlic  Board  often  passed  a  resolution 
directing  the  Comptroller  to  draw  his  warrant  for  a  sum  sufficient  to  defray  the 
funeral  expenses. 

Mayor  Lawrence,  in  his  message,  July  6,  1836,  adverted  to  the  necessity  and 
importance  of  an  efficient  and  well-regulated  Police.  The  elements  of  the 
present  system  of  Police,  he  said,  he  believed  to  be  good,  and  that  the  character 
of  the  Magistrates  connected  with  the  department  was  a  warrant  for  the  faithful 
discharge  of  their  duties.  The  principal  ])oint,  therefore,  he  said,  to  which  he 
desired  to  direct  the  attention  of  the  Common  Council,  was  the  necessity  of  a 
very  considerable  increase  in  the  number  of  the  Watch.  No  right,  he  main- 
tained, could  be  dearer  to  the  citizen  than  to  be  protected  in  his  person  and 
property,  and  secured  against  dangerous  disruptions  of  the  public  peace. 

The  first  attempt  at  forming  a  detective  squad  under  the  name  of  Rounds- 
men was  made  in  April  of  this  year  ;  at  which  time  a  law  was  passed  directing  the 
appointment  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  additional  men  to  the  Watch  Depart- 
ment to  be  designated  as  Roundsmen,  forty-eight  to  be  stationed  in  the  First 
District  and  twenty-four  in  each  of  the  other  districts.  They  were  not  required 
to  wear  the  Watchmen's  caps,  nor  any  dress  to  distinguish  them  from  other 
citizens.  The  Captains  of  the  Watch  had  the  arrangement  of  their  posts,  which 
they  were  obliged  to  patrol  continuously  while  on  duty  in  search  of  criminals, 
and  also  to  discover  and  report  any  neglect  of  duty  of  any  Policemen  on  their 
beat.  Their  pay  was  the  same  as  that  given  to  members  of  the  Watch,  and 
the  pay  of  Watchmen  doing  duty  as  Sergeants  was  fixed  at  twelve  shillings. 

On  February  12,  1837,  an  excited  mob  of  four  or  five  thousand  persons 
assembled  in  the  City  Hall  Park  to  be  harangued  by  speakers,  who  were  to  inquire 
into  the  cause  of  the  prevailing  distress,  the  high  price  of  flour,  "  and  to  devise 
a  suitable  remedy"  for  these  evils.  One  of  the  speakers  said  :  "  Mr.  Ely  Hart 
has  fifty-three  thousand  barrels  of  flour  in  his  store  ;  let  us  go  and  offer  him  eight 
dollars  a  barrel  for  it,  and  if  he  will  not  take  it " — here  the  speaker  stopped  abruptly 


82 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


and  significantly.  The  mob  took  the  hint,  and  very  soon  Mr.  Hart'^  store,  in 
Washington  Street  near  Dey  Street,  was  broken  into,  and  his  flour  and  grain 
thrown  into  the  street.  Other  flour  stores  were  only  saved  from  like  treatment 
by  the  interference  of  the  Police.  Forty  of  the  mob  were  arrested  ;  but  onlv 
a  few  were  convicted. 

The  following  places  were  designated  as  watch-houses  on  May  30  of  the 
following  year  :  "  The  upper  part  of  Franklin  Market  in  the  First  Ward,  for  the 
First  District.  The  building  occupied  as  a  watch-house  in  Eldridge  Street 
for  the  Second  District.  The  building  occupied  as  a  watch-house  at  the 
corner  of  Wooster  and  Prince  Streets  for  the  Third  District.  The  upper  part 
of  Jefferson  Market  for  the  Fourth  District.  The  upper  part  of  Union  Market 
for  the  Fifth  District.  The  northeast- 
erly corner  of  the  basement  story  of 
the  Halls  of  Justice,  or  such  part 
thereof  as  might  be  assigned  by  the 
special  joint  committee  on  buildings, 
for  the  Sixth  District." 

A  Committee  on  Police,  etc.,  of 
both  Boards  of  Aldermen,  to  whom 
was  referred  a  resolution  relative  to 
the  reorganization  of  the  Police  De- 
partment, presented  their  report,  and 
the  draft  of  a  law  thereon,  on  February 
12,  1838,  both  being  laid  on  the  table. 
The  committee  directed  their  princi- 
pal attention  to  the  organization  of 
the  Watch.  "  The  welfare  of  the  city 
is  deeply  interested  in  its  efficiency, 
while  the  taxpayer  is  aware  that  the 
expenditures  in  this  department 
amounted  last  year  to  about  ^262,- 
000."  The  committee  expressed  their 
belief  that  this  branch  of  the  Police 
required  that  a  thorough  system  of 
subordination,  and  close  and  active  inspection,  should  be  introduced  into  its  admin- 
istration, if  the  protection  of  proi)erty  and  the  preservation  of  the  public  peace  were 
to  be  promptly  and  effectually  secured.  The  adoption  of  the  new  draft  of  the  law, 
accompanying  the  report,  was  recommended,  which,  when  carried  out,  it  was 
claimed,  would  introduce  regulation  and  order,  "  where  before  very  little  of  those 
characteristics  existed;"  dismissed  Watchmen  would  no  longer  l)e  able,  after 
having  neglected  their  duty,  to  find  employment  in  another  district;  and  the  rules 
by  which  Captains  of  the  Watch  discharged  their  duties,  would  not  be  as  diverse 
as  the  respective  watch-houses  they  occupied.  The  report  continues :  "  The  Rounds- 
men now  go  out  to  visit  the  ])0Sts  two  at  a  time;  this  service  can  as  well  be  per- 
formed by  a  single  Watchman,  and  the  inducement  to  gossip  and  idleness  is 
removed." 


Old  Leatherhead  and  Sentry  Box. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


83 


■*  The  change  proposed  by  the  committee  had,  it  was  alleged,  the  additional 
merit  of  economy,  by  effecting  a  saving  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  annually  to  the 
city,  while  the  committee  were  confident  that  the  Watch  department  would  be  bet- 
ter organized,  and  more  effective  than  the  system  it  was  designed  to  supplant. 

The  charter  had  given  full  power  to  the  Mayor  to  appoint  any  number  of 
Marshals.  By  act  of  the  legislature,  April  8,  1813,  this  power  was  limited  to  the 
number  of  sixty,  and  subsequently  to  one  hundred.  The  committee  claimed 
that  the  necessity  constantly  arising  from  the  increase  of  population  and  business 
demonstrated  the  propriety  of  the  Common  Council  possessing  the  power  to  fi.x  on 
the  number  of  those  officers,  so  as  to  be  appointed  by  the  Mayor  from  time  to  time. 
It  seemed  equally  just,  the  committee  were  of  opinion,  that  the  Mayor  should 
have  power  to  appoint  Special  Constables,  competent  to  arrest  offenders  and  pre- 
serve the  public  peace.  It  was  also  deemed  necessary  to  add  to  the  number  of 
Special  Justices  for  preserving  the  peace.  The  Common  Council,  it  was  asserted, 
should  have  been  vested  with  this  power.    The  Board,  in  view  of  these  facts, 

was  advised  to  take  the  necessary  steps 
to  procure  the  passage  of  an  act  by  the 
legislature  securing  the  adoption  of  the 
above  suggestions. 

The  draft  of  the  bill  accompanying 
this  report,  Avas,  on  May  7,  1838,  ap- 
])roved  by  the  Common  Council  and 
Mayor. 

The  leading  provisions  of  this  ordi- 
nance are  as  follows: 
There  were  appointed  a  Superintendent  of  the  Watch,  twelve  Captains, 
twenty-four  Assistant  Captains,  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  Sergeants,  and  seven 
hundred  and  eighty-four  Watchmen.    This  force  was  distributed  among  the  four 
Watch  districts. 

It  was  the  duty  of  the  Superintendent  to  constantly  inspect  the  Watch.  He 
had  entire  command  of  the  whole  force,  under  the  direction  and  order  of  the 
Mayor.  Next  to  him  in  point  of  rank  in  the  order  named  were  the  Captains, 
Assistant  Captains,  and  Sergeants.  Captains,  in  their  respective  districts,  attend- 
ed on  alternate  nights,  and  took  command  of  the  Watch ;  Sergeants,  under  the  orders 
of  their  respective  Captains,  had  charge  of  the  inspection  of  the  Watchmen  within 
the  beat  assigned  to  them;  they  went  out  with  the  Watchmen  and  placed  them 
on  their  posts.  Sergeants  visited  Watchmen,  and  reported  any  neglect  of  duty. 
Their  salaries  were  as  follows:  Superintendent,  $i,ooo;  Captains,  $2.50  per  night; 
Assistant  Captains,  $2.00;  Sergeants,  Si. 50;  and  Watchmen,  $1.25  per  night. 

An  ordinance  of  May  14,  1839,  made  it  the  duty  of  tne  Mayor  to  cause  to 
be  employed  as  many  persons  as  he  might  deem  sufficient,  from  time  to  time,  as 
City  Watchmen,  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  the  peace,  and  protecting  the  city 
from  the  acts  of  incendiaries;  and  all  expenses  incurred  thereby,  were  charged  to 
the  general  appropriation  for  the  Watch  department. 

In  1840  the  Common  Council  made  provision  looking  to  the  appointment  of 
twelve  Captains,  twenty-four  Assistant  Captains,  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 


84  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

Roundsmen,  and  seven  hundred  and  eighty-four  Watchmen.  These  Watchmen 
were  attached  to  the  several  districts  as  follows: 

First  District,  140  men,  of  whom  20  were  Roundsmen. 

Second    "  148     "  "          16  " 

Third      "  164     "  "         24  " 

Fourth    "  140-   "  "         20  " 

Fifth       "  136     "  "         20  " 

Sixth       "  188     "  "         28  " 


The  Watch  District  then  included  all  that  portion  of  the  city  lying  south  of 
the  line  described  as  follows,  commencing  at  the  East  River  :  One  hundred  feet 
north  of  Twenty-eighth  Street,  running  thence  westerly  and  parallel  to  Twenty- 
eighth  Street,  to  a  point  one  hundred  feet  west  of  the  Fourth  Avenue,  thence 
southerly,  and  parallel  to  the  Fourth  Avenue  to  a  point  one  hundred  feet  north 
of  Twenty-sixth  Street,  and  thence  westerly  and  parallel  to  Twenty-sixth  Street, 
to  the  Hudson  River. 

An  act  to  incorporate  the  Watchmen's  Mutual  Benefit  Association  of  the 
City  of  New  York  was  passed  April  13,  1840.  The  objects  of  this  association 
were  charitable,  "and  to  afford  relief  to  its  members  in  cases  of  sickness  and 
infirmity," — a  society,  it  appears,  similar  in  its  organization  and  objects  to  the 
present  Police  Mutual  Aid  Association. 

In  all  these  years  physicians  called  in  by  the  Police  were  paid  only  for 
services  rendered,  none  being  officially  appointed. 

The  House  of  Detention  in  Harlem  was,  on  May  6,  1841,  designated  as  an 
additional  Police  office,  to  be  kept  open  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  until 
sunset. 

The  Justices  of  the  Police  Courts  were  stationed  as  follows: 

Lower  Police  office  (Halls  of  Justice),  George   W.   Matsell,   Henry  W. 

Merritt,  Ephraim  Stevens,  and  Miln  Parker. 

Upper  Police  office  (Bowery  and  Third  Street),  James  Palmer,  Robert 

Taylor. 

Twenty-three  officers  (including  High  Constable  Hays)  were  attached  to  the 
former  Police  office,  and  seven  Police  officers  to  the  latter. 
The  Justices  of  the  Assistant  Justice's  Court  were: 

Ambrose  Kirtland,  First  District — First,  Second  and  Third  Wards;  Nicholas 
C.  Everett,  Second  District — Fourth  and  Sixth  Wards;  William  Wiley,  Third, 
District — Fifth,  Eighth  and  Fourteenth  Wards;  Thomas  S.  Brady,  Fourth  Dis- 
trict— Seventh  and  Tenth  Wards  ;  William  H.  Bell,  Fifth  District— Ninth, 
Eleventh  and  Fifteenth  Wards;  James  B.  Theys  and  Isaac  Daughty,  Twelfth 
Ward. 

The  Watch  Department  was  divided  into  six  districts,  as  follows:  First 
District,  Franklin  Market,  Old  Slip;  Second  District,  Essex  Market,  Essex  and 
Grand  Streets;  Third  District,  Prince  and  Wooster  Streets;  Fourth  District,  Jeffer- 
son Market,  Greenwich  Lane;  Fifth  District,  Union  Market;  Sixth  District,  Halls 
of  Justice,  Centre  and  Franklin  Streets. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


8S 


On  the  tenth  of  May  1843,  ^^e  pay  of  the  City  Watch  was  increased  to  ten 
shilfings  i)er  night,  during  the  whole  year.  Mayor  Morris,  on  Noveml)er  21, 
vetoed  this  resohition,  giving  the  following  as  his  reasons  for  so  doing: 

"On  the  twenty-first  of  March,  1842,  the  legislature  authorized  that  the  sum  of 
two  hundred  and  thirty-four  thousand  dollars  be  raised  by  tax,  for  defraying  the 
expenses  of  the  Watch  Department.  This  amount  was  arrived  at  by  estimating  the 
compensation  of  Watchmen  at  ten  shillings  i)er  night.  In  Sei)tember  of  the  same 
year,  the  Common  Council  reduced  the  i)ay  of  Watchmen  to  one  dollar  per  night. 
In  December  following,  the  Common  Council  established  the  pay  of  the  Watch  at 
one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  night,  from  the  first  of  November  to  first  of  May 
in  each  year;  and  at  one  dollar  per  night  from  first  of  May  until  first  of  Novcml)cr; 
and,  in  addition,  ordered  that  they  should  be  paid  twenty-five  cents  per  night  from 
first  of  November,  so  as  to  bring  them  within  the  rate  established  by  the  ordinance, 
viz:  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  from  November  i  to  May  i,  and  one 
dollar  from  May  i  to  November  i.  On  the  seventeenth  of  April,  1843,  the 
legislature  authorized  the  raising  by  tax  in  the  Watch  District  of  the  sum  of  two 
hundred  and  twelve  thousand  dollars,  for  the  support  of  the  Watch  Department. 
This  sum  was  arrived  at  by  estimating  the  compensation  to  the  Wat(  li  at  one 
dollar  per  head  per  night,  from  May  i  to  November  i ;  and  one  dollar  and 
twenty-five  cents  per  night,  from  November  i  to  May  i.  This  sum  was  less 
by  twenty-two  thousand  dollars  than  the  amount  raised  for  the  support  of  the 
Watch  Dejxartment  for  the  preceding  year,  and  was  scarcely  sufficient  to  ])ay  the 
expenses  of  the  Watch  Department  for  the  year,  at  the  rate  authorized  by  the 
existing  ordinance." 

In  May  following  it  was  thought  necessary  to  station  Watchmen  in  the  cupolas 
of  the  Halls  of  Justice,  City  Hall,  Reservoir,  Centre,  Essex  and  Jefferson  Markets, 
for  the  purpose  of  raising  an  alarm  in  case  of  fire,  and  it  was  ordered  that  the 
necessary  number  of  men  should  be  appointed,  the  pay  being  at  the  rate  of  one 
dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  per  day.  Both  Boards  of  Aldermen  in  the  same 
year  became  jealous  of  the  authority  possessed  by  the  Mayor  over  the  Police,  and  an 
ordinance  revoking  his  powers  and  placing  them  under  the  control  of  the  stand- 
ing committees  of  each  Board  of  Police,  Watch  and  Prisons,  was  passed.  The 
Mayor  objected  to  the  change,  refusing  to  sign  the  bill.  It  was  passed,  however, 
over  his  veto.  The  Comptroller  was  also  directed  to  pay  all  bills  presented  for 
the  extra  services  of  Watchmen  when  they  were  stamped  as  approved  by  the 
Committees  of  both  Boards  of  Police,  Watch  and  Prisons.  The  Aldermen  be- 
came generous  by  voting  money  to  supply  the  station  houses  with  clocks. 

There  had  been  so  much  noise,  confusion  and  quarreling  among  hackmen 
in  the  year  1843  at  the  steamboat  landings  that  another  duty  was  imposed  upon 
the  Police.  By  an  ordinance  passed  March  27,  the  "Day  Police  Officers  "  of 
the  First,  Second  and  Third  Wards,  carrying  their  staves  of  office,  were  directed 
to  repair  to  the  principal  steamboat  landings  in  their  respective  Wards  on  the  arri- 
val of  steamboats,  to  preserve  the  peace  and  assist  the  hack  inspector  in  jjrotecting 
travelers  from  the  extortionate  demands  of  the  hackmen.  In  May  of  the  same 
year  both  Boards,  by  resolution,  reinvested  in  the  Mayor  the  authority  he  had  had 
over  the  Police,  and  which  they  had  taken  away  from  him  the  previous  year. 


86 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


When  the  British  took  possession  of  the  city,  on  September  15,  1776,  it  is 
safe  to  conclude  that  Sir  William  Howe  had  at  least  five  thousand  prisoners  to 
provide  for,  to  contain  whom,  the  ordinary  places  of  confinement  were  insufficient. 
Accordingly  the  Brick  Church,  the  Middle  Dutch,  the  North  Dutch,  and  the 
French  Church,  were  appropriated  to  their  use.  Beside  these,  Columbia  College, 
the  Sugar  House,  the  New  Jail,  the  New  Bridewell,  and  the  Old  City  Hall,  were 
filled  to  their  utmost  capacity.  The  Old  Sugar  House  was,  par  excellence,  known 
as  "  the  prison  house  of  the  Revolution." 

The  Middle  Dutch  Church  was  dedicated  in  1732  as  a  house  of  Christian 
worship.  Until  the  close  of  the  century  its  services  were  carried  on  in  the  "  Hol- 
land language;"  after  that  it  was  altered  to  the  English  language. 

The  Old  Sugar  House  (founded  in  1689,  and  occupied  as  a  sugar  refining 
factory  until  the  time  of  the  Revolution)  pnd  the  Middle  Dutch  Church,  as  seen 


Old  Sugar  House  and  Middle  Dutch  Church. 


in  the  accompanying  illustration,  stood  in  Liberty  Street,  the  latter  building  being 
subsequently  turned  into  the  old  General  Post-office.   The  view  was  taken  in  1830. 

The  Old  Brewery,  at  the  Five  Points,  has  long  since  been  removed  to 
make  room  for  a  missionary  station.  Its  purlieus  were  those  of  wretchedness  and 
crime  ;  they  have  fitly  been  described  as  "  an  exhibition  of  poverty  withcsut 
a  parallel — a  scene  of  degradation  too  appalling  to  be  believed,  and  too  shock- 
ing to  be  disclosed;  where  you  find  crime  without  punishment,  disgrace  without 
shame,  sin  without  compunction,  and  death  without  hope." 

On  May  15,  1843,  Aldermen  Tillou,  WoodhuU  and  Emmans  were  appointed 
a  special  committee  in  relation  to  the  reorganization  of  the  Police  Depart- 
ment. This  committee  was  instructed  to  ascertain  and  report  the  condition  of 
the  Police  of  the  city:  wherein  the  system  was  sufficient,  effective  or  deficient; 
also,  whether  the  laws  of  the  State  relative  to  crime,  and  to  punishment,  and  to 
the  Police  of  the  city,  were,  or  were  not,  sufficient  in  their  scope  and  provisions  for 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


87 


the  ilue  protection  and  good  order  of  society,  and  if  not,  wherein  they  were  defi- 
cient; also,  whether  the  administration  of  the  duties  of  the  Magistrates  or 
officers  of  Police,  or  of  the  criniinal  Jutiiciarv  in  the  city  was,  or  was  not 
efficient,  and  if  not,  the  causes  thereof.  'J"hat  tiiey  also  ascertain  and  report 
what  measures,  if  any,  were  proper  or  necessary  to  be  adopted  on  the  subjects 
above  mentioned,  and  to  inc  iude  in  their  report  such  statements  antl  information, 
and  such  suggestions  and  recommendations,  as  they  should  deem  judicious. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  held  July  3,  1843,  it  was  resolved 
that  so  much  of  the  message  as  related  to  the  organization  of  Police  be 
referred  to  the  special  committee  of  the  Board  of  which  Alderman  'I'illou  was 
the  chairman.  This  committee,  in  their  report,  observed  that  the  subject  of  Munic- 


Original  View  of  the  Old  Brewery. 

[Site  of  the  Five  Points'  Mission.] 

ipal  Police,  treated  of  in  the  message,  involved  the  two  principal  departments 
of  Criminal  Police  and  Health  Police  ;  the  object  of  the  former  being  to  prevent, 
detect,  arrest  and  punish  crime  ;  that  of  the  latter  to  preserve  the  public  health. 
The  outline  of  Criminal  Police,  as  proposed,  the  report  said,  had  for  its  object  the 
diminution  of  a  very  large  number  of  officers  and  persons  employed  in  the  var- 
ious duties  which  the  department — as  proposed  to  be  organized — should  perform. 
By  uniting  the  Fire,  Watch  and  Constabulary  force,  it  would,  the  report  said, 
render  available  for  other  public  duties,  a  large  body  of  citizens  employed  in  the 
services  of  these  several  departments.  The  report,  taking  its  facts  from  the 
message,  placed  the  value  of  the  taxable  property  in  the  city  limits  at 
$227,997,090.58,  and  claimed  that  the  aggregate  expense  of  the  proposed  system 
would  not  equal  one-quarter  per  cent. 

"  And  when  it  is  considered,"  the  report  mentions,  "  that  the  Police  has  for 
its  purpose  not  only  the  protection  of  property,  but  of  person,  from  aggression  ; 


88 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


that  besides  the  permanent  population  of  the  city  now  estimated  to  be  about 
350,000  persons  tlius  protected,  there  are  always,  as  is  supposed,  a  floating  popu- 
lation of  about  50,000  strangers  ;  and  that  at  all  times  must  be  included  in  its 
limits  *  *  *  a  large  number  of  persons  *  *  * 
at  no  time  possess  home  or  house,  and  the  usual  proportion  thereof  of  whom  are 
the  wicked  and  debased  ;  the  force,  strength  and  expense  of  the  proposed  system 
will  not  be  regarded  as  too  great." 

The  evils  and  misfortunes,  the  report  continues,  under  which  the  city  suffered, 
were  mainly  to  be  attributed  to  the  inefficiency  of  the  police  system  ;  of  the  want  of 
independence  and  competency  of  many  of  the  most  important  officers,  owing  to 
political  influence — and  not  real  merit — being  the  great  recommendation  to  the 
appointments,  to  the  consequent  paralysis  of  the  department. 

The  Mayor,  by  the  charter  and  laws,  was  the  head  of  the  Police  Department. 
His  powers  included  the  appointment  of  Marshals  and  Watchmen.  Two  Con- 
stables from  each  Ward,  making  altogether  thirty-four  Constables,  were  elected 
annually.  They  were  peace  officers  ;  bound  to  serve  criminal  process,  assist  in 
keeping  the  peace,  attend  the  courts  and  assist  in  carrying  out  the  sentence  of 
law  when  recjuired  by  the  Sheriff,  or  the  Police,  or  other  Magistrates.  Their  com- 
pensation was  similar  to  that  of  the  Marshals. 

There  were  one  hundred  Marshals  (including  those  attached  to  the  Police 
offices).  Besides  discharging  the  duties  imposed  upon  the  Constables,  the  Mar- 
shals were  required  to  co-operate  with  the  Constables  at  all  times  in  keeping  the 
peace,  and  attend  on  the  various  courts  subject  to  the  Sheriff. 

Attached  to  the  lower  Police  office  for  duty,  were  twenty-eight  Marshals,  and 
to  the  upper  Police  office  twelve  Marshals,  who  were  called  upon  by  regular  turns, 
and  in  succession,  to  attend  to  the  services  of  the  office. 

The  city  was  divided  into  six  districts,  in  each  of  which  there  was  a  watch- 
house,  two  Captains  and  four  Assistant  Captains  being  assigned  to  each  watch- 
house. 

The  whole  force  employed  in  the  Watch  Department  was  twelve  Captains 
at  two  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents  per  night  ;  twenty-four  Assistant  Captains 
at  one  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  per  night  ;  nine  hundred  and  seventy-six 
Watchmen  at  one  dollar  per  night  in  summer,  and  one  dollar  and  twenty-five 
cents  in  winter. 

Of  this  force  one-half  only  was  on  duty  every  night,  each  half  alternately. 

The  Watch  in  summer  was  set  at  nine  o'clock  and  in  winter  at  eight  o'clock, 
and  varied  between  those  two  hours  according  to  the  duration  of  daylight,  and 
was  discharged  at  the  break  of  day.  They  were  classified  as  Postmen,  Rounds- 
men and  Doormen  ;  the  Roundsmen  being  those  designated  to  go  round  each 
district  assigned  to  each  to  see  that  each  Postman  was  on  his  post  ;  the  Post- 
men being  the  men  assigned  to  do  post  duty  ;  the  Doormen  being  those  posted  at 
the  doors  of  the  watch-houses.  The  posts  varied  in  size,  the  smallest  including 
six  and  the  largest  twenty-seven  blocks.  Subsequently  the  Watch  was  set  at  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  men  remaining  on  duty  until  thirty  minutes  before 
sunrise  in  the  morning. 

Sixteen  Day  Police  officers  nominated  by  the  Aldermen  and  Assistant  Al- 
dermen of  each  Ward  were  appointed  by  the  Mayor,  "  to  keep  order  at  all  times 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


89 


in  thtir  respective  Wards."  Two  were  assigned  respectively  to  the  Fourth,  Fifth, 
Seventh,  Eleventh,  and  Seventeenth  Wards,  and  one  each  to  the  others. 

Sunday  officers  were  also  ajjpointed  by  the  Mayor  on  the  recommendation  of 
the  Aldermen  and  Assistants  of  each  Ward.  'I'here  were  one  hundred  and  eight 
Sunday  officers,  each  receiving  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  for  the  day's  services. 

There  were  thirteen  Dock  Masters,  whose  duty  it  was  to  direct  the  removal 
and  disposition  of  vessels  in  their  respective  Wards,  each  being  paid  a  salary  of 
four  hundred  dollars  per  annum.  In  all  the  Wards,  with  few  exceptions,  the 
Dock  Masters  and  Health  Wardens  were  united  in  one  person. 

The  number  of  Marshals  attached  to  the  Police  office  at  the  Halls  of  Justice 
was  thirty.  They  received  no  salary  for  their  services,  their  fees  being  regulated 
by  an  act  of  the  legislature  passed  in  1833  ;  and  for  extra  services,  by  an  ordi- 
nance of  the  Common  Council,  they  were  paid  one  shilling  per  hour  for  everv  hour 
they  were  employed  under  the  direction  of  a  Magistrate  in  the  day  time,  and 
eighteen  pence  per  hour  for  the  same  services  at  night.  They  were  compelled 
to  render  an  account  of  such  services  under  oath.  There  was  no  i)articular  sys- 
tem of  doing  duty  at  the  office,  with  the  exception  that  a  roll  of  the  officers  was 
kept,  and  warrants  and  other  business  given  to  the  officers  in  their  turn.  The  usu- 
al hours  for  business  in  the  Police  offices  were  from  nine  in  the  morning  until  the 
Watch  was  set  at  night  ;  but  the  office  was  opened  before  daylight  every  morn- 
ing, at  which  time  the  Magistrate,  Clerk  and  two  officers  were  in  attendance  to  re- 
ceive and  dispose  of  tne  prisoners  arrested  during  the  night  at  the  three  lower 
watch-houses.  The  Magistrates,  Clerks  and  officers,  were  not  regularly  on  duty 
at  night,  but  could  be  summoned  whenever  their  services  were  required. 

The  message,  in  pointing  out  the  evils,  defects  and  deficiencies  of  the  Police 
system,  drew  attention  to  the  following  facts  :  The  system  of  the  criminal  de- 
partment was  designed  exclusively  and  only  for  the  arrest,  trial  and  punishment 
of  offenders,  and  was  not  calculated  sufficiently  to  prevent  crime  or  to  suppress 
the  licentiousness  and  vices  which  lead  to  it.  The  incumbents  were  selected  for 
political  reasons  and  not  for  personal  merit  or  competency  to  fulfill  their  duties. 
Their  term  of  office  was  uncertain,  and  often  very  brief,  depending  on  the  change 
of  political  parties  in  most  cases,  the  incumbent  being  liable  to  removal  without 
other  cause  than  the  change  in  the  ascendency  of  the  party.  Consequently,  they 
were  not  as  well  organized  as  if  their  office  depended  upon  good  behavior  and 
efficiency. 

The  message  recommended  the  passage  of  certain  laws  for  the  better  gov- 
ernment and  discipline  of  the  Police.  Most  of  these  recommendations  were  in- 
corporated in  an  act  passed  by  the  legislature  the  following  year,  which  is  treated 
of  in  the  succeeding  chapter. 

Mayor  Morris  conceived  the  idea  of  organizing  the  hundred  Police 
Marshals,  who  received  their  appointments  from  the  Mayor,  and  of  dividing 
them  into  Watches.  The  first  Watch  he  proposed  to  set  at  sunrise.  This 
Watch  was  to  be  relieved  through  the  day,  and  the  last  of  this  Day  Police 
was  to  continue  on  duty  until  sundown,  when  the  night  Watch  was  set.  The 
Marshals  were  to  be  allotted  among  the  Wards  in  numl)ers  according  to  the 
requirements  of  the  several  Wards.    By  such  an  arrangement,  Mayor  Morris 


90  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

hoped  the  services  of  the  day  and  Sunday  officers  could  be  dispensed  with,  and 
the  salaries  paid  to  them;  and  the  time  allowed  the  Marshals  would,  he  said, 
almost,  if  not  entirely,  pay  the  Day  Police.  In  his  message  of  July  24,  1843,  he 
said  he  had  determined  to  exercise  the  power  invested  in  him,  by  putting  the 
foregoing  scheme  into  operation  forthwith,  which  he  hoped  would  meet  with  the 
approval  of  the  Board. 

The  Tombs  building  was  completed  in  1838.  Five  years  previously,  it  was 
determined  by  the  city  authorities  to  build  a  prison  on  a  plot  of  land  that  was 
generations  ago  a  lake.  After  drainage,  its  site  formed  part  of  the  Collect 
Grounds.  The  style  of  the  new  building  was  decided  by  the  publication  of  a 
book  much  read  in  those  days,  "Stevens'  Travels,"  and  which  contained  an  illus- 


The  Tombs  (City  Prison). 

tration  of  an  Egyptian  tomb.  This  grim  jncture  was  thought  available  in  plan 
for  the  projected  structure,  the  name  of  which  was  selected  with  reference  to  the 
preferred  form  of  the  building.  The  building  as  originally  completed  had  a 
cupola.  This  was  burned  down  in  November,  1842,  with  the  apt  accompaninfent 
of  the  suicide  of  a  murderer— a  bridegroom  of  four  hours— who  was  at  the  time 
being  led  out  to  execution. 

The  Watch  District,  on  September  12,  1843,  was  declared  to  include  all  that 
portion  of  the  city  lying  south  of  the  line  described  as  follows: 

Commencing  at  the  East  River,  ninety-eight  feet  and  nine  inches  north  of 
Twenty-eighth  Street;  running  thence  westerly  and  parallel  to  Twenty-eighth  Street, 
to  a  point  one  hundred  feet  east  of  the  Fourth  Avenue;  thence  northerly,  and 
parallel  to  the  Fourth  Avenue,  to  a  point  ninety-eight  feet  nine  inches  north  ol 
Thirtieth  Street,  to  a  point  one  hundred  feet  east  of  the  Seventh  Avenue;  thence 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  9' 

northerly,  and  parallel  to  the  Seventh  Avenue,  to  a  point  ninety-eight  feet  nine 
inches  north  of  Fortieth  Street;  thence  westerly,  and  parallel  to  Fortieth  Street 
to  the  Hudson  River. 

By  resolution  of  the  Common  Council,  January  6,  1844,  the  Mayor  was 
directed  to  create  thirty  new  additional  Watch  posts,  and  for  that  purpose  to  ap- 
point one  hundred  and  twenty  additional  Watchmen.  This  necessitated  an  alter- 
ation in  the  Watch  jjosts  of  the  city.  All  the  Watchmen  were  required  to  stay 
upon  their  posts  till  within  thirty  minutes  of  sunrise.  Captains  of  the  Night- 
watch,  in  the  following  month,  were  empowered  to  remove  and  place  new  men  on 
the  rounds  attached  to  their  Watches,  as  they  might  think  best. 
The  pay  of  Watchmen  in  this  year  was  as  follows  : 

Captains,  numbering  twelve  $2.25  each. 

Assistant  Captains,  numbering  twenty-four  $i-7S  each. 

Men,  numliering  one  thousand  and  ninety-six  $1-25  each. 

Besides  those,  there  was  a  number  of  Sunday  officers  and  extra  Watchmen. 
Even  these  were  found  to  be  insufficient  (or  inefficient),  for  new  appointments 
were  continually  being  made,  and  the  Watch  posts  increased.  If  the  Watchmen 
were  not  sufficiently  numerous,  there  could  be  no  such  complaint  made  as  regards 
criminals,  as  they  seemed  to  keep  on  steadily  increasing.  At  this  time  the  crea- 
tion of  a  new  station  house  at  the  Jefferson  Market  was  ordered,  the  old  one  not 
affording  proper  accommodation  for  the  officers  or  their  prisoners. 


92 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


HIGH  CONSTABLE  HAYS. 
The  most  noted  official  connected  with  the  police  system  in  his  day  and 
generation  was  Jacob  Hays.  The  story  of  his  life  would  read  like  a  thrilling 
romance.  For  about  forty  years  subsequent  to  the  beginning  of  the  century  he 
was  the  head  and  front,  and  guiding  spirit  of  the  police  of  this  city;  in  fact, 
Jacol)  Hays  was  a  police  force  all  by  himself.  He,  personally,  and  often  unaided, 
ran  down  criminals,  suppressed  riots,  and  in  addition  to  his  functions  as  High 
Constable,  he  originated  and  organized  a  detective  department,  of  which  he 
himself  was  the  central  figure  and  the  one-man  power.  Nor  was  this  all:  Jacob 
Hays  for  a  number  of  years  was  also  Sergeant-at-Arms  to  the  Board  of  Aldermen, 
and  superintended  the  squad  of  officers  detailed  to  preserve  order  in  the  courts. 
The  term  "  eternal  and  universal,"  so  often  applied  to  our  own  Colonel  Bliss, 
would  be  inadequate  to  characterize  the  unceasing  and  unflagging  energy  of  the 
High  Constable.  But  his  energ)'  was  never  wasted  by  misdirected  efforts,  nor 
did  it  degenerate  into  fussiness.  He  had  a  high  appreciation  of  his  duties,  and 
no  man  worked  harder  or  more  faithfully  to  discharge  his  obligations  to  the 
public. 

Jacob  Hays  was  born  on  May  13,  1772,  at  Bedford,  N.  Y.  His  father  was  a 
prominent  Whig,  and  was  one  of  the  soldiers  serving  under  Washington  in  the  expe- 
dition known  as  Braddock's  defeat.  Jacob  himself  was  frequently  of  service  to  the 
Whig  cause.  His  father's  name  was  David  Hays.  He  kept  a  country  store  at  Bed- 
ford, Westchester  County.  His  house  was  made  a  place  of  meeting  by  General  Wash- 
ington and  his  officers  at  the  time  thnt  the  patriot  army  was  stationed  thereabouts. 
Young  Jacob,  thus  early  in  life,  became  familiar  with  General  Washington  and 
his  officers.  He  was  a  stout,  sturdy  lad  of  eleven  years,  when  peace  was  de- 
clared in  1783. 

Jacob  Hays  was  first  appointed  Marshal  by  Mayor  Varick  in  1798.  In  1802  he 
was  appointed  High  Constable  by  Mayor  Livingston,  and  on  March  21,  1803,  he 
and  Charles  Van  Orden  were  appointed  Captains  of  the  Third  Watch  District. 
It  is  recorded  in  the  proceedings  of  an  old-fashioned  caucus  that  he  was  removed 
from  the  latter  position  in  the  year  1804.  From  the  time  he  received  his  first 
appointment  to  the  position  of  High  Constable  up  to  his  death,  a  period  of 
nearly  fifty  years,  he  was  reappointed  to  that  office  by  each  successive  Mayor,  the 
office  of  High  Constable  becoming  extinct  at  his  death.  He  was  also  Sergeant- 
at-Arms  to  the  Board  of  Aldermen  for  a  number  of  years,  and  acted  as  Crier  of 
the  Court  of  Sessions.  He  was,  perhaps,  the  best-known  man  of  his  day  in'  the 
city.  The  terror  of  criminals,  it  was  his  boast  that  there  was  not  a  rogue  in  the 
city  whom  he  did  not  know.  And  this  fact  was  borne  out  by  his  extraordinary 
success  in  arresting  and  bringing  rogues  of  all  degrees  to  justice.  The  usual 
popular  cry  being,  when  some  bold  and  mysterious  burglary  or  robbery  had 
been  perpetrated,  the  criminals  escaping  without  leaving  a  clue  as  to  their  iden- 
tity behind  :  "Set  old  Hays  on  them." 

He  was  the  first  real  detective  of  this  city.  He  was  an  honest  man,  of  high 
moral  and  religious  character,  and  an  attendant  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  Grand  Street  In  his  line  he  was  a  regular  autocrat,  and  held  the 
monopoly  of  catching  thieves.    So  successful  was  he  as  a  detective  that  his  fame 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


93 


spread  over  the  whole  civilized  world.  He  was  as  well  known  in  London  as  in 
New  York.  It  is  said  of  him  that  he  could  track  a  rogue  by  instinct.  Kifteen 
years  after  his  death,  letters  came  from  the  Chief  of  Police  of  London,  |)crtain- 
ing  to  criminals  and  crime,  adressed  to  "  Jacob  Hays,  High  Constable  of  New 
York."    Following  is  a  facsimile  of  his  commission  as  Captain  of  the  Watch  : 


For  years  after  he  had  received  his  appointment  of  High  Constable  he  had 
but  a  bare  handful  of  men  under  his  command,  the  number  not  exceeding  half  a 
dozen  at  the  beginning.  This  fact  rendered  his  achievements  in  keeping  the 
criminal  classes  in  subjection  all  the  more  wonderful.  It  is  said,  such  was  his 
zeal  and  activity,  that,  during  the  ])rolonged  period  of  his  public  service,  he  did 
not,  on  an  average,  sleep  more  than  six  hours  out  of  twenty-four.  Another  remark- 
able fact  remains  to  be  recorded  :  he  never  carried  a  concealed  weapon  ;  never 
went  armed  in  any  form  ;  his  only  [)rotection  being  his  Constable's  staff  and  his 
own  indomitable  fearlessness  of  danger.  He  was,  besides,  possessed  of  great 
physical  strength,  and  few  of  the  desperadoes  of  those  days  cared  to  cross 
the  private  or  official  path  of  the  determined  and  sturdy  High  Constable.  He 
was  pre-eminently  successful  in  quelling  street  brawls  and  dispersing  rioters. 
Such  was  his  success  in  this  direction  that  he  himself,  single-handed,  often  put 
down  a  street  fight,  in  which  some  of  the  worst  factions  were  engaged,  and  that 
too,  without  having  recourse  to  any  violence  whatever.  His  son,  a  hale  and 
hearty  gentleman,  William  H.  Hays,  who  is  President  of  the  Eighth  Avenue  Rail- 
road Company  and  a  leading  down-town  broker,  well  remembers  his  father's 
exploits  in  this  and  other  respects.  Whenever  the  High  Constable  was  made 
aware  that  a  street  brawl  was  assuming  threatening  proportions  he  at  once 
repaired  to  the  scene  of  disturbance,  and,  without  a  moment's  hesitation,  mingled 
in  the  throng  of  excited  wranglers.  His  great  strength  was  then  exerted  towards 
separating  the  combatants  and  in  driving  back  the  crowd.  He  did  not  crack  the 
heads  of  the  brawlers  ;  he  usually  knocked  off  their  hats  with  his  staff,  and  while 
they  were  in  the  act  of  stooping  to  pick  them  up,  he  would  shove  them  fonvard 
and  throw  them  down,  their  prostrate  bodies  generally  serving  as  a  barrier  to 
keep  the  others  back.  He  would  then  deal  with  the  principals,  and  by  the  time 
he  was  re-inforced  by  his  men,  the  greater  part  of  the  trouble  was  generally  over. 
The  secret  of  his  success  was  that  he  never  (except  in  very  rare  and  exceptional 


94 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


cases)  used  violence  while  dealing  with  a  mob.  He  left  no  brokeji  heads  or 
bruised  bodies  to  rankle  and  call  for  vengeance.  Fearlessnes.s,  firmness,  and  for- 
bearance were  his  predominant  traits,  and,  as  he  never  wantonly  maltreated  or 
injured  any  one,  even  in  the  face  of  great  provocation,  so,  in  like  manner,  brawl- 
ers and  criminals  generally — while  they  feared  and  respected  the  man — rarely 
offered  him  personal  violence.  His  great  presence  of  mind  and  ready  tact  also 
stood  him  in  good  stead  in  moments  of  peril  and  emergency.  It  was  his  habit  to 
make  little  of  these  public  outbreaks  and  to  declare  that  such  misdeeds  were  not 
primarily  occasioned  by  men,  but  were  the  work  of  unruly  boys,  grown  up  persons 
being  imwittingly  drawn  into  the  trouble.  Then  his  usual  method  of  formulat- 
ing his  mandates  to  the  mob  was  couched  in  respectful  language,  to  wit  :  "  Now, 
all  good  citizens  go  home  !"  an  advice  which  seldom  passed  unheeded.  This 
rare  mixture  of  forbearance  and  firmness  triumphed  over  the  angry  passions  of 
the  mob,  and  rarely  failed  to  produce  the  desired  results.  In  moments  of  the 
greatest  public  peril  he  would  never  consent  to  invoking  the  aid  of  the  State 
militia,  for  the  reason  as  he  grimly  and  quaintly  put  it  :  "  If  you  send  for  the  , 
military,  they  may  kill  some  one,  and  that  will  bring  trouble  ;  then  there  will  be 
the  trouble  of  burying  them  ;  and  that  will  be  the  greatest  trouble  of  all." 

Only  a  few  of  the  noted  cases  in  which  the  High  Constable  distinguished 
himself  can  be  referred  to  here.  A  citizen  informed  the  High  Constable 
that  two  strange  men  occupied  a  room  in  a  certain  hotel  in  the  city;  that  they 
were  much  alone  together  in  their  room;  that  this  fact  excited  the  curiosity  of 
the  servant  girl,  who  peered  through  the  key-hole,  and  saw  the  men  counting 
money. 

Some  time  previously  (1830)  the  City  Bank  of  this  city  had  been  robbed  of 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  High  Constable,  from  the  nature  of  the  rob- 
bery, suspected  who  the  men  were.  Upon  receiving  a  description  of  these  men, 
he  concluded  that  they  were  the  men  who  had  robbed  the  City  Bank.  Accom- 
panied by  his  son,  he  surprised  one  of  the  robbers  in  the  room  of  the  hotel, 
and  arrested  him.  His  name  was  Smith,  an  expert  bank  robber.  A  large 
amount  of  money  was  found  in  his  trunk.  The  money  was  a  part  of  the  pur- 
loined property  of  the  City  Bank. 

In  the  meantime  the  High  Constable  was  busy  looking  out  for  Smith's  compan- 
ion, named  Murray,who  had  evaded  arrest,  and  kept  away  from  his  former  quarters 
at  the  hotel.  A  man  named  Parkinson,  a  well-known  locksmith,  was  suspected 
by  the  High  Constable  as  also  being  Smith's  companion  in  crime.  Going  to 
Parkinson's  store,  the  High  Constable  made  a  careful  search  of  the  place,  with- 
out, however,  finding  anything  of  a  criminatory  character.  He  was  about  giv- 
ing up  the  search  in  despair  when  he  happened  to  pick  up  a  jack-plane,  one 
end  of  which,  it  could  be  seen,  had  been  cut  off  and  readjusted.  In  taking  the 
jack-plane  apart,  the  Higji  Constable  found  in  a  hollow  groove  notes  of  the 
plundered  bank  amounting  to  twenty  thousand  dollars.  Some  forty  thousand 
dollars  was  still  short  of  the  amount  stolen,  and  the  High  Constable  concluded 
that  Murray  must  have  it. 

He  was  released,  and  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  the  High  Constable  had 
him  placed  under  police  surveillance,  and  besides,  had  him  shadowed  by  a  for- 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  95 

J) 

mer  "  pal,"  in  the  hopes  thereby  of  obtaining  the  remainder  of  the  money  stolen 
from  the  bank. 

At  the  High  Constable's  request,  John  McLean,  High  Constable  of  Phila- 
delphia, arrested  Murray  on  the  second  of  May,  1831.  Murray,  when  taken  into 
cu;>tody,  threw  away  a  number  of  bills.  These  were  picked  up,  and  they 
proved  to  be  bills  on  the  Orange  County  Bank.  He  was  brought  to  trial  and 
convicted.  While  in  jail,  under  a  promise  of  pardon  he  revealed  the  hiding 
place  of  the  stolen  treasure,  which  was  under  a  big  tree  in  Independence  Stjuare, 
in  Philadelphia.  The  High  Constable's  son,  accompanied  by  his  friend,  Jus- 
tice Hol)son,  of  this  city,  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  after  digging  for  the  treas- 
ure, at  first  without  success,  at  length  found  it.  The  money  so  recovered  com- 
pleted the  whole  amount  stolen  from  the  City  Bank. 

Many  years  ago  successful  forgeries  had  been  committed  on  a  number  of 
banks  in  this  city.  Three  men,  Reed,  Stephens,  and  HoUgate,  notorious  cracks- 
men, were  suspected  of  the  forgeries,  the  more  so  as  they  kept  in  hiding  from 
the  j)olice.  High  Constable  Hays  arrested  Reed  ("Jack"  Reed  as  he  was  called) 
'  in  front  of  the  old  City  Hotel,  the  site  of  the  present  Boreal  Building.  Reed 
made  a  desperate  resistance,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  his  confederate,  Ste- 
phens. Reed  drew  a  dirk  on  the  High  Constable,  but  the  latter,  using  his  great 
strength,  pinned  Reed  to  the  wall,  and  held  a  firm  grasp  of  the  hand  that  held 
the  dagger.  A  crowd  gathered,  and  some  of  Reed's  friends  assisted  in  assaulting 
the  High  Constable,  hoping  thereby  to  rescue  Reed.  Fortunately,  Major  Noah, 
a  well-known  citizen,  who  happened  to  be  passing,  went  to  the  High  Constable's 
assistance,  and  Reed  was  disarmed.  On  the  way  to  the  watch-house  the  High 
Constable  and  his  prisoner  were  followed  by  Stephens  and  others  of  the  gang, 
who  made  several  attempts  to  rescue  the  prisoner. 

Stephens'  turn  came  next.  The  High  Constable,  having  obtained  information 
that  Stephens  was  one  of  the  gang  of  forgers,  accompanied  by  his  son,  at  an  early 
hour  of  the  morning,  went  to  the  house  where  Stephens  was  known  to  live. 
Upon  the  latter  refusing  to  open  his  door  in  response  to  the  summons  of  the 
High  Constable,  the  latter  broke  it  in.  Stephens  was  ready,  pistol  in  hand,  to 
repulse  the  officers  of  the  law.  As  he  was  about  firing  at  the  head  of  the  High 
Constable,  young  Hays  knocked  the  pistol  out  of  the  hand  of  the  forger,  and  he 
was  secured  and  restrained  from  inflicting  bodily  injury  on  his  captors. 

The  third  man  (Hollgate)  remained  at  large.  He  was  subsequently  arrested 
(not  b.y  the  High  Constable),  or  at  least  a  man  who  was  taken  for  Hollgate  was 
arrested,  and  in  good  time  was  arraigned  for  trial.  This  man's  name  was  Red- 
mond, and  he  kept  a  hotel  in  Pearl  Street.  His  description  tallied  exactly  with 
the  description  given  of  the  third  forger.  Redmond  pleaded  his  innocence.  He 
was,  however,  fully  identified  as  one  of  the  forgers  by  a  man  named  Ware  and  a 
Mr.  Ebbitt,  who  was  cashier  and  teller  of  the  Union  Bank  of  this  city.  The  case 
had  been  just  given  to  the  jury,  all  the  evidence  pointing  to  Redmond's  guilt,  when 
High  Constable  Hays,  who  had  all  along  strenuously  maintained  that  Redmond 
was  not  the  right  man,  brought  into  court  the  real  culprit,  Hollgate.  Hollgate 
manufactured  children's  toys,  and  kept  a  store  in  Chatham  Street.  It  was  then 
proven  that  Redmond  was  falsely  accused,  and  his  innocence  being  established, 


96 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


he  was  released.  He  never  recovered  from  the  blow,  however;  his  Ijosiness  was 
ruined,  and  he  died  soon  after,  it  is  said  of  a  broken  heart.  The  cashier  who 
swore  to  Redmond's  identity  with  the  forger  Hollgate,  also  took  his  trouble  to 
heart  and  his  health  broke  down,  and  it  was  long  before  he  recovered  it.  Holl- 
gate, Reed  and  Stephens  were  convicted  and  sent  to  State  Prison.  Hollgate  was 
the  exact  counterpart  of  the  unfortunate  prisoner,  Redmond. 

A  brutal  murder,  accompanied  by  the  robbery  of  the  victim,  shocked  the 
community  about  the  year  1 820.  The  man  was  captain  of  a  sailing  vessel.  One  day 
he  was  found  dead  in  Coenties  Alley,  corner  Water  Street,  with  a  hole  in  his  temple. 
The  identity  of  the  murderer  was  at  first  wrapped  in  mystery.  A  man  named 
Johnson,  who  kept  a  low  sailor's  boarding-house,  and  with  whom  the  dead  man 
boarded,  was  suspected  as  the  guilty  party.  He  was  arrested  by  the  High  Con- 
stable as  he  (Johnson)  was  coming  out  of  Trinity  Church.  The  body  of  the 
victim  was  awaiting  burial  at  the  Rotunda  in  the  City  Hall  Park.  Thither  the 
High  Constable  conveyed  Johnson.  The  body  was  covered  with  a  sheet.  John- 
son was  brought  to  the  side  of  the  murdered  man.  Suddenly  the  cloth  was 
removed,  and  the  High  Constable  exclaimed  in  the  ear  of  the  trembling  prisoner: 
"  Look  upon  the  body;  have  you  ever  seen  that  man  before?"  "Yes,  Mr.  Hays, 
I  murdered  him,"  was  the  startling  reply.  Johnson,  who  made  this  statement  in 
the  presence  of  several  witnesses,  subsequently  denied  it  upon  his  trial,  but  on 
the  scaffold  he  confessed  his  guilt.  The  day  of  his  execution  was  a  great  holiday 
for  the  populace.  The  gallows  was  erected  in  Twenty-sixth  Street,  near  Cedar 
Creek. 

Mr.  R.  M.  Blatchford,  a  well-known  lawyer  of  this  city,  rented  a  cottage 
in  Bleecker  Street.  At  that  time  Bleecker  Street  was  beyond  the  city  limits. 
One  morning,  when  Mr.  Blatchford  returned  home  after  a  brief  absence  in  the 
country,  he  found  the  house  in  disorder.  Thieves  had  broken  in  in  the  night 
and  carried  away  articles  of  value.  Mr.  Blatchford's  new  suit  of  clothes  had 
been  appropriated,  and  an  old  suit  (evidently  the  suit  that  had  been  discarded 
by  the  thief  when  he  donned  Mr.  Blatchford's  clothes)  was  left  on  a  chair. 
The  robbery  was  at  once  reported  to  High  Constable  Hays.  Upon  examining 
the  old  suit  of  clothes  that  had  been  left  behind,  the  High  Constable  said:  "I 
know  the  man  these  clothes  belong  to.  He  came  from  Baltimore  to  this  city 
two  weeks  ago."  P'oUowing  up  the  declaration,  Mr.  Hays  said,  still  addressing 
himself  to  Mr.  Blatchford:  "I  have  reason  to  know  this  man;  his  hair  is  as  r^d 
as  blood.  If  you  wait  here  (in  the  High  Constable's  office)  for  half  an  hour 
I'll  get  him  for  you."  To  the  astonishment  of  Mr.  Blatchford,  the  High  Con- 
stable, who  had  hastily  departed,  returned  within  the  time  mentioned,  bringing 
with  him  a  man  whose  hair  was  "as  red  as  blood.'"  The  man  in  question  was 
dressed  in  Mr.  Blatchford's  stolen  clothes. 

The  interesting  document  on  the  opposite  page  is  a  facsimile  of  Jacob  Hays* 
commission  as  High  Constable,  which  shows  that  there  was  not  so  much  printer's 
ink  or  elaboration  of  detail  used  in  the  make-up  of  official  documents  in  those  days. 

As  another  evidence  of  the  intimate  knowledge  the  High  Constable  pos- 
sessed of  criminals  and  their  ways,  and  his  marvelous  memory  of  faces,  the  fol- 
lowing story  will  not  be  found  inappropriate: 


98 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


One  Fourth  of  July,  upon  the  occasion  of  the  usual  patriotic  assemblage  in 
front  of  the  City  Hall,  while  the  City  Fathers  and  the  Mayor  were  reviewing  the 
procession,  the  High  Constable  surprised  Alderman  Stillwell  (afterwards  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor of  the  State),  by  a  request  to  hold  his  (the  High  Constable's) 
staff.  In  answer  to  the  puzzled  Alderman's  inquiring  look,  the  High  Constable 
hastily  said:  "  Please  hurry;  there's  a  man  out  there  in  the  crowd  who  answers 
a  description  I  have  in  my  pocket  of  a  man  for  whose  arrest  there  is  offered  a 
reward  of  five  hundred  dollars."  The  High  Coustable  then  disappeared  in  the 
crowd,  and  in  the  next  moment  returned,  holding  a  tight  grip  of  the  suspect, 
whom  he  marched  to  the  Bridewell.  The  prisoner  proved  to  be  the  man  for 
whom  the  reward  of  five  hundred  dollars  had  been  offered. 

The  late  Commodore  Vanderbilt  used  to  tell  a  story  of  his  relations  at  one 
time  with  the  sturdy  High  Constable.  Commodore  Vanderbilt,  in  his  early 
career,  was  captain  of  a  steamboat,  the  boat  being  owned  by  a  Mr.  Gibbons. 
This  boat  was  run  on  the  North  River  in  opposition  to  the  regular  line, 
which  was  operated  by  the  Livingston  family,  who  had  a  "patent"  to  run 
the  steamboats  on  the  North  River.  The  Livingston's  had  procured  an 
order  of  the  Court  (corresponding  to  an  injunction),  to  restrain  the  Gibbons' 
boat,  as  operated  by  Commodore  Vanderbilt.  High  Constable  Hays  was 
intrusted  with  the  service  of  the  order  of  the  court,  and,  in  his  usual  unruffled 
manner,  told  the  Commodore  that  discretion  in  the  present  instance,  at  least, 
was  the  better  part  of  valor.  "  I  was  mad  enough,"  the  Commodore  was  wont 
to  say  in  later  years,  "  to  defy  the  whole  Livingston  tribe,  old  Hays  included, 
but  when  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  his  calm  and  smiling  face,  and  a  twinkle  in  his 
eye,  which,  singularly  enough,  said  as  plainly  as  words  could  express  it:  'If  you 
don't  obey  the  order  of  the  court,  and  that  damn  soon,  I'll  make  you  do  it, 
by  G — ,'  I  concluded  to  surrender.  I  didn't  want  to  back  down,  however,  too 
hurriedly,  and  I  said  that  if  they  wanted  to  arrest  me,  they  should  carry  me 
off  the  boat;  and  don't  you  know,  old  Hays  took  me  at  my  word,  and  landed  me 
on  the  dock  with  a  suddenness  that  took  away  my  breath." 

To  illustrate  the  extent  to  which  Mr.  Hays'  fame  had  spread,  the  following 
may  be  related: 

Colonel  James  B.  Murray  while  once  in  London  witnessed  quite  a  riot.  He  got 
on  an  eminence,  the  better  to  see  the  conflict  between  the  mob  and  the  police. 
After  a  good  deal  of  fighting  the  tumult  was  put  down,  and  the  ringleaders  ar- 
rested. Addressing  himself  to  an  Englishman,  also  a  spectator.  Colonel  Mur- 
ray said:  "Why,  I've  come  from  a  city  where  one  man  would  have  put  down 
that  riot."  "  You  must  have  come  from  New  York  then,"  was  the  response, 
<  "  as  that's  the  only  place  where  such  a  thing  can  be  done." 

The  Common  Council,  by  joint  resolution,  on  April  31,  1836,  ten- 
dered their  thanks  to  High  Constable  Hays  "  for  his  persevering  and  efficient 
services  in  again  securing  those  notorious  and  dangerous  forgers.  Smith  and  Van- 
dergriff,  who  recently  made  their  escape  from  the  City  Prison." 

Mayor  Lawrance,  in  transmitting  this  resolution  to  the  High  Constable,  ex- 
pressed his  sense  of  appreciation  of  the  services  of  Mr.  Hays  as  follows: 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  99 

"  I  will  embrace  the  jjresent  o])|)ortunity  to  return  to  you  my  thanks  for 
your  vigilance  in  every  case  which  has  come  under  my  notice,  and  for  the  readi- 
ness and  alacrity  with  which  you  have  discharged  the  duties  of  your  office." 

Mr.  Hays  was  equally  noted  for  his  benevolence  and  philanthropy. 
While  he  never  compromised  with  felons  or  law-breakers,  he  never  took  any 
illegitimate  or  unjust  means  to  secure  their  conviction.  He  was  firm,  but  mod- 
erate in  all  things.  He  was,  too,  possessed  of  a  high  order  of  intelligence,  and 
was,  besides,  distinguished  for  his  zeal  and  incorruptibility.  His  treatment 
of  criminals  was  conspicuous  by  its  entire  absence  of  malice,  or  a  desire  to 
serve  his  own  official  ambition  at  the  expense  of  the  misfortunes  of  others.  No 
man  hated  crime  and  criminals  more  than  he;  no  man  would  go  farther  to 
bring  guilt  home  to  such  criminals,  and  no  man  was  more  unrelenting  in  the  dis- 
charge of  such  duties.  On  the  other  hand,  when  outraged  justice  had  been 
vindicated  by  the  conviction  of  a  prisoner,  should  such  a  prisoner  manifest  a 
genuine  desire  to  reform,  the  stern  official  was  replaced  l)y  the  humane  citizen; 
and  in  every  way  consistent  with  the  ends  of  justice  and  his  own  integiity, 
he  was  always  willing  to  stretch  forth  a  helping  hand  to  the  fallen,  desiring 
that  his  erring  brother  should  go  in  jjeace  and  sin  no  more.  But  he  set  his  face, 
like  flint,  against  professional  criminals,  big  and  small,  and  lashed  them  with- 
out pity  or  mercy,  until  they  were  driven  from  the  city,  or  confined  within  the 
walls  of  a  jail. 

He  died  in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age,  full  of  honors,  and  his 
funeral  was  attended  by  all  the  leading  city  dignitaries.  His  remains  rest  in 
Woodlawn  Cemetery. 

An  oil  painting  of  the  High  Constable,  by  Shegogue,  which  was  painted  in 
accordance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Common  Council,  hangs  in  the  Governor's 
room  at  the  City  Hall. 


lOO 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


CHAPTER  V. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  A  MUNICIPAL  POLICE. 


1S44— 1853. 


A  Turning  Point  in  the  System  of  Policing  the  City. — The  Old  Watch  De- 
partment ABOLISHED.  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A  DaY  AND  NiGHT  POLICE.  ChIEF 

Matsell.— A  Man  who  played  an  important  part  in  Police  Affairs. — 
Harper's  Police. — First  effort  to  introduce  a  Uniform. — The  New  Sys- 
tem not  satisfactory. — Changes  in  the  Law. — Astor  Place  Riot. — Bat- 
tery Park. — Growing  Boldness  of  Criminals.— Citizens  Alarmed. — The 
WHOLE  Force  directed  to  Patrol  Day  and  Night. — Detailment  of  Police- 
men A  growing  Evil. — Measures  taken  to  suppress  it. — Tables  of  Arrests. 

■  I  ^HE  necessity  for  a  new  de])arture  in  policing  the  city  had  for  a  long  time  been 


forcing  itself  on  the  public  mind.  But,  however  apparent  this  might  have 
been  to  the  politicians,  that  body  of  enlightened  citizens  had  neither  the  will  nor 
inclination  to  change  the  old  way  of  doing  business.  And  so  matters  dragged 
along  until  1840.  At  that  time  the  city  was  in  the  full  tide  of  its  mercantile 
prosperity. 

George  W.  Matsell,  in  the  above  year,  became  one  of  the  Police  Magistrates. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  some  talent  and  considerable  energy.  Born  in  England, 
he  early  in  life  came  to  this  city,  and  grew  up  with  the  town.  He  was,  in  an 
official  sense,  the  lineal  descendant  of  Jacob  Hays,  who  had  grown  old  in  the 
public  service.  Mr.  Matsell  soon  became  impressed  with  the  necessity  for  a 
change  in  the  Watch  system,  and  he  set  himself  to  re-organize  the  old  sleepy 
Leatherheads.  The  population  of  the  city  was  then  about  four  hundred  thou- 
sand souls.  The  city  was  filled  with  thieves  and  burglars,  many  of  them  of  the 
worst  kind.  Mr.  Matsell  gathered  some  kindred  spirits  about  him,  and,  with  the 
squad  of  men  he  had  at  his  command,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  going  about  the 
city  a  great  deal  at  night,  breaking  up  many  places  of  evil  resort  through  his 
personal  exertions.  Among  his  lieutenants  were  George  W.  Walling,  afterwards 
Superintendent  ;  Robert  Brownsen;  W.  Stevens,  late  keeper  on  Randall's  Island; 
and  Joseph  McGrath,  afterwards  a  Captain,  and  later  a  Magistrate. 

Mr.  Matsell's  efforts  showed  what  one  earnest,  fearless  man,  could  accom- 
plish, and  the  public  mind  became  impressed  with  the  fact  that  what  Mr.  Mat- 
sell  was  doing  almost  single-handed,  and  therefore  but  partially  and  imperfectly, 
was  of   too  important  a  nature  for  individual  effort,  and  so  at  last  it  was 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


lor 


determined  to  take  a  decisive  step  in  the  right  direction.  This  step  was  not  taken, 
however,  until  James  Harper  was  elected  Mayor  in  1844,  but  once  taken  there 
was  no  crying  halt  on  the  onward  march  of  Police  i)rogress  and  reform. 

Mr.  Matsell  was  born  in  the  year  1806,  and  came  to  this  country  when  but 
six  years  of  age.  His  father  kept  a  book  store  on  part  of  the  site  of  the  Metro- 
politan Hotel,  and  adjoining  Niblo's  Theatre.  Young  Matsell  also  learned  the 
business  from  another  bookseller,  and  in  time  owned  a  store  of  his  own  on  tjie 
corner  of  Pearl  and  Chatham  Streets. 

The  Municipal  Police  .\ct  was  passed  in  the  year  1844,  and  William  F. 
Havemeyer  being  elected  Mayor  the  following  year,  he  at  once  nominated  Mr. 


Chief  Matseil's  Shield. 


Matsell  Chief  of  Police,  both  Boards  of  Aldermen  confirming  the  nomination. 
For  twelve  years  he  occupied  the  position,  gradually  improving  the  Police  system 
and  enforcing  strict  discipline.  During  this  time  he  had  to  contend  with  the 
Astor  Place  riots,  volunteer  firemen's  mobs,  and  election  disturbances. 

From  1845  to  1853  the  Board  of  Aldermen  had  the  appointment  of  the 
Patrolmen  on  the  force,  but  it  being  impossible  to  discipline  the  force  under  such 
circumstances,  the  legislature  interfered,  and  designated  the  Mayor,  Recorder  and 
City  Judge  as  a  commission.  In  1857  the  State  legislature  passed  what  is 
known  as  the  Metropolitan  Police  Act. 

Fernando  Wood  was  Mayor,  and  this  legislation  neither  suited  him  nor  Chief 
Matsell.  The' Mayor  thought  it  unconstitutional — as  interfering  with  municipal 
prerogatives,  and  the  Chief  felt  bound  to  obey  his  superior  officer.    A  conflict 


I02 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


with  the  State  authorities  soon  resulted,  a  large  number  of  the  old  force  refusing  to 
obey  the  new  Commissioners. 

The  conflict  which  ensued  between  the  State  authorities  and  Mayor  Wood 
as  to  which  was  entitled  to  appoint  a  Street  Commissioner  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  Commissioner  Taylor,  was  bitterly  waged,  and  was  at- 
tended with  the  shedding  of  blood.  Chief  Matsell,  who  took  sides  with  Mayor 
Wood,  had  eight  hundred  men  stationed  at  the  City  Hall  to  resist  any  attempt  to 
arrest  the  Mayor.  The  story  of  the  riotous  proceedings  that  followed  between 
squads  of  the  Municipal  Police  (Mayor  Wood's  partizans)  and  the  recently  creat- 
ed Metropolitan  Police,  (who  enforced  the  Commissioners'  mandates),  will  be  nar- 
rated more  fully  in  another  place.  When,  at  last,  Mayor  Wood's  Police 
were  routed  by  the  bayonets  of  the  military  and  the  edicts  of  the  courts. 
Chief  Matsell  clung  to  the  fortunes  of  his  chief  with  an  unflinching  devo- 
tion. Upon  his  failing  to  appear  before  the  Police  Commissioners  the  day 
following  the  disturbances  in  question,  in  obedience  to  their  summons,  he  was 
tried  and  dismissed  the  force.  Mayor  Wood  subsequently  said  that  Mr.  Matsell 
had  acted  in  good  faith,  deeming  the  Mayor  his  superior  officer. 

When  Wm.  F.  Havemeyer  was  re-elected  Mayor  he  re-appointed  Mr.  Matsell 
Superintendent  of  Police  wV^  James  J.  Kelso,  on  May  23,  1873.  In  July  of  the 
following  year,  when  Commissioners  Charlick  and  Gardner  were  removed,  he  was 
appointed  a  Police  Commissioner,  and  a  few  days  afterwards  was  elected  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board.    He  remained  in  office  until  December  i,  1875. 

After  that  he  practiced  law  in  a  quiet  way,  giving  advice  in  criminal  cases, 
his  wide  experience  being  found  to  be  of  great  value.  It  was  Mr.  Matsell  who 
originated  the  much  quoted  phrase,  ''the  finest  police  force  in  the  world." 

Mr.  Matsell  died  at  his  residence.  No.  230  East  Fifty-eighth  Street,  on  the 
morning  of  July  25,  1877,  in  his  seventy-first  year.  For  two  years  previously  he 
had  suffered  from  an  injury  to  one  of  his  feet,  and  this  injury,  becoming  aggra- 
vated by  a  second  accident,  proved  fatal. 

The  Police  system  was  clearly  approaching  a  turning  point  in  its  historj'. 
Sweeping  and  radical  changes  were  in  contemplation,  and  the  old  order  of  things 
was  fast  passing  away.  The  system  of  policing  the  city  that  had  prevailed,  with 
few  changes  and  modifications,  as  handed  down  from  the  Dutch  to  the  English, 
and  by  these  to  the  government  that  supplanted  them,  was  legislated  out  of 
existence  on  May  7,  1844.  Prior  to  that  time  the  Police  force  of  the  city,  as  we 
have  seen,  consisted  of  two  Constables  elected  annually  in  each  ward,  of  a  small 
body  of  men  appointed  by  the  Mayor,  denominated  Mayor's  Marshals,  and'of 
a  Night-watch  composed  of  citizens  who  pursued  their  trades  or  avocations 
during  the  day,  and  patrolled  the  streets  at  night.  This  act  abolished  the  Night- 
watch,  and  established  a  Day  and  Night  Police. 

The  act  was  suffered  to  remain  for  the  time  being  inoperative,  lacking 
the  official  approval  of  the  Common  Council  and  the  Mayor.  The  Board 
of  Aldermen,  however,  on  November  27,  1844,  while  ignoring  the  Police 
bill  passed  by  the  legislature  subject  to  their  approval,  adopted  an  ordinance 
establishing  a  Municipal  Police,  or  Night  and  Day  Watch. 

This  ordinance  removed  from  office  all  Sunday  officers,  Day  Police  officers, 


OUK  POLfCE  PROTECIVKS. 


officers  to  attend  the  j)olls,  officers  to  attend  lioats,  keepers  of  public  jdaces, 
and  Superintendent  of  junk-shops. 

In  lieu  of  these,  the  Mayor  was  cmi)owerecl  to  select  two  hundred  suitahle 
men,  who,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  Common  Council,  were  to  constitute  a 
Municipal  Police,  or  Night  and  Day  Watch. 

The  following  Police  stations  were  appropriated  to  the  force,  and  established 
in  accordance  with  the  above  ordinance  : 

No.  I.  Franklin  Market:  First  Ward. 

No.  2.  City  Hall:  Second,  Third  and  Fourth  Wards. 

No.  3.  Halls  of  Justice:  Fifth  and  Sixth  Wards. 

No.  4.  Essex  Market:  Seventh,  .Tenth,  and  Thirteenth  Wards. 

No.  5.  Corner  Prince  and  Wooster  Streets:  Eighth  and  Fourteenth  Wards. 

No.  6.  Jefferson  Market:  Ninth,  Fifteenth,  and  part  of  Sixteenth  Wards. 

No.  7.  Union  Market:  Eleventh,  Seventeenth,  and  part  of  Sixteenth  Wards. 

No.  8.  House  of  Detention,  Harlem:  Twelfth  Ward. 

The  officers  and  salaries  were  named  as  follows: 


Superintendent  Si  250 

Captains  700 

Assistant  Captains  600 

Sergeants  550 

Policemen  ,  500 


The  Mayor  was  authorized  to  prescribe  a  distinguishing  badge  or  dress  for 
the  members  of  the  force,  and  also  to  prescribe  such  rules  and  regulations  as  he 
might  deem  necessary  and  proj)er.  This  ordinance,  it  was  stipulated,  should 
not  be  construed  to  affect  the  Watch  Department  in  any  other  way  than  as  it 
rendered  necessary  an  alteration  of  the  Watch  posts  to  conform  to  the 
diminution  of  that  force  by  transfers  into  the  Municipal  Police. 

In  pursuance  of  the  power  invested  in  him,  as  aforesaid.  Mayor  Harper 
quickly  went  to  work  to  uniform,  or  partially  uniform,  the  corps  of  two  hundred 
men  which  constituted  the  Municipal  Police.  This  uniform  consisted  of  a  blue 
single-breasted  cloth  frock  coat,  buttoned  to  the  neck,  having  the  letters  M.  P.  on  a 
standing  collar.  This  was  the  first  serious  attempt  made  to  uniform  the  Police 
force,  but  it  did  not  survive  long.  These  Policemen  were  variously  called  "  M.  P's." 
and  "  Harper's  Police." 

The  Police  offices  or  courts  were  established  by  ordinance,  March  12,  1845, 
as  follows: 

1.  Franklin  Market. 

2.  Halls  of  Justice. 

3.  Corner  of  Bowery  and  Third  Street. 

4.  Jefferson  Market. 

The  Mayor  and  Special  Justices  were  authorized  to  select  six  City  Marshals, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  attend  daily  at  the  down  town  Police  office,  and  take 
charge  of  all  prisoners  brought  to  the  office  by  Policemen,  AN'atchmen,  or  private 
citizens.  For  the  same  purpose  three  Marshals  were  assigned  to  the  Police 
office  at  the  corner  of  Third  Street  and  the  Bowery,  the  pay  of  each  being  one  dollar 


OUR  FOrJCE  PROTECTORS. 


and  fifty  cents  per  day.  It  having  been  discovered  that  a  number  of  PoHcemen 
had,  by  direction  of  the  Mayor  and  Special  Justices,  performed  services  before 
they  had  been  finally  appointed,  and  in  order  to  compensate  them  for  their  labors, 
both  Boards  adopted  a  resolution  granting  them  i)ay  from  the  day  on  which 
they  had  assumed  control  of  the  locust. 

The  Police  of  the  city,  by  this  change,  consisted  of  three  separate  bodies. 
The  Police  proper,  the  Municipal  Police,  and  the  Watch — and  the  persons  belong- 
ing to  each  of  these  divisions  received  their  appointments  from  different  sources. 
This  was  found  to  be  a  complicated  and  inefficient  system.    These  separate 


Mayor  Harper. 


organizations  tended  to  excite  dissension  among  the  individuals  composing  them, 
which  was  incompatible  with  the  efficiency  of  a  well-regulated  Police. 

The  Board  of  Aldermen  again  took  counsel  and  reflected  over  the  situation, 
the  result  being  that  they  repealed  the  ordinance  aforesaid  on  May  16,  1845,  and 
removed  all  persons  holding  ofifice  or  appointments  under  it.  The  Board  of 
Aldermen  at  their  next  meeting,  that  is,  on  the  twenty-third  of  May,  adopted  the 
Act  passed  May  7,  1844.    In  ten  days  thereafter  the  Act  took  effect. 

The  Act  of  1844,  as  has  been  said,  abolished  the  Watch  and  kindred  depart- 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


merits  of  the  City  Police.  In  lieu  of  the  Watch  Department,  Marshals,  Street 
Insi)ectors,  Health  Wardens,  Fire  Wardens,  Dock  Masters,  Lamp-lighters,  Ikll- 
ringers,  Insi)ectors  of  Pawnbrokers  and  Junk-shops,  and  of  the  officers  to  attend 
the  polls  (these  being  sub-divisions  of  the  then  Police  force),  there  was  established  a 
Day  and  Night  Police,  not  to  exceed  eight  hundred  men,  including  Captains, 
Assistant  Captains  and  Policemen.  Each  Ward  was  constituted  a  Patrol  District, 
in  each  of  which  there  was  established  a  "  District  Headcpiarters."  In  addition  to 
their  other  duties,  the  law  obliged  Policemen  to  light  the  lamps  and  ring  the  alarm 
bells.  The  duties  of  the  force  were  more  explicitly  defined,  but  such  duties  in 
no  important  j)articular  differ  from  those  performed  by  Policemen  at  the  jjresent 
time.  They  had,  for  instance,  to  attend  fires,  to  preserve  the  peace,  to  report  to 
their  Captains  suspicious  and  disorderly  houses;  to  arrest  and  arraign  at  court  of- 
fenders against  the  law  ;  to  protect  life  and  property,  etc. 

The  Chief  of  Police,  subordinate  to  the  Mayor,  was  tlie  chief  executive  of- 
ficer. His  office  was  located  at  the  City  Hall,  in  tlie  Mayor's  office.  He  was  ap- 
I)ointed  by  tiie  Mayor,  by  and  witli  the  consent  of  the  Common  Council,  to  serve 
for  one  year,  mil  ess  sooner  remo\ed. 

The  Aldermen,  Assistant  Aldermen,  and  Assessors  of  each  Ward,  with  the 
concurrence  of  the  Mayor,  were  empowered  to  ai)point  a  Captain,  one  first  Assis- 
tant Cai)tain,  one  second  Assistant  Cajitain,  and  as  many  Policemen  as  the  Ward 
was  entitled  to,  whose  term  of  office  was  also  for  one  year. 

The  Common  Council,  in  determining  the  salaries  of  the  officers  and  men, 
should  not,  the  act  declared,  exceed  the  following  sums: 

Chief  of  Police,  fifteen  hundred  dollars  ;  Special  Justices,  fifteen  hundred 
dollars  ;  Captains,  seven  hundred  dollars  ;  Assistant  Captains,  five  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  ;  Policemen,  five  hundred  dollars. 

The  Chief  of  Police  was  appointed  on  the  nineteenth  of  June,  but  so  much 
time  was  occupied  in  making  necessary  investigations  into  the  character  and  capa- 
city of  persons  nominated  for  places  in  the  department,  that  the  organization 
could  not  be  judiciously  advanced  faster  than  as  follows  : 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  June,  one  hundred  and  seventy  men  were  appoint- 
ed, consisting  of  three  officers  and  seven  men  for  each  Ward,  and,  on  the  four- 
teenth, fifteenth,  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  days  of  July,  most  of  the  six  hun- 
dred and  thirty  men  forming  the  complement  of  eight  hundred  officers  and 
men  were  also  appointed. 

The  City  Watch  was  disbanded.  The  Pirst  District,  July  15  ;  the  Sixth 
District  on  the  16th  ;  and  the  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  and  Fifth  Districts  on 
July  18.  The  City  Marshals  were  dismissed  on  the  thirty-first  of  July,  and 
on  the  first  day  of  August  the  new  law  went  into  full  ojieration,  the  Policemen 
for  the  various  Wards  being  apportioned  in  accordance  with  the  ordinance  passed 
by  the  Common  Council,  June  1 1,  1845,      follows  : 

First  Ward,  55  ;  Second  Ward,  40  ;  Third  Ward,  40  ;  Fourth  Ward,  55  ;  Fifth 
Ward,  50  ;  Sixth  Ward,  60  ;  Seventh  Ward,  60  ;  Eighth  Ward,  50  ;  Ninth 
Ward,  45 ;  Tenth  Ward,  45  ;  Eleventh  Ward,  45 ;  Twelfth  Ward,  30  ;  Thirteenth 
Ward,  45  ;  Fourteenth  Ward,  50  ;  Fifteenth  Ward,  40  ;  Sixteenth  Ward,  45  ; 
Seventeenth  Ward,  45  ;  in  the  Police  offices,  13;  in  the  City  Courts,  17;  in  the 


io6 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Chief's  office,  i ;  in  office  Commissioners  of  Alms  House,  i ;  as  Inspector  of 
Stages,  Hacks,  Cabs  and  Carts,  4;  as  Bell-ringers,  15.    Total,  851. 
The  compensation  per  annum  was  set  as  follows  : 

Chief  of  Police  $1500 

Captains,  each  S700 

First  and  Second  Assistant  Captain,  each  $55° 

Policemen  $500 

The  Mayor  was  authorized  to  prescribe  rules  and  regulations  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  force,  and  from  time  to  time  to  alter  and  amend  the  same.  Two 
persons  were  appointed  from  each  Ward  by  the  Alderman  and  Assistant  of  such 

Ward,  to  act  as  Door-keepers. 
They  were  paid  seven  dollars 
per  week  for  such  service. 

Mayor  Havemeyer  was  then 
the  .  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  - 
city,  and  he  appointed  George 
W.  Matsell  Chief  of  Police, 
a  position  which  he  held  for 
several  years. 

The  duties  of  the  following 
officers  under  the  old  system 
were  performed  by  the  Police 
Department,  which  offices  were 
abolished  when  the  new  regime 
went  into  operation  : 

One  hundred  Marshals, 
eighteen  Street  Inspectors, 
eighteen  Health  Wardens,  fifty- 
four  Fire  Wardens,  thirteen  Dock  Masters,  nine  Day  Police  Officers,  fifty  Sunday 
Officers,  sixteen  Bell-ringers,  eighteen  Hydrant  Inspectors,  five  Keepers  of  Public 
Parks,  one  Inspector  Pawnbrokers,  one  Inspector  Junk-shops,  etc.,  two  Inspectors  of 
Hacks,  two  Inspectors  of  Stages,  one  Inspector  of  Carts,  one  Superintendent  of 
Roads,  one  Superintendent  of  Lands  and  Places;  also  about  three  hundred  officers 
to  attend  the  polls  on  days  of  election;  the  whole  Watch  Department,  consisting 
of  eleven  Captains,  twenty-four  Assistant  Captains,  and  about  one  thousand  two 
hundred  Watchmen,  making  a  total  of  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-^ix. 

The  above  were  supplanted  by  the  following  force,  which  was  employed  as 
follows  :  eighteen  Captains  on  duty  at  all  times;  thirty-six  Assistant  Captains,  one 
half  on  duty  half  the  time  ;  seventy-two  Sergeants  ;  seven  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  Policemen,  of  whom  one  hundred  and  two  were  detailed  for  special  duty 
by  the  Mayor. 

This  force  wore  no  uniform,  a  star-shaped  badge,  worn  on  the  left  breast  of 
the  outer  coat,  being  their  only  insignia  of  office.  Hence  they  came  to  be  called 
"the  Star"  Police. 

The  City  was  divided  into  three  districts,  as  follows:  First  District — First, 
Second,  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth  and  Sixth  Wards;  Second  District — Eighth,  Ninth, 


Police  Captain's  Shield. 
(Star  Police.) 


OUR  rOFJCE  PROTECTORS. 


Twelfth,  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth  and  Eighteenth  Wards;  Third  District — Seventh, 
Tenth,  Eleventh,  Thirteenth,  Fourteenth  and  Seventeenth  Wards. 

In  each  of  these  districts  there  were  established  a  Police  Court  and  office. 
The  Police  office  for  the  First  District  continued  to  be  held  at  the  Halij  of 
Justice  in  Centre  Street;  for  the  Second  District  at  Jefferson  Market,  and  for  the 
Third  District  at  the  Essex  Market. 

In  1845  New  York  was  again  visited  by  a  conflagration,  second  only  in  its 
ravages  to  the  one  of  1835.  Three  hundred  and  forty-five  buildings  were  swept 
away,  their  value,  with  the  goods,  being  estimated  at  about  five  millions  of 
dollars. 

The  numl)er  of  persons  apprehended,  from  the  first  of  July  to  the  fifteenth 
of  October,  1845,  was  eleven  thousand  four  hundred  and  f(nir. 

The  list  of  Police  Districts  in  1846  was  as  follows: 
First  Ward,  or  A  District.    Franklin  Market.    Captain  William  Dill.  East 

Station,  Trinity  Place. 
Second  Ward,  or  B  District.    No.  60  Gold  Street.    Cajjtain  John  Kurtz. 
Third  Ward,  or  C  District.    No.  38  Robinson  Street,  now  Park  Place.  Captain 

Tobias  Boudinot. 

Fourth  Ward,  or  D  District.  No.  27  James  Street.  Captain  Edward  Fitzgerald. 
Fifth  Ward,  or  E  District.  No.  16  Anthony  Street.  Captain  W.  C.  Dusenbury. 
Sixth  Ward,  or  F  District.    Old  Watch  House,  Halls  of  Justice  (the  present 

Tombs).  Captain  James  McGrath.  The  entrance  was  on  Franklin  Street,  and 

the  prison  was  where  the  ten-day  prison  now  is. 
Seventh    Ward,  or  (i  District.    Corner  of  Pike  and  South  Streets,  up-stairs. 

Captain  W.  M.  Howell. 
Eighth  Ward,  or  H  District.    The  Old  Watch-house,  corner  of  Prince  and 

Wooster  Streets,  where  is  now  the  Eighth  Precinct  Station  house.  Captain 

Benjamin  P.  Fairchild. 
Ninth  Ward,  or  I  District.    Jefferson  Market,  up-stairs,  entrance  on  Greenwich 

Avenue.    Captain  James  W.  Bush. 
Tenth  Ward,  or  J  District.    Essex  Market,  up-stairs,  entrance  on  Ludlow  Street. 

Captain  John  Middleton. 
Eleventh  Ward,  or  K  District.    Union  Market,  the  i)resent  location.    In  charge 

of  a  subordinate. 

Twelfth  Ward,  or  L  District.  House  of  Detention,  or  old  Lock-up,  Harlem,  on 
site  of  ]>resent  station  house.     In  charge  of  a  subordinate. 

Thirteenth  Ward,  or  M  District.  Attorney  and  Delancey  Streets;  the  present 
station  house  is  in  part  the  old  one.    Captain  John  Tilley. 

Fourteenth  Ward,  or  N  District.  Centre  Market,  up-stairs.  Captain  David 
Kissner. 

Fifteenth  Ward,  or  O  District.    No.  650  Broadway,  Constitution  Hall.  Captain 

Nathaniel  M.  Brown. 
Sixteenth  Ward,  or  P  District.    Twentieth  Street,  between  Seventh  and  Eighth  , 

Avenues,  where  is  present  station  house.    In  charge  of  a  subordinate. 
Seventeenth  Ward,  01  Q  District.    Third  Street  and  the  Bowery.  Captain  Joseph 

Westerfield. 


io8 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  following  year,  under  Mayor  Brady,  there  were  some  changes  and  addi- 
tions, as  follows: 

Fourth  Ward,  or  D  District.    No.  31  Roosevelt  Street,  Captain  Thomas  Smith. 
Fifth  Ward,  or  E  District.    No.  48  Leonard  Street.    Captain  Ely  Perry. 
Fifteenth  Ward,  or  O  District.    No.  220  Mercer  Street.    Captain  Brown. 
Eighteenth  Ward.     Twenty-ninth  Street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth  Avenues; 

afterwards  the  Twenty-first,  Twenty-ninth  and  Twenty-fifth  precinct  station 

house.    Captain  John  W.  Brown. 

Hardly  had  the  newly-organized  force  become  familiar  with  the  changes  that 
had  taken  place  in  the  department,  when  the  legislature  (May  13,  1846)  passed  an- 
other Act  "  for  the  establishment  and  regulation  of  the  Police  of  the  City  of  New 


The  Eldridge  Street  Jail. 

(Old  Debtors'  Piison.) 

York."  The  changes  effected  thereby  may  be  briefly  enumerated  as  follows  (the 
Day  and  Night  Police  remained  as  before.)  The  force  was  not  to  exceed  nine 
hundred  men,  and  the  rank  of  Sergeant  was  created.  A  Patrol  District  was  es- 
tablished in  each  Ward,  where  a  suitable  room  was  maintained  for  the  use  of 
such  Patrol,  the  name  of  this  room  being  changed  from  District  Headquarters  to 
Police  Station  House." 

The  Patrol  of  each  District  consisted  of  one  Captain,  a  First  and  Second  As- 
sistant Captain,  two  or  more  Sergeants,  and  such  number  of  Policemen  as  the 
Common  Council  should  apportion  to  the  Ward  or  District. 

The  Captains  of  the  several  Wards  nominated  to  the  Aldermen  and  Assistant 
Aldermen  of  their  Wards  suitable  Policemen  to  perform  the  duties  of  Ser- 


OUR  POLTCF.  rROTECTORS. 


geai>*s,  not  exceeding  four  or  less  than  two  for  each  Patrol  District.  The  Chief 
held  office  for  four  years,  unless  sooner  removed  for  cause.  Policemen  were  ap- 
pointed to  office  for  two  years.  The  Common  Council,  in  determining  the  rate  of 
1  comi)ensation,  should  not,  the  legislature  declared,  exceed  the  following  sums  per 
annum  : 

Chief  of  Police,  sixteen  hundred  doll.irs;  Captains,  seven  huntlred  dollars; 
Assistant  Captains,  six  hundred  dollars;  Sergeants  and  Policemen,  five  hundred 
dollars. 

The  Police  Department  consisted  of  the  following  : 

Mayor,  Chief  of  Police  and  his  Clerk,  Special  Justices  and  their  Clerks, 
Captains  and  Assistant  Captains,  Sergeants,  Policemen,  Constables  and  Doormen. 

The  Common  Council  sul)sequently  arranged  the  compensation  of  the  per- 
sons named  above,  as  follows: 

Chief  of  Police,  sixteen  hundred  dollars;  Special  Justices,  fifteen  hundred 
dollars;  Captains,  seven  hundred  dollars;  Assistant  Captains,  six  hundred  dollars; 
Sergeants  and  Policemen,  five  hundred  dollars. 

The  Common  Council,  in  May  1846,  made  the  following  re-apportionment 
of  the  force: 

First  Ward,  59;  Second  Ward,  43;  Third  Ward,  43;  Fourth  Ward,  60; 
f  ifth  Ward,  55;  Sixth  Ward,  66;  Seventh  Ward,  63;  Eighth  Ward,  56;  Ninth 
Ward,  50;  Tenth  Ward,  48;  Eleventh  Ward,  45;  Twelfth  Ward,  33;  Thirteenth 
Ward,  48;  Fourteenth  Ward,  54;  Fifteenth  Ward,  40;  Sixteenth  Ward,  43; 
Seventeenth  Ward,  51;  Eighteenth  Ward,  43. 

The  newly  created  Eighteenth  Ward  was  joined  to  1  he  Second  Police  District. 

A  previous  ordinance  provided  for  the  refunding  to  Policemen  any  expense 
necessarily  incurred  in  bringing  to  the  station  house  on  a  cart,  any  vagrant  or 
intoxicated  person.  In  order  to  meet  this  expense.  Chief  Matsell  was  allowed 
to  draw  one  hundred  dollars  from  the  Comptroller.  He  was  also  granted  a 
certain  sum  with  which  to  meet  the  necessary  expenses  incurred  by  the  Captains 
or  Assistant  Captains  in  providing  prisoners  with  food  or  medicine. 

All  moneys  paid  for  fines  imposed  by  the  Police  Magistrates  were  received 
by  one  of  the  clerks  in  the  respective  Police  offices,  who  entered  such  fines  in  a 
book,  and  on  each  Tuesday  paid  into  the  treasury  all  the  moneys  received 
during  the  week,  accounting  for  the  same  under  oath  or  affirmation  to  the 
Comptroller. 

'J'he  Battery  is  an  open  space  at  the  southwestern  extremity  of  the  city,  sit- 
uated between  State  Street  and  the  bay.  It  is  so  called  because  part  of  its  space 
was,  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  city,  occupied  by  Fort  James,  and  much  of 
the  remainder  was  a  battery  to  strengthen  the  fort  on  the  water  side.  Military 
parades  were  frequently  held  here.  In  former  days,  when  the  Battery  was  a  fash- 
ionable pleasure  ground,  on  the  fourth  of  July,  and  other  national  holidays,  there 
was  usually  a  martial  and  brilliant  exhibition  of  the  regiments  of  artillery,  and 
the  other  uniform  troops,  upon  the  ground.  The  walk  was  open  to  all  citizens. 
Here  they  might  enjoy  the  fresh  breezes  from  the  bay  and  the  shade  of  the  trees 
every  afternoon  of  the  summer,  and  receive  refreshments.  In  still  earlier  times. 
Battery  Park  was  a  favorite  resort  for  the  old  Dutch  settlers  and  their  families. 


I  lO 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Says  Washington  Irving:  "The  old  Dutch  burghers  would  repair  of  an  afternoon 
to  smoke  their  pipes  under  the  shade  of  their  branches,  contemplating  the  golden 
sun  as  he  gradually  sunk  in  the  west,  an  emblem  of  that  tranquil  end  toward 
which  themselves  were  hastening;  while  the  young  men  and  the  damsels  of  the 
town  would  take  many  a  moonlight  stroll  among  these  favorite  haunts,  watch mg 
the  chaste  Cynthia  tremble  along  the  calm  bosom  of  the  bay,  or  light  up  the  white 
sail  of  some  gliding  bark,  and  interchanging  the  honest  vows  of  constant  affection. 
Such  was  the  origin  of  the  renowned  walk,  the  Battery,  which,  though  ostensibly 
devoted  to  the  purposes  of  war,  has  ever  been  consecrated  to  the  sweet  delights 
of  peace." 

Nor  was  the  enchantment  of  this  scene  confined  to  the  time  of  the  Knicker- 
bockers.   As  represented  by  the  accompanying  engraving,  from  a  rare  old  print, 

the  Battery,  in  com- 
paratively modem 
times,  drew  within 
its  precincts,  by  a 
more  irresistible  at- 
traction, the  young 
men  and  maidens  of 
a  by-gone  generation. 
"The  favorite  walk 
of  declining  age;  the 
healthful  resort  of 
the  feeble  invalid; 
the  Sunday  refresh- 
ment of  the  dusty 
tradesman;  the  scene 
of  many  a  boyish 
gambol;  the  rendez- 
vous of  many  a  ten- 
the  ornament  of  New  York,  and  the 


Bellevue  Hospital,  (1850). 


der  assignation;  the  comfort  of  the  citizen; 
pride  of  the  lovely  island  of  Manhattan,"— such  was  the  encomium  bestowed 
upon  it  by  an  enthusiastic  writer.  In  view  of  the  present  uses  of  Battery  Park, 
this  is  very  melancholy  reading:  it  sounds  like  an  obituary. 

Mayor  Brady,  in  his  annual  message,  May  ii,  1847,  stated  that  the  new 
Police  system  had  "failed  to  meet  the  just  expectations  of  the  community,",and 
recommended  to  the  Common  Council  the  propriety  of  memorializing  the 
legislature  to  abolish  the  then  Police  force,  "  which  affords  so  little  protection  to 
citizens  and  their  property,  more  especially  at  night,"  and  suggested  the 
advisability  of  the  establishment  of  a  Night-watch  to  consist  of  one  thousand 
two  hundred  men,  or  a  virtual  return  to  the  old  Watch  system.  He  estimated  that, 
allowing  to  the  Night-watch  the  sum  of  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per 
night,  the  expense  of  maintaining  such  an  establishment  would  be  less  annually 
by  upwards  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  while  additional  security  at  night 
would  be  insured  from  the  increased  number  of  men  on  duty,  "and  all  the 
duties  of  Dav  Police  would  be  as  efficiently  performed  as  now." 


OUR  Por.rcE  protectors. 


1 1 1 


The  Chief  of  Police  reported  to  the  Board  of  Aldermen  that  although  the 
nominal  force  of  the  Police,  under  his  control,  comprised  nine  hundred  men, 
there  were  hut  six  hundred  and  fifty  fit  for  ordinary  duty,  and  that  during  the 
three  months  ending  January  3 1,  1847,  the  a^^tual  loss  of  service  of  Policemen 
from  sickness  and  suspensions  amounted  to  six  thousand  one  hundred  and 
seventy-two  days,  being  an  average  of  sixty-seven  men  each  day;  and  as  there 
were  forty-two  men  on  day  stations  who  did  not  ])erform  duty  during  the  night, 
the  number  actually  available  for  night  service  could  only  be  five  hundred  and 
sixty-one  men,  but  one-half  of  whom  were  on  duty  at  a  time.  This  system, 
notwithstanding,  was  sujjportcd  at  an  annual  expense  of  four  hundred  and 
seveiit\  -nine  thousand  dollars  for  salaries  only. 

'The  change  did  not  seem  to  work  well.  There  were  still  grumblings  and 
discontent.  The  force  at  this  time,  it  was  admitted  on  all  hands,  was  a  long  way 
from  being  "  the  finest  in  the  world."  An  opinion  prevailed  that  it  would  have 
been  far  better  for  the  pu!)lic  at  large  to  have  left  things  as  they  had  been.  In 
fact  there  was  a  cry  for  a  return  to  the  old  Watch  system.  Chief  Matsell  came  to 
the  front  in  vindication  of  his  command,  and  by  a  comparison  of  the  systems,  tried 
to  make  it  apj)ear  that  the  one  of  which  he  was  at  the  head  was  by  far  the  super- 
ior of  the  two.  He  (pioted  figures  to  prove  that  while  the  old  Night-watch 
employed  more  men,  they  did  not  afford  as  good  Police  protection  as  the  force 
that  had  succeeded  it.  But  this  did  not  diminish  the  popular  discontent,  and 
the  cry  continued  for  a  change  in  the  law. 

Mayor  Havemeyer,  in  his  annual  message,  stated  that  "  the  defect  which  was 
most  prominent  in  the  system  was  the  appointment  of  Policemen  for  a  single 
year."  Their  term  of  office  being  the  same  with  that  of  the  Aldermen,  Assistants 
and  Assessors,  who  appointed  them,  there  was  danger,  the  Mayor  thought,  that 
the  whole  system  would  be  involved  in  the  incessant  strifes  and  annual  changes 
of  parties,  and  its  agents  precluded  from  the  experience  and  independence 
which  were  indispensable  to  their  usefulness.  "  This  evil,  if  it  were  to  continue, 
constituted,"  the  Mayor  said,  "  a  strong  objection  to  the  plan,  but  might  be 
remedied  by  the  legislature  extending  the  time  of  appointment." 

Acting  upon  the  Mayor's  suggestions,  the  Committee  on  Police,  etc., 
recommended  that  application,  in  the  usual  form,  be  made  to  the  legislature  for 
the  passage  of  an  Act  amending  the  Police  Acts,  passed  May,  1844,  and  1846. 

As  opposed  to  this  attack  on  the  new  regime,  a  minority  report  of  the 
Committee  on  Police,  Watch  and  Prisons,  undertook  to  vindicate  the  existing  Police 
force,  and  denounced  the  effort  that  was  being  made  to  restore  the  old  Watch 
Department,  together  with  Day  Policemen  and  Marshals.  "  If  we  adopt  the  Watch 
Department  as  recommended,"  ((pioting  from  the  minority  report  aforesaid)  "we 
virtually  re-establish  the  old  system,  with  all  its  objectionable  features  of  fees, 
inefficiency  and  corruption.  We  sacrifice  all  the  advantages  of  experience 
concentrated  in  the  Police,  and  which  has  been  attained  by  close,  constant  and 
long  continued  application;  we  invite,  again,  the  disorder,  riot  and  crime,  that 
formerly  prevailed  here,  and  which  still  disgrace  the  cities  of  Baltimore  and 
Philadelphia.  The  influences  which  now  restrain  the  young  from  the  com- 
mission of  crime,  and  detect  the  hardened  offender,  will  be  withdrawn,  and 


112 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


scenes  of  personal  violence  and  outrage,  in  the  several  Wards  of  the  city, 
remain  unrebuked  and  unpunished."  For  these  reasons  it  was  concluded  that 
the  unconditional  repeal  of  the  law  would  be  "  replete  with  danger  to  the  best 
interests  of  society,  and  in  violation  of  enlightened  public  opinion." 

The  Franklin  House,  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  city,  stood  on  the 
corner  of  Cherry  Street  and  Franklin  S([uare.  It  M-as  built  by  Walter  Franklin. 
This  dwelling  was  selected  as  the  official  residence  of  President  Washington,  in 
1790.    The  engraving  represents  this  historic  mansion  as  it  appeared  in  1850. 

Provision  was  made,  on  July  16,  1847,  for  placing  cots  in  station  houses  for 
the  accommodation  of  lost  children.  On  the  seventh  of  September  following,  three 
rooms  were  set  apart  for  the  occupancy  of  persons  not  committed  for  a  criminal 
offense.  In  November  the  pay  of  Doormen  was  increased  from  seven  dollars 
a  week  to  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  day.     On  the  thirteenth  of 


Washington's  Residence — Franklin  House,  head  of  Cherry  Street,  in  1790, 
as  it  appeared  in  1850. 

January  of  the  succeeding  year  the  Common  Council  directed  that  two  physicians 
he  employed  at  a  salary  of  one  hundred  dollars  each  per  year.  One  of  these 
physicians  was  stationed  at  Essex  Market,  and  the  other  at  Jefferson  Market. 

The  expense  of  cleaning  the  city  prison,  and  the  employment  of  persons'  for 
that  purpose,  while  prisoners  were  idling  their  time  in  cells,  aroused  the 
indignation  of  the  city  fathers,  and  they  directed  that  the  keepers  of  the  prison 
should  select  five  inmates  daily,  and  compel  them  to  do  the  chores. 

The  law  was  changed  by  act  of  the  legislature  (March  30,  1848)  "  in  relation 
to  Justices  and  Police  Courts  in  the  City  of  New  York,"  by  a  division  of  the  city 
into  six  Judicial  Districts,  a  Justice  to  be  elected  in  each  district,  the  abolish- 
ment of  the  office  of  Assistant  and  Special  Justices,  and  the  election  of  six  Po- 
lice Justices  to  serve  for  four  years. 

The  ordinance  which  divided  the  city  into  three  districts  (June  16,  1845) 
was  amended  on  May  6,  1848,  by  the  addition  of  a  Fourth  District,  as  follows; 


OUR  POrJCF.  PROTECTORS. 


^'3 


First  f)istrict — First,  Second,  'I'hird,  Fourth,  Fifth,  and  Sixth  Wards  ;  Second 
District — Eighth,  Ninth,  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  Wards  ;  Third  District — Seventh 
Tenth,  Eleventh,  Thirteenth  and  Fourteenth  Wards  ;  l''oiirth  District — Twelfth 
Seventeenth,  and  Eighteenth  Wards. 

In  each  of  the  foregoing  districts  there  were  established  a  Police  Court  and 
office.  The  business  of  the  Police  offices  already  established  in  the  Halls  of 
Justice,  Centre  Street,  at  Jefferson  Market,  and  at  Essex  Market,  continued  to  be 
conducted  there,  until  otherwise  directed  by  the  Common  Council.  The  Police 
office  for  the  Fourth  District,  newly  created,  was  located  at  the  Police  station 
house  in  the  Eighteenth  Ward. 

A  stjuad  of  nine  Policemen  was  detailed  at  Chief  Matsell's  office  in  the 
basement  of  the  City  Hall,  to  act  as  Inspectors  of  Stages,  of  Carts,  of  Hacks, 
Junk-shojjs,  and  Pawnbrokers. 

Day  stations  of  Policemen  were  designated  "where  citizens  in  the  neighl)or- 
hood  of  the  stations  who  recjuirc  the  services  of  a  Policeman,  can  always  find 
one  on  duty,  from  sunrise  to  sunset."  One  such  station  was  established  in  each 
Ward.  Fourteen  Policemen  were  detailed  as  Bell-ringers  at  the  several  district 
fire  alarm  bells,  while  others  were  detailed  for  special  duty  at  the  various  Courts, 
namely.  Courts  of  Ceneral  and  Special  Sessions,  Circuit  Court,  Common  Pleas, 
Superior  Court,  and  Marine  Court.  Others  again  were  detailed  as  Street  Inspectors 


and  Dock  Masters. 

Tlie  station  houses  were  located  at  the  following  places: 

First  Ward,  Franklin  Market,  up  stairs,  whole  force   59 

Second  Ward,  60  Gold  Street,  whole  force   43 

Third  Ward,  38  Rol)inson  Street,  whole  force   43 

Fourth  Ward,  31  Roosevelt  Street,  whole  force   60 

Fifth  Ward,  48  Leonard  Street,  whole  force   55 

Sixth  Ward,  station  house  (Tombs),  whole  force   66 

Seventh  Ward,  Pike  and  South  Streets,  whole  force   63 

Eighth  Ward,  Prince  and  Wooster  Streets,  whole  force   56 

Ninth  Ward,  Jefferson  Market,  whole  force   50 

Tenth  Ward,  Essex  Market,  whole  force   48 

Eleventh  Ward,  Union  Market,  whole  force   45 

Twelfth  Ward,  House  of  Detention,  Harlem,  Bloomingdale  and 

Yorkville,  whole  force   33 

Thirteenth  Ward,  Attorney  and  Delancey  Streets,  whole  force.  .  48 

Fourteenth  Ward,  Centre  Market,  whole  force   54 

Fifteenth  Ward,  220  Mercer  Street,  whole  force   54 

Sixteenth  Ward,  Twentieth  Street,  between  Seventh  and  Eighth 

Avenues,  whole  force   43 

Seventeenth  Ward,  Third  Street  and  Powery,  whole  force....  51 
Eighteenth  Ward,  Twenty-ninth  Street,  between  Fourth  and 

Fifth  Avenues,  while  force   43 


A  squad  of  Police  were  detailed  as  Bell-ringers  at  the  several  district  fire  alarm 
bells,  namely.  City  Hall  Cupola,  three  men;  Central  Market  Cupola,  nine  men;  Jef- 
ferson Market  Cupola,  three  men;  Eighth  District  Station  House  Cupola,  two  men; 
Tenth  District  Station  House  Cupola,  three  men.  Besides  these  there  were  the 
following  details:  two  Scriveners  at  the  office  of  Chief  of  Police;  two  Insjiectors  of 
Stages;  two  Inspectors  of  Hacks;  one  Inspector  of  Pawnbrokers;  one  Inspector 


114 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


of  Junk-shops  and  Second-hand  Dealers;  one  man  to  the  office  of  the  Commis- 
sioner of  the  Alms  House;  and  one  Physician,  who  was  also  appointed  a  Police- 
man. There  were  also  other  details,  as  follows:  nine  Policemen  to  the  Courts  of 
General  and  Special  Sessions;  four  to  the  Circuit  Court;  five  to  the  Common 
Pleas;  five  to  the  Superior  Court;  one  to  the  Marine  Court.  Policemen  were 
detailed  as  Street  Inspectors  of  the  various  Wards,  and  one  Policeman  as  Dock 
Master,  for  each  of  the  following  Wards:  First,  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Seventh, 
Eighth,  Ninth. 

The  first  set  of  printed  rules  and  regulations  issued  to  the  force  was  in 
September,  1848.  They  were  drafted  by  Chief  Matsell  and  William  McKellar, 
who  was  Matsell's  chief  clerk,  and,  generally  speaking,  "guide,  philosopher  and 
friend."  These  rules  and  regulations  made  up  a  handy  little  book  of  about 
ninety  pages.  When  issued,  it  was  received  with  amazement  and  alarm  by  the 
men.  The  inscription  on  the  fly-leaf  of  one  of  these  books,  now  in  the 
possession  of  Captain  Bennett,  and  evidently  written  by  the  particular  Policeman 
to  whom  it  originally  belonged,  is  as  follows:  "A  policeman  would  not  live  one 
year  if  he  acted  up  to  these  regulations."  This  sentiment  voices  the  opinion  of 
the  whole  force  whom  the  book  was  designed  to  instruct  in  their  duty.  And  yet 
this  little  primer  looks  very  simple  and  easy  contrasted  with  the  complicated, 
voluminous,  and  formidable  digest  of  the  laws  contained  in  the  present  manual. 

Mayor  Havemeyer,  in  a  preface  to  this  book  of  rules  and  regulations,  says: 
"  To  this  department,  the  most  important  of  our  city  government,  is  intrusted 
the  interest  of  the  whole  community — the  safety  of  their  persons,  the  security  of 
their  property,  and  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the  city." 

The  instructions  cannot  be  mentioned  but  quite  briefly.  Each  member 
of  the  department  was  obliged  to  wear  the  emblem  of  his  office  on  the 
outside  of  the  outermost  garment  over  the  left  breast.  Members  of  the  force 
should,  when  on  duty,  conspicuously  display  their  star  (shield)  or  emblem  of 
office.  The  Captain  of  each  Patrol  District  divided  the  Policemen  of  his  district 
into  two  equal  parts,  to  be  known  as  the  first  and  second  platoon,  which  were 
commanded  respectively  by  the  first  and  second  Assistant  Captains.  The 
Captain  also  divided  his  district  into  night  and  day  beats,  and  designated  the 
Policemen  who  were  to  patrol  the  same;  and,  in  like  manner,  established  two  or 
more  day  stations,  in  order  that  citizens  might  at  all  times  during  the  day 
obtain  the  aid  of  Policemen  when  needed.  The  beats  and  stations  were 
numbered.  At  any  alarm  of  fire  it  was  the  duty  of  Captains  nearest  the  scene 
of  tlie  conflagration  forthwith  to  proceed  to  the  same  with  one  half  the  number 
of  their  Policemen  off  duty,  and  to  be  diligent  in  preserving  order  and  protecting 
property.  A  similar  course  should  be  adopted  by  the  Captain  in  case  of  riot, 
which  he  should  use  due  vigilance  in  suppressing. 

The  prevention  of  crime  being  the  most  important  object  in  view,  a 
Policeman's  exertions,  the  rules  maintained,  should  be  constantly  used  to 
accomplish  that  end;  and  by  his  vigilance,  to  render  it  extremely  difficult  for 
any  one  to  commit  crime  on  his  beat. 

In  1849  an  amended  charter  was  granted  to  the  city,  by  which  the  day  of 
the  charter  election  was  changed  from  the  second  Tuesday  in  April  to  the  day 


OUR  rOIJCE  PROTECTORS. 


"5 


of  tl»e  general  State  election  in  November,  the  term  of  office  to  commence  on 
the  first  Monday  of  the  ensuing  January.  By  the  provisions  of  this  charter,  which 
was  to  take  effect  on  the  first  of  June,  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  were  to 
hold  their  offices  for  two  years,  while  the  Assistant  Aldermen  were  to  be  elected 
annually,  as  before.  The  city  at  this  time  consisted  of  eighteen  Wards,  an  addi- 
tional one  having  been  created  in  1845.  Another  was  added  in  11851,  and  the 
number  was  increased  to  twenty  during  the  course  of  the  following  )  ear. 

'i  he  act  of  May  13,  1846,  was  amended  on  Aj)ril  11,  1849,  but  the  changes 
thereby  effected  were  not  of  a  radical  nature.  The  tenure  of  office  of  the 
Chief  of  Police  was  made  the  same  as  that  of  the  Mayor,  and  for  thirty  days 
thereafter.  The  tenure  of  office  of  Captains,  Assistant  Captains,  and  Policemen, 
was  changed  from  two  years  to  four  years,  from  the  date  of  their  appointment. 
The  section  which  referred  to  the  compensation  of  Policemen  was  not  affected 


Astor  Place  Riot. 


by  the  amendment  further  than  that  their  pay  should  not  be  increased  or 
diminished  during  the  time  for  which  they  were  appointed. 

The  Astor  Place  riot,  in  this  year,  grew  out  of  the  rivalries  and  jealousies 
of  two  tragedians  of  different  nationalities:  Edwin  Forrest  an  American,  and 
James  Macready,  an  Englishman.  Each  actor  was  filling  a  short  engagement  at 
different  theatres  in  the  citv.  To  protect  Mr.  Macreadv,  who  was  threatened  with 
mob  violence,  a  strong  force  of  Police  was  stationed  within  the  Astor  Place  Opera 
House,  and  another  force  of  Police  and  military  were  put  on  guard  outside.  The 
destruction  of  the  building  was  threatened,  and  the  lives  of  those  within  were 
consequently  endangered.  The  audience  and  Police  alike  were  hemmed  in  and 
could  not  get  out.  The  mob  was  growing  in  numbers  and  desperation  rapidly.  In 
this  emergency  the  military  guard  delivered  their  first  volley  of  shotted  musketry 
into  the  mob,  killing  twenty-two  and  wounding  forty. 

Chief  Matsell,  in  his  c^uarterly  report,  Ajjril,  1849,  g^ive  utterance  to  this 
sentiment: 


ii6 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


"It  affords  me  pleasure  to  be  able  to  state  that  the  discipline  of  the 
department  has  been  steadily  improving  during  the  past  year;  and  it  may  be 
fairly  anticipated  that,  under  the  operations  of  the  amended  law,  the  department 
will  become  what  its  original  projectors  intended  it  should  be — an  efficient 
organization  for  the  prevention  and  detection  of  crime." 

The  whole  number  of  arrests  made  from  the  first  organization  of  the  Police 
Department,  July  15,  1845,      December  31,  1850,  was  as  follows: 


Arson   87 

Assault  with  intent  to  kill   490 

Assault  and  battery   13,896 

Assault  and  interfering  with  Policemen   733 

Attempt  at  rape   82 

Attempt  to  steal   545 

Attempt  at  burglary   157 

Aiding  and  assisting  to  escape   212 

Abandonment   336 

Burglary   751 

Bigamy   66 

Bastardy   187 

Constructive  larceny   171 

Disorderly  conduct   20,252 

Deserters   316 

Driving  without  license   184 

Embezzlement   75 

Escaped  convicts   303 

Forgery   89 

Felony   159 

Fraud   i  o  i 

Fighting  in  the  street   1,987 

Gambling   435 

Grand  larceny   2,055 

Insanity   1,484 

Intoxication                                                                 .  36,675 

Intoxication  and  disorderly  conduct   29,190 

Indecent  exposure  . ,   35 1 

Insulting  females  in  the  street   138 

Keeping  disorderly  houses   228 

Miscellaneous  misdemeanors  and  felonies   4,039 

Murder   64 

Obtaining  goods  by  false  pretences   240 

Petit  larceny   I4,454 

Pickpockets   215 

Passing  counterfeit  money   425 

Perjury   29 

Rape   68 

Robbery  in  first  degree   169 

Receiving  stolen  goods   183 

Runaway  apprentices   175 

Selling  si)irituous  liquor  without  license   39 

Threatening  life   189 

Vagrancy   ii,347 

Violation  of  corporation  ordinances   i,093 

Grand  total   144,364 


OUR  POLICE  PKOTECTORS. 


"7 


^  The  total  number  of  persons  apprehended  from  the  first  day  of  May,  1848, 
to  the  thirtieth  day  of  April,  1849,  inclusive,  was  twenty-five  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  sixty-nine. 

'The  effective  force  on  the  first  day  of  May,  1849,  ^^'^^  eight  hundred  and 
eighty-nine,  to  wit:  Captains,  seventeen;  Assistant  Captains,  thirty-six;  Sergeants, 
seventy-four;  and  Policemen,  seven  hundred  and  sixty-two. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  185  i,  the  effective  force  of  the  Police  was  eight 
hundred  and  ninety-three,  namely:  Captains,  eighteen;  Assistant  Captains, 
thirty-six;  Sergeants,  seventy;  Policemen,  seven  hundred  and  sixty-nine. 


The  Police  station  houses  were  located  as  follows: 

First  Patrol  District  Trinity  Place,  whole  force   60 

Second  Patrol  District,  70  Heekman  Street,  whole  force   41 

Third  Patrol  District,  35  Barclay  Street,  whole  force   50 

Fourth  Patrol  District,  9  Oak  Street,  whole  force   55 

Fifth  Patrol  District,  48  Leonard  Street,  whole  force   56 

Sixth  Patrol  District,  the  '!"oml)S,  whole  force   57 

Seventh  Patrol  District,  Pike  and  South  Streets,  whole  force.  .  .  64 

Eighth  I'atrol  District,  Prince  and  Wooster  Streets,  whole  force  57 

Ninth  Patrol  District,  Jefferson  Market,  whole  force   51 

Tenth  Patrol  District,  Essex  Market,  whole  force   48 

Eleventh  Patrol  District,  Union  Market,  whole  force   48 

Twelfth  Patrol  District,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Street, 

between  Third  and  Fourth  A\enues,  whole  force   31 

Thirteenth  Patrol  District,   Attorney  and  Delancey  Streets, 

whole  force   49 

Fourteenth  Patrol  District,  Centre  Market,  whole  force   51 

Fifteenth  Patrol  District,  220  Mercer  Street,  whole  force   45 

Sixteenth  Patrol  District,  Twentieth  Street,  between  Seventh 

and  Eighth  Avenues,  whole  force   52 

Seventeenth  Patrol  District,  Bowery  and  Third  Streets,  whole 

force   54 

Eighteenth  Patrol  District,  Twenty-ninth  Street,  between  Fourth 

and  Fifth  Avenues,  whole  force   47 

Nineteenth  Patrol  District,  Eighth  Avenue,  near  Forty-eighth 

Street,  whole  force   40 


An  ordinance  (August  18,  185  i)  increased  the  salary  of  the  officials  herein- 
after named,  as  follows:  Captains,  eight  hundred  dollars;  Assistant  Captains,  seven 
hundred  dollars;  Sergeants  and  Patrolmen,  six  hundred  dollars  i)er  annum.  Ordi- 
nances of  minor  importance  followed.  One  of  these  authorized  the  appointment  of 
thirty-seven  Policemen  in  the  Nineteenth  Ward;  and  another  the  appointment 
of  two  Doormen  in  each  of  the  station  houses  of  the  Twelfth  and  Nineteenth 
Wards.  Still  another  ordinance  (January  15,  1852)  appointed  fifty-three  Police- 
men to  the  Twentieth  Ward,  in  addition  to  the  Captain  and  First  and  Second 
Assistant  Captains. 

The  legislature  (July  11,  185 1)  amended  that  section  of  the  charter  of  '.849 
which  referred  to  Police  matters. 

The  amendment  in  question  declared  that  should  the  Mayor  neglect  or  re- 
fuse to  nominate  the  Chief  of  Police  for  five  days  after  the  commencement  of 
the  sessions  of  the  Common  Council,  held  in  August,  1851,  it  became  the  duty  of 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  to  appoint  such  officer  forthwith.    In  like  manner,  in 


ii8 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


case  the  Mayor  had  made  such  nomination,  and  that  it  was  rejected  by  the 
Common  Council,  that  body  had  power  to  appoint  such  ofificer,  provided  that  five 
days  of  any  such  session  had  elapsed  without  another  nomination  having  been 
made  by  the  Mayor. 

During  the  six  months  from  the  first  day  of  July  to  the  thirty-first  day  of 
December,  1852,  there  were  arrested  by  the  Police  nineteen  thousand  nine  hun- 
dred and  ninety-one  persons  for  various  offences;  being  one  thousand  four  hun- 
dred and  forty-eight  more  than  were  arrested  during  the  corresponding  period  of 
185 1.  During  the  first  part  of  the  year  1852  offences  against  the  person  became 
of  such  frequent  occurrence  that  peaceable  citizens  became  alarmed,  and  were 
afraid  to  venture  beyond  their  domiciles  after  a  certain  hour  in  the  evening;  while 
it  was  evident  that  many  of  the  Policemen  were  careless,  if  not  indolent,  and 
rather  preferred  to  turn  away  from  places  where  they  were  likely  to  get  hard  us- 
age and  but  little  honor,  than  to  interfere  with  evil  disposed  persons.  To  remedy 
this,  the  Mayor  had  directed  the  whole  Police  force  to  be  placed  on  duty  during 
the  day  and  night,  which  had,  in  part,  the  desired  effect,  as  it  was  soon  manifest 
that  there  was  an  increased  watchfulness  and  care  on  the  part  of  the  force,  and 
the  order  was  then  revoked. 

At  the  November  election  of  1852,  Jacob  A.  Westervelt  was  elected  Mayor. 
During  the  ensuing  session  of  the  legislature,  the  city  charter  was  again  amend- 
ed in  some  important  particulars,  among  which  was  the  institution  of  a  Board  of 
Councilmen,  composed  of  sixty  members,  to  be  chosen  respectively  from  the 
sixty  districts  into  which  the  Common  Council  was  directed  to  apportion  the 
city,  in  the  place  of  the  long-standing  Board  of  Assistant  Aldermen. 

Of  nine  hundred  and  three  Policemen,  composing  the  entire  force  of  the  city, 
one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  were,  on  March  17,  1853,  detailed  to  do  special 
duty  at  the  various  civic  courts,  police  courts,  court  of  sessions,  bell  tower,  etc., 
leaving  but  seven  hundred  and  twenty-five  to  watch  and  guard  the  entire  county 
of  New  York,  being  about  an  average  of  thirty-six  men  to  each  district  during 
the  night.  One  half  of  this  number,  say  eighteen,  were  on  duty,  while  the  other 
half  were  sleeping  in  the  station-houses;  so  that  one  man  had  to  watch  from 
nine  to  fifteen  blocks,  according  to  the  size  of  the  district.  Should  any  of  them 
be  taken  sick,  then  the  size  of  the  beat  was  increased;  so  that  it  was  claimed  it 
was  impossible  for  the  men  to  prevent  crime  or  detect  offenders  as  they  should 
have  done,  even  though  they  had  exercised  unwonted  vigilance. 

The  system  of  detailment,  it  was  found,  had  grown  to  be  an  evil  of  great  and 
increasing  magnitude,  alike  unjust  to  the  citizens  and  to  the  members  of  the  Police 
Department.  The  larger  part  of  those  detailed  hud  but  light  duties  to  i)erform, 
when  compared  with  those  on  patrol  duty,  while  on  the  other  hand  on  detailed 
men  arduous  duties  were  imposed,  keeping  them  employed  during  the  day  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  night,  and  yet  all  were  included  under  one  head  by  the  existing 
ordinances,  and  received  one  hundred  dollars  less  than  the  Patrolmen.  Under  this 
system  there  had  been  no  reward  for  merit,  and  tlie  Policeman  who  could  obtain 
the  greatest  number  of  influential  friends  to  intercede  for  him  could  procure  a 
berth  where  he  might  spend  his  time  in  comparative  ease  and  idleness,  while  his 
less  fortunate  comrade,  who  had  performed  his  duty  zealously,  and  with  a  con- 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


119 


scfentious  regard  for  the  oath  he  liad  taken,  received  no  honor,  no  favor,  and  was 
not  advanced,  simply  because  he  liad  no  influential  friends  to  advocate  his  claim. 
Thus  the  incentive  to  do  right  and  perform  duty  with  cheerfulness  was  removed, 
and  all  experience  has  demonstrated  the  necessity  of  an  incentive  to  induce  men 
to  push  forward  with  active  exertion  in  any  pursuit  of  life  which  they  might  have 
undertaken;  and  while  none  existed  in  the  Police  Department,  it  could  not  he 
expected  that  the  men  would  i)erform  any  greater  amount  of  duties  than  they 
were  absolutely  compelled  to  perform  by  the  vigilance  of  their  superior  officers, 
by  which  continual  strife  was  kept  up  between  the  officers  and  Policemen.  Ill- 
feelings  M  ere  engendered,  which  soon  ri[)ened  into  the  bitterest  hatred  and  enmi- 
ty, and  which  were  carried  out  of  the  department  into  the  private  walks  of  life. 

These  or  similar  views  were  held  and  expressed  by  Chief  Matsell,  who  also 
claimed  that  if  promotions  to  posts  of  honor  and  profit  were  tlie  reward  of 
merit,  it  would  be  an  incentive  for  each  man  to  endeavor  to  surpass  his  peers  in 
watchfulness  and  in  the  fidelity  with  which  he  would  discharge  his  duty  to  the 
public.  By  doing  so,  he  would  be  making  consistent  and  honest  efforts  to 
advance  his  own  interests,  and  thereby  the  public  interests  would  be  far  better 
served,  citizens  would  be  fully  protected  in  their  persons  and  property,  and  the 
character  of  the  city  enhanced. 

These  views,  it  would  api)ear,  are  no  less  sound  at  the  present  day  than  they 
were  at  the  time  in  question. 


1 20 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


CPAPTER  VI. 


APPOINTMENT  OF  A  BOARD  OF  POLICE  COMMISSIONERS. 


1853-1857. 


Ex-SUPERIMTENDENT  WaLLING.  HiS  LoNG  AND  HONORABLE  CONNECTION  WITH 

THE  Department. — Charter  oe  1853. — Re-organizing  the  Police  Force. 
— Tenure  of  Office  to  remain  during  Good  Behavior. — The  Recorder, 
City  Judge,  and  Mayor  appointed  as  a  Co.mmission. — A  Reserve  Corps 
Established. — An  Improvement  in  the  Efficiency  of  the  Force. — Intro- 
duction OF  a  Police  Uniform. — Hostility  thereto. — The  "  Star  "  Police. 
— Efforts  made  to  Induce  the  Men  to  Wear  the  Uniform. — Judgment 
speedily  rendered  in  Trial  Cases. — Beneficial  Effects. — Appointment 
of  a  Drill  Sergeant. — Salaries  Increased. — Tables  of  Arrests. — 
Sanitary  Matters. 


EORGE  WASHINGTON  WALLING,  ex-Superintendent  of  our  New  York 


Police,  was  born  in  Keyport,  Monmouth  County,  N.  J.,  a  small  village  on 
Raritan  Bay,  about  twenty-four  miles  from  New  York  city,  on  the  first  of  May,  1823. 
He  attended  school  in  his  native  town  for  a  short  time,  but  was  obliged,  like  a  large 
number  of  the  Police  Captains,  to  work  very  hard  for  his  living  while  he  was  yet 
quite  a  boy.  He  was  first  employed  on  a  farm,  and  then  on  the  boats  which  plied 
between  Keyport  and  New  York.  He  joined  the  force  on  the  twenty-second  of 
December,  1 847,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Third  Precinct.  Patrolman  Walling  soon 
had  an  opportunity  of  showing  the  kind  of  material  he  was  made  of.  A  party  of 
boisterous  young  men  were  one  night  coming  down  Broadway,  making  night  hid- 
eous with  their  shouting  and  blasphemy.  They  were  partially  intoxicated.  Among 
their  number  was  William  Harrington,  who  was  considered  to  be  one  of  the 
toughest  men  in  New  York.  "Gentlemen,"  said  Patrolman  Walling,  "you  must 
stop  that  noise;  people  are  in  bed  and  must  not  be  disturbed."  "  Why,  there  are 
six  of  us  here  ;  how  are  you  going  to  make  us  be  quiet,"  was  the  answer  of  one 
of  the  young  bloods.  "  Well,  now,  see  here,"  said  Walling,"!  am  here  to  do 
my  duty,  and  I  shall  try  and  arrest  some  of  you  at  least  if  you  do  not  go  on  your 
v^ay  quietly."  Harrington  was  so  taken  aback  by  the  officer's  coolness  and  de- 
termination that  he  separated  himself  from  his  gang  and  said,  "  By  G — ,  I  will 
help  you."  The  young  men,  seeing  that  Walling  was  not  to  be  trifled  with,  pro- 
ceeded quietly  on  their  way. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  September,  1853,  he  was  appointed  Captain  and  assigned  to 
the  Eiglileenth  Ward.  He  retained  his  position  of  Captain  when  the  Metropol- 
itan Police  was  established.    Fernando  Wood,  who  at  this  time  was  Mayor. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


I  2  I 


refused  to  recognize  the  change  from  the  Municipal  to  the  Metropolitan  Police, 
and  a  warrant  was  issued  for  his  arrest.  A  detachment  of  the  force  was  sent 
down  to  the  City  Hall  to  serve  the  warrant,  but  when  the  Police  arrived 
they  found  the  place  in  the  hands  of  Mayor  Wood's  partisans.  A  struggle  fol- 
lowed and  some  hard  knocks  were  exchanged,  but  finally  Wood's  men  beat  back 
the  Police  and  remained  masters  of  the  situation.  Meantime  tlie  warrant  had 
not  been  served  on  Mayor  Wood.  In  this  emergency  the  Commissioners  asked 
Capt.  Walling  if  he  would  serve  the  warrant  on  the  Mayor.  "Where  is  the  war- 
rant ?"  said  Walling.  "  Here  it  is."  "Well,  then,  I  will  serve  it."  And  Captain 
Walling  walked  ([uietly  down  to  the. City  Hall  alone  and  unassisted,  .and  served 
the  warrant  on  Mayor  Wood. 

During  the  ([uarantine  riots  Captain  Walling  was  sent  down  to  Staten  Island 
with  one  hundred  men,  where  he  discharged  his  duties  in  such  an  admirable 
manner  that  he  was  accorded  official  j)raise. 

On  his  return  to  the  city,  he  was  jjlaced  in  charge  of  the  Fourth  Precinct, 
where  there  was  a  good  deal  of  crime.  His  administration  of  this  district  had  a 
salutary  effect  on  the  lawbreakers.  He  was  subsequently  transferred  to  the 
Sixth  Precinct,  and,  after  serving  there  some  time,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
Detective  force  at  headquarters,  where  his  services  were  found  very  \  aluable.  He 
was  appointed  Inspector  on  the  twenty-lirst  of  November,  1866.  Eight  years  after 
this  Mr.  Walling  attained  the  highest  i)osition  on  the  force;  he  was  made  Super- 
intendent of  the  Metropolitan  Police — a  position  which  his  ability,  integritv  and 
strict  attention  to  duty  well  entitle  him  to  hold. 

One  episode  in  particular  in  the  official  career  of  Superintendent  Walling 
deserves  more  than  passing  mention,  as  it  served  to  bring  him  into  notorietv  as  a 
bright,  brave,  astute  officer,  and  was,  perhaps,  the  beginning  of  his  success. 

In  1848  he  was  detailed  for  duty  at  the  Tombs,  along  with  an  officer  named 
Shadbolt.  About  this  time  occurred  the  celebrated  case  known  as  "  the  Button 
Case."  A  number  of  burglaries  had  been  committed  for  several  weeks,  on 
Saturday  nights,  in  Maiden  Lane  and  John  Streets.  John  Reed,  a  detective,  was 
detailed  to  investigate  these  burglaries,  and,  in  the  course  of  his  labors,  he  dis- 
covered a  clotii  button  on  the  floor  of  one  of  the  stores  that  had  been  entered  by 
burglars.  Detective  Reed,  in  the  absence  of  any  other  clew,  clutched  at  the 
button  as  eagerly  as  a  drowning  man  would  at  a  straw.  The  button  was  of  a 
peculiar  pattern,  and  was  only  used  on  certain  kind  of  coats  of  not  very  fash- 
ionable make.  The  detective  argued,  with  that  refinement  of  reason  and 
discernment  rarely  to  be  found  except  in  an  experienced  detective,  that  the 
button  in  ciuestion  was  of  great  importance  to  him  in  establishing  the  identity  of 
the  burglars,  if  they  were  ever  to  be  identified  at  all.  In  fact,  he  thought  the 
button  was  a  sort  of  a  connecting  link.  Having  settled  the  matter  in  his  mind  that 
the  mysterious  button  had  been  torn  from  the  coat,  or  dropped  from  the  pocket, 
of  one  of  the  burglars,  he  next  satisfied  himself  that  none  of  the  men  employed 
about  the  store  wore  clothes  with  buttons  to  match  the  specimen  in  his  j)Ossession; 
so  that  if  any  value  was  to  be  attached  to  his  theory,  the  burglars  were  to  be 
sought  for  on  the  outside  of  the  establishment — a  point  of  no  mean  importance 
to  be  settled  in  a  case  so  critical  and  so  mysterious.    He  carried  the  button  to 


122  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

Chief  Matsell,  who  thought  sufficiently  well  of  Mr.  Shadholt's  ingenious  theory, 
to  send  for  all  the  detailed  men,  to  whom  he  exhibited  the  button,  telling  them 
to  be  on  the  alert  for  a 'man  wearing  a  coat  with  that  kind  of  button.  One  night 
thereafter,  Detective  Shadbolt  and  his  side  partner,  Detective  Walling,  in  the 
discharge  of  their  duty,  attended  the  old  Chatham  Street  Theatre.  Walling  went 
up  stairs  and  Shadbolt  remained  below.  Shadbolt  soon  after  joined  Walling  and 
said:  "There  are  three  young  fellows  coming  up,  and  one  of  them  has  buttons 
on  his  coat  like  the  one  in  our  possession."  When  the  three  young  men 
passed  up-stairs  they  seated  themselves  in  the  gallery,  and  our  friend  Walling 
took  a  vacant  seat  close  by  them,  and,  while  pretending  to  scan  p.  programme,  he 
was  pin  ing  close  attention  to  the  kind  of  buttons  they  had  on  tlieir  coats.  This 
furtive  scrutiny  satisfied  him  that  one  of  the  young  men  had  just  such  buttons  on 

his  coat,  and,  going  down-stairs,  he  so 
informed  Shadbolt,  who  was  waiting  at 
the  entrance.  By  agreement,  Shadbolt 
was  to  go  to  the  old  Bowery  Theatre 
and  stay  there  until  he  heard  from 
Walling.  Meantime,  when  the  per- 
formance was  over.  Walling  followed 
the  three  young  men  to  Chatham  and 
Duane  Streets,  where  they  entered  a 
lodging  house.  Satisfied  that  he  had 
followed  tliem  to  their  lodging,  he 
called  a  citizen  whom  he  knew  and 
asked  him  to  find  Shadbolt  in  front  of 
the  old  Bowery  Theatre,  and  to  send 
him  (Shadbolt)  to  Walling  without  de- 
lay. The  messenger  did  as  he  was 
instructed,  and,  when  Shadbolt  arrived, 
the  two  concluded  to  go  to  John  Reed's 
house,  on  Tenth  Street,  and  tell  him 
just  what  they  knew  and  what  further 
they  proposed  doing.  This  done,  they 
Ex-Superintendent  Walling's  Shield.  arranged  to    meet    Reed    and  John 

Wade  (another  detective)  at  Chief  Matsell's  office  at  daybreak,  whither  they 
would  bring  the  three  young  men.  whom  they  concluded  to  arrest. 

When  Shadbolt  and  Walling,  after  making  known  their  business  to  the 
proprietor  of  the  place,  passed  u])-stairs,  they  knocked  on  the  door  of  the  room 
occupied  by  the  three  young  men,  who  were  in  one  bed.  One  of  the  three  got 
uj)  and  opened  the  door.  When  he  looked  out  he  said  to  his  companions,  "  The 
cops  are  here."  The  prisoners  were  taken  to  Chief  Matsell's  office.  When 
searched,  it  was  found  that  each  wore  a  new  pair  of  suspenders,  of  precisely  the 
same  pattern  as  had  been  stolen  from  one  of  the  Maiden  Lane  houses.  They  at 
first  denied  their  guilt,  but  soon  confessed  all.  The  stolen  goods,  the  proceeds  of 
eleven  burglaries,  were  found  in  a  receiver's  house  in  Centre  Street.  The  three 
young  men  were  convicted,  and  sent  to  state  prison  each  for  a  term  of  three  years. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


123 


The  button  picked  up  b}'  Detective  Reed  in  the  Maiden  Lane  store  was  thus 
thQ»ineans  of  tracking  the  culi)rits.  While  getting  away  with  their  booty,  one  of 
the  burglars  had  this  identical  button  torn  off  his  coat. 

Shortly  afterwards,  Detective  Walling,  in  recognition  of  his  services,  was 
detailed  to  Chief  Matsell's  office  in  the  City  Hall. 

Patrolman  Walling  was  on  duty  in  Broadway  the  night  that  Tom  Hyer 
gave  Yankee  Sullivan  a  terrible  beating  in  a  basement,  at  the  corner  of  Park 
Place.  Hyer — after  the  row — had  a  pistol  in  his  hand,  and  was  in  the  act  of 
putting  a  caj)  on  it. 

"  Put  that  pistol  up,"  said  Patrolman  Walling. 

"  Who  the  h — 11  are  you  ?  "  he  answered.  "  I  am  not  going  to  get 
killed." 

"  You  can  come  along  with  me,"  said  Walling. 

Both  left  the  saloon  by  a  rear  door  and  walked  together  to  Broadway,  when 
Hyer  crossed  the  Park  and  entered  No  25  Park  Row.  This  led  to  the  fight 
between  Hyer  and  Sullivan  in  1849. 

On  Monday,  the  first  day  of  the  draft  riots.  Captain  Walling  was  on  duty  in 
Third  Avenue.  While  there  he  learned  that  the  people  were  opposed  to  the  draft, 
and  that  the  arsenal  had  been  burned.  He  went  to  the  station  house  at  Thirty-fifth 
Street,  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  Avenues,  and  sent  out  a  general  alarm  to  hold  men 
in  readiness  for  any  emergency.  Soon  afterwards  he  received  an  order  to  send  a 
force  of  men  to  Thirty-fifth  Street  and  Seventh  Avenue  to  take  charge  of  the  ar- 
senal. He  and  his  command  staid  there  until  some  soldiers  came  up  and  relieved 
them,  when  they  returned  to  the  station  house.  In  the  afternoon  he  received  an 
order  to  report  to  headquarters.  He  and  his  men  came  down  in  stages.  The  mob 
was  then  burning  buildings  where  the  drafting  was  going  on,  at  Twenty-ninth 
Street  and  Broadway.  Captain  Walling  and  his  men  proceeded  immediately  to  the 
City  Hall.  There  had  been  an  attack  made  on  the  Tribune  building,  and  they 
were  sent  down  to  relieve  the  force  of  Police  there  detailed,  and  protect  the  news- 
paper offices  generally. 

The  next  morning  they  were  sent  to  the  Twentieth  and  Twenty-seventh  Dis- 
tricts to  luint  for  rioters  who  were  said  to  be  destroying  property.  When  they 
arrived  there  a  man  told  Captain  Walling  that  the  rioters  had  gone  to  attack  the 
Sixth  Avenue  car  stables,  but  when  the  Police  got  there,  nobody  was  to  be  seen. 
It  was  then  learned  that  the  mob  was  attacking  houses  on  Fifth  Avenue,  and  thither 
Caj)tain  Walling  went.  His  search  for  rioters  was  at  last  rewarded.  He  found  a 
mob  of  probably  two  thousand  i)ersons.  He  had  only  eighty  men.  He  ordered 
them  to  charge  with  drawn  clubs,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  they  had  enough  to 
do  to  clear  the  street.  Orders  were  given  to  take  no  prisoners.  Those  of  the 
mob  in  front  went  down  before  the  Policemen's  clubs,  and  Captain  Walling  yelled 
out  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Kill  every  man  that  has  got  a  cli.b,"  and  every  man 
that  had  one  dropped  it  as  (piickly  as  he  could.  The  crowd  was  dispersed  in 
short  order  and  driven  to  Forty-sixth  Street. 

The  same  afternoon,  while  Captain  Wailing  was  standing  at  the  corner  of 
Thirty-fifth  Street  and  Eighth  .Avenue,  he  saw  a  l)ig  fellow  in  a  crowd  breaking  in  a 
door  with  a  cart-rung.    Captain  Walling  made  his  way  through  the  mob,  and  with 


124 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


a  scientific  twirl  of  his  locust,  he  laid  the  brawny  ruffian  with  the  cart-rung  pros- 
trate in  the  gutter,  while  those  who  were  aiding  and  abetting  him  waited  not  to 
be  clubbed,  but  fled.  .  As  it  proved,  the  wielder  of  the  cart-rung  was  permanently 
knocked  out.  A  doctor  was  sent  for,  but  as  soon  as  he  looked  at  the  man  he  said 
"That  man  wants  no  doctor  ;  he  wants  an  undertaker." 

After  that.  Captain  Walling  and  his  men  went  down  to  the  colored  church 
on  Twenty-seventh  Street,  which  was  threatened  by  the  rioters,  and  dispersed 
the  crowd. 

On  Wednesday  he  remained  at  the  station  house.  His  was  the  only  station 
house  that  had  any  communication  with  headquarters.  The  other  telegraph 
wires  were  destroyed  by  the  rioters. 

During  the  Orange  riots  Superintendent  Walling  was  put  in  command  of 
the  force  on  Eighth  Avenue  and  Twenty-seventh  Street,  where  they  had  several 
fights  with  the  moV',  the  latter  being  driven  back  every  time.  The  Ninth  Regi- 
ment fired  and  killed  several  persons. 

He  received  the  following  letter  from  Chief  Matsell  : 

New  York,  August  13,  1850. 

George  W.  Walling. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  take  this  opportunity  to  express  to  you  the  gratification  I  experienced 
on  witnessing  your  noble  conduct  on  the  fifth  of  August  inst.,  on  the  occasion  of 
the  V)urning  of  the  larger  part  of  the  five  story  building  occupied  by  W.  &  D. 
White,  at  No.  40  Spruce  Street,  when  you  toiled  with  your  own  hands,  and 
imperiled  your  own  life,  to  extricate  a  fellow  being  from  a  mass  of  rubbish  in 
which  he  was  buried. 

Your  conduct  was  above  all  praise,  and  not  only  reflects  honor  upon  yourself 
as  a  man  and  an  ofiicer,  but  is  highly  creditable  to  the  Department  to  which  you 
belong. 

Accompanying  this  note  you  will  receive  a  baton,  beautifully  ornamented  w  ith 
silver,  which  I  beg  you  to  accept  as  a  token  of  my  respect  and  esteem,  and  my  ap- 
preciation of  your  conduct  on  the  occasion  of  the  fire.  Although  the  present  is  not 
intrinsically  valuable,  yet  it  will  serve  as  a  memento  of  the  noble  act  that  called 
forth  the  i)raise  of  all  who  witnessed  it. 

With  sentiments  of  esteem  and  respect. 
Yours,  etc., 

George  W.  Matsell, 

Chief  of  Police. 

Not  only  is  the  Superintendent  of  Police  the  chief  executive  of  the  force;  not 
only  is  he  the  mouthpiece  through  whom,  legitimately,  all  the  orders  of  the  Board 
must  come;  not  only  is  he  charged  with  the  supreme  government  of  the  force, 
subject  only  to  the  written  orders  from  the  Board  of  Police,  but  he  is,  in  addition,' 
charged  with  a  vast  variety  of  other  duties,  which  render  the  place  one  of  the 
most  onerous. 

The  select  committee  appointed  by  the  Assembly  in  1875  to  investigate  the 
cause  and  increase  of  crime  in  the  city,  while  finding  fault  with  every  other 
Police  official  in  high  command,  bears  this  appreciative  testimony  to  the  fidelity 
and  worth  of  Superintendent  Walling 

"  The  i)resent  Superintendent  is  an  old  officer  of  nearly  thirty  years'  standing 
on  the  force,  of  unblemished  reputation,  and  of  unquestioned  Police  experience." 


ouK  POLICE  rRorr.croRs.  125 

While  in  command  of  the  Eighteenth  Ward  station  house,  on  the  thirtetnth 
of  October,  1853,  he  was  presented  with  a  badge,  of  whi(  li  the  accompanying  cut 
is  an  exact  fac  simile,  bearing  the  following  inscription  on  the  reverse  side: 

Ci  E  C)  R  Ci  E  W.  W  A  1. 1,  I  N  G, 
Eighteenth  Patrol  District. 

Presented  to  George  W.  WaUing,  on  his  promotion  to  the  office  of  Ca])tain 
of  the  Eighteenth  Ward  Patrol  District,  by  the  officers  attached  to  the  office 
of  the  Chief  of  Polit  e,  and  other  friends,  as  a  token  of  respect  and  esteem. 


The  law  retiring  "  any  member  of  the  Police  force  who  shall  have  reached 
the  age  of  sixty  years,  and  placing  him  on  the  roll  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund  " 
*  *  *  took  effect  May  28,  1885.  (Chapter  364,  Sec.  307.)  This  led 
to  the  resignation  of  the  veteran  Superintendent  on  June  9,  following.  The 
Board  of  Police  Commissioners,  in  accepting  his  resignation,  unanimously 
approved  of  the  following  statement: 

"The  Board  of  Police  cheerfully  embrace  this  opportunity  of  bearing 
testimony  to  their  high  appreciation  of  the  many  years  of  valuable  service  ren- 
dered to  the  public  by  an  honest,  worthy  and  capable  officer,  ajjpcinted  a 
Patrolman  December  22,  1847,  promoted  in  each  instance  through  the  several 
grades  of  Captain,  Inspector,  and  Superintendent,  f(jr  specially  marked  ability, 
untiring  devotion  to  duty,  and  rare  fidelity  to  trust.  *  *  * 
bright  character  and  faithful  services  constituting  the  extraordinary  record  of 
Su])erintendent  Walling  is  presented  to  the  force  as  an  example  ever  worthy  of 
emulation." 


126 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Some  of  the  most  important  changes  effected  Ijy  the  charter  of  1853  con- 
sisted in  abolishing  the  Board  of  Assistant  Aldermen  and  substituting 
instead  thereof  a  Board  of  Councilmen,  consisting  of  sixty  members,  one  to  be 
elected  from  each  of  sixty  districts  of  contiguous  territory;  and  the  appointment 
of  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  and  City  Judge  as  a  Board  of  Commissioners,  by  whom 
the  officers  of  the  Police  and  Policemen  were  thereafter  to  be  appointed. 

The  Police  Department  was  made  to  consist  of  the  following  named  officers: 
Chief  of  Police,  Captains,  Lieutenants,  Sergeants,  Policemen,  and  Doormen.  It 
was  the  duty  of  this  force  to  watch  and  guard  the  city  day  and  night,  and  protect 
all  general  and  j)rimary  elections. 

The  title  of  Assistant  Captains  was  changed  to  Lieutenants,  the  former 
incumbents  assuming  the  newl\--created  rank  until  the  expiration  of  the  terms 
for  which  they  were  appointed  such  Assistant  Captains. 

Members  of  the  Police  appointed  after  the  passage  of  this  Act  held  office 
during  good  behavior,  and  could  be  removed  only  for  cause. 

The  Chief  and  Captains  were  empowered  to  suspend  Sergeants,  Policemen, 
and  Doormen,  for  cause,  in  manner  prescribed  by  Act  of  1846. 

The  qualifications  and  method  of  appointment  were  as  follows:  The  law 
required  that  a  Policeman  should  be  a  citizen,  a  resident  of  the  Ward;  should 
read  and  write;  and  understand  the  first  four  rules  of  arithmetic;  and  bear  a 
good  character  for  honesty,  morality,  and  sobriety.  Previous  to  appointment  he 
was  required  to  present  to  the  Mayor  a  certificate  signed  by  twenty-five 
reputable  citizens,  two-thirds  of  whom  should  be  residents  of  his  own  Ward, 
to  the  effect  that  they  had  known  him  for  five  years,  and  that  his  character 
came  up  to  the  required  official  standard.  He  was  likewise  obliged  to  present  to 
the  Mayor  a  surgeon's  certificate  that  he  was  of  sound  body  and  robust  con- 
stitution. 

One  of  the  important  reforms  inaugurated,  and  by  no  means  the  least  impor- 
tant, was  the  adoption  of  a  uniform,  which  it  was  rightly  believed  would  secure  great- 
er attention  to  duty,  and  more  zealous  watchfulness  on  the  part  of  all.  A  reserve 
corps  had  also  been  established,  mto  which  only  those  were  admitted  who  had 
earned  the  privilege  which  membership  in  this  corps  conferred,  by  strict 
attention  to  duty,  and  by  furnishing  proof  of  fitness  for  the  post.  This  was  a 
virtual  i)romotion,  and  was  calculated  to  stimulate  a  laudable  ambition  among 
the  men,  and  to  encourage  them  to  a  more  faithful  and  zealous  performance 
of  their  duty.  llie  operations  of  the  law  re-organizing  the  department  tended 
to  place  it  in  such  a  condition  as  to  justify  the  expectations  formed  of  it  by^he 
community;  and  the  Commissioners  appointed  under  the  Act,  had,  it  was  con- 
ceded, faithfully  endeavored  to  carry  out  all  the  provisions  of  the  law;  and  the 
evidence  of  their  success  was  to  be  found  in  the  superior  character  of  the  men 
appointed,  and  the  general  condition  and  efficiency  of  the  force. 

The  effective  force  on  the  first  day  of  July,  1853,  was:  Captains,  twenty; 
Lieutenants,  forty;  Sergeants,  seventy-nine;  Policemen,  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
four.    Total,  1003. 

The  condition  and  efficiency  of  the  Police  Department,  it  was  acknowledged, 
had  materially  improved  since  the  foregoing  Act  of  the  legislature  went  into 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


127 


operation.  Among  the  important  changes  therel)y  brought  about  were  the 
tenrfre  of  office,  which  was  limited  only  to  the  good  behavior  of  the  incumbent. 
Tlie  power  of  appointment  was  vested  in  a  commission,  consisting  of  the  Re- 
corder, City  Judge,  and  Mayor,  who  had  the  sole  power  to  try  and  i)unish  parties 
violating  the  rules  of  the  department,  and  who,  in  conjunction  with  the  Chief  of 
Police,  were  authorized  to  prescribe  rules  for  the  government  of  the  force. 

Mayor  Harper,  as  has  been  ])ointed  out,  in  1844  began  his  reformatory  meas- 
ures by  tr\  ing  the  experiment  of  uniforming  a  corps  of  about  two  hundred  Police- 
men. The  men  did  not  take  kindly  to  the  uniform,  because  chiefly,the  idea  was  bor- 
rowed from  England.  So  averse  was  the  public  to  this  innovation  in  Police  dress, 
that  at  the  burning  of  the  Old  Bowery  Theatre  almost  a  riot  occurred,  the  popu- 
lace threatening  to  mob  the  Police,  whom  they  designated  as  liveried  lackeys. 
This  and  similar  experiences  served  to  make  the  uniformed  Police  still  more  un- 
popular, and  in  the  succeeding  year,  when  Havemeyer  was  Mayor,  the  uniform 
was  abolished,  and  the  force  that  wore  it  legislated  out  of  office.  The  only 
insignia  of  office  worn  by  the  Police  after  that  was  a  star-shaped  copper  shield, 
from  which  they  received  the  name  of  "cops."  The  force  was  known  as  the 
"Star  "  Police  from  the  shape  of  the  shield.  But  tlie  (question  of  uniforming  the 
Police  continued  to  be  agitated.  Among  the  most  strenuous  advocates  of  the 
measure  was  James  W.  Gerard,  father  of  the  late  Senator  (ierard.  He  carried  his 
zeal  in  this  matter  so  far  that  he  went  to  London  with,  it  is  said,  the  sole  object 
of  studying  the  Police  system,  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  it  in  his  native  city. 
Upon  his  return  home  he  brought  with  him  a  uniform,  such  as  was  then  worn  by 
the  London  Police,  and  made  to  fit  himself.  This  suit  he  wore  at  a  fancy  dress 
ball  in  this  city,  where  it  attracted  a  good  deal  of  favorable  attention. 

The  next  point  scored  by  the  advocates  of  a  uniform  was  during  the  fair 
at  the  Crystal  Palace.  The  stjuad  of  men  that  was  there  detailed  for  duty 
was  placed  under  the  command  of  Captain  Leonard  and  the  veteran  Bob 
Bowyer.  They  were  put  in  uniform,  and  were  kept  under  strict  discipline,  they 
having  for  Drill  Master,  Officer  (afterwards  Inspector)  Jamison,  who  had  served 
through  the  Mexican  war  and  seen  active  service  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  men's  trim  and  soldierly  appearance  made  a  very  favorable  impression,  and 
it  got  to  be  the  ])revailing  opinion  that  the  uniform  lent  dignity  to  the  men,  and 
added  to  their  official  importance  and  self-respect.  That  it  would  produce  the 
same  beneficial  results  if  worn  by  the  regular  Police  was  an  inevitable  conclusion. 
But  experience  and  logic  were  alike  thrown  away  on  the  men,  and  they  universally 
condemned  the  uniform,  and  regarded  as  their  mortal  enemies  all  who  counseled 
the  wearing  of  it.  The  men  carried  their  opposition  so  far  as  to  hold  an  indig- 
nation meeting  in  front  of  Chief  Matsell's  windows,  he  being  one  of  the  leading 
champions  of  the  measure. 

The  next  attempt  to  introduce  a  uniform  provoked  at  first  a  bitter  oppo- 
sition. The  men  urged  that  it  conflicted  with  their  notions  of  independence  and 
self-respect.  The  Commissioners  (Westervelt,  Tillou  and  Beebe),  as  well  as  Chief 
Matsell,  left  no  efforts  untried  to  break  down  this  prejudice,  r.nd  after  hard  work, 
they  at  last  succeeded.  It  was  interesting  to  note  how  rapid  was  the  change  in 
public  opinion  just  as  soon  as  the  men  appeared  on  post  clad  in  the  new  official 


128 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


dress  which  distinguished  them  from  civilians.  How  this  was  brought  about 
may  best  be  told  in  the  words  of  one  who  personally  knew  whereof  he  spoke. 

"Chief  Matsel'l,"  said  the  late  Inspector  Thome,  "had  ratified  the 
men  that  t'ney  should  procure  uniforms  to  be  worn  while  on  duty.  The  men  re- 
fused to  do  so,  because,  they  said,  it  would  give  them  the  appearance  of  foot- 
men. It  was  claimed  also  (notably  by  the  late  District  Attorney,  John  McKeon, 
who  was  counsel  for  the  force),  that  the  law  did  not  justify  the  Commissioners  in 
ordering  them  to  wear  uniforms,  and  that  they  could  not  be  compelled  to  do  so. 
The  men  held  several  meetings  in  Military  Hall,  on  the  Bowery,  where  they 
passed  resolutions  that  they  would  not  wear  the  uniform.  The  Commissioners 
and  Chief  of  Police  were  determined  that  they  should,  and  matters  were  coming 
to  a  crisis.  The  men  had  been  appointed  for  a  certain  term,  which  was  about 
expiring,  and  the  new  law  made  the  term  of  office  during  good  behavior.  These 
men  were  seeking  for  re-appointment  under  the  life  tenure,  and  did  not  know 
what  to  do.  I  took  it  upon  myself,"  continued  Inspector  Thome,  "  as  a  committee 
of  one,  to  wait  upon  Commissioner  Beebe,  who  was  a  personal  friend  of  mine,  to 
ascertain,  if  possible,  if  there  could  be  any  means  of  dispensing  with  the  wear- 
ing of  the  uniform,  which  we  all  unanimously  declared  to  be  a  badge  of  servitude. 
Commissioner  Beebe  entered  into  an  argument  with  me  on  the  subject,  in  which 
he  went  on  to  show  that  the  wearing  of  a  uniform  would  be  creditable  to  the  force, 
as  the  men — on  turning  out  on  duty — wore  the  poorest  clothes  they  had,  and 
were  anything  but  reputable  in  appearance  as  a  Police  force.  They  had  noth- 
ing to  show  but  their  star  shield.  The  judge  went  on  in  a  kindly  way  to  ex- 
press to  me  what  the  uniform  consisted  of,  and  under  his  advice,  I  had  a  uni- 
form suit  made,  in  which  I  appeared  at  the  next  meeting  in  Military  Hall,  and 
received  many  compliments  on  having  such  a  nice  new  suit  of  clothes,  they  not 
for  a  moment  supposing  it  to  be  the  uniform.  After  the  meeting  had  i)ro- 
gressed  some  time,  and  the  different  speakers  had  ventilated  their  ideas  for  the 
benefit  of  the  whole,  all  using  strong  language  in  opposition  to  the  uniform 
scheme,  and  the  audience  being  of  the  same  mind  to  a  man,  I  asked  per- 
mission to  say  a  few  words  relative  to  the  resolutions  passed  in  regard  to 
not  wearing  the  uniform.  Receiving  permission,  I  explained  to  the  meeting 
that  I  had  had  an  interview  with  Commissioner  Beebe;  that  his  feelings  were  of  a 
kindly  nature  towards  the  men,  and  that  he  did  not  wish  them  to  stand  in  their 
own  light,  as  at  that  time  the  majority  of  them  had  to  be  appointed  under  the 
new  Act,  and  that  if  it  came  to  a  test  it  would  only  be  a  matter  of  a  little  time 
when  every  man  who  refused  to  wear  the  uniform  would  be  rejected.  Tho^se 
who  had  been  recently  appointed  were  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Com- 
missioners, and  would  have  to  come  under  the  rules  and  discipline  like  the 
others.  I  then  argued  with  them  that  the  uniform  was  not  so  objectionable. 
I  also  called  their  attention  to  tlie  suit  of  clothes  I  then  had  on — a  coat  being 
all  the  uniform  then  required  by  the  Commissioners;  and  telling  them  that  that 
was  the  uniform  that  the  Commissioners  had  adopted,  and  which  the  men  were 
asked  to  wear.  The  men  seemed  to  be  incredulous,  and  one  or  two  ventured 
to  say:  'Well,  if  that  be  what  they  call  the  uniform,  it  is  a  first-class  thing.  No 
one  can  object  to  that.'    Others  chimed  in;  and  then  I  was  examined  more  criti- 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


129 


cally,  and  finding  them  in  a  yielding  mood,  I  asked  them  to  rescind  the  reso- 
lution not  to  use  the  uniform,  so  as  to  relieve  the  men  from  that  pledge.  The 
men  being  favorably  impressed,  rescinded  the  resolution  with  the  exception  of 
three  votes,  and  two  of  these  afterwards  fell  into  line.  There  were  about  three 
hundred  men  present  at  the  meeting.  The  only  exception  was  officer  James 
Hurnham  of  the  Fifth  Precinct,  who  stood  aloof,  and  entered  suit  against  the  city 
for  salary  for  the  whole  term  of  office,  for  four  years,  which  suit  he  kept  up  till  the 
day  of  his  death;  but  he  never  received  a  penny.  The  uniform  was  immediately 
adopted  by  the  whole  force;  that  was  the  end  of  the  old  clothes  and  the  begin- 
ning of  the  new." 

The  next  innovation  came  when  the  bands  and  the  buttons  were  brought  on 
gradually.    Said  the  late  Inspector  Thome: 

"On  one  occasion  the  Thirteenth  Ward  Police  were  going  to  a  target 
excursion.  Myself  and  ex-Captain  Steers,  fatlier  of  the  present  Captain  Steers, 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  upon  Chief  Matsell  to  get  permission 
from  him  to  go  to  the  excursion.  The  Chief  consented  on  condition  that  the 
men  would  put  the  brass  buttons  on  the  coat  furnished  by  the  city;  that  was 
the  compromise,  and  it  was  accepted. 

"  At  that  time  business  firms  used  to  give  from  twenty-five  dollars  to 
forty  dollars  for  the  best  marksman,  but  no  matter  whether  the  men  hit  the 
target  or  not,  they  were  sure  to  get  the  reward.  The  early  target  excursions 
were  great  features  with  the  Police,  and  each  Ward  used  to  turn  out,  and  have 
the  leading  citizens  as  their  guests. 

"  At  this  time  the  uniform  consisted  at  first  of  a  blue  cloth  coat  with  a 
velvet  collar,  and  nine  black  buttons  on  the  front.  Afterwards  an  addition 
was  made  by  substituting  the  brass  buttons  for  the  black  buttons,  and  gray 
pants  with  a  black  stripe  one  inch  in  width  on  each  side.  Cloth  caps  were 
furnished  by  the  city,  and  a  fire  cap  similar  to  that  worn  by  firemen  to  go  to 
fires,  riots,  etc. 

"Summer  uniforms  were  adopted  by  each  Ward  as  they  thought  proper, 
each  Ward  selecting  uniforms  of  their  own  choice. 

"  Some  Wards  adopted  white  duck  suits  and  sack  coats.  Other  Wards 
adopted  different  colors.  Uniformity  did  not  exist  in  general.  Some  wore 
Panama  hats,  some  straw,  and  some  felt,  but  each  Ward  had  a  special  uniform 
of  its  own. 

"When  the  Metropolitan  force  was  organized,  the  Commissioners  changed 
the  uniform,  and  made  it  a  blue  cloth  coat  with  brass  buttons,  blue  pants  with 
white  stripe,  blue  vest  and  brass  buttons.  In  the  summer  the  officers  wore  white 
pants,  white  vests,  and  Panama  hats.  That  continued  until  they  commenced 
wearing  flannel  clothes  in  summer." 

The  Commissioners,  on  entering  upon  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  deter- 
mined to  render  judgment  upon  cases  brought  before  them  for  trial  immediately 
after  the  trial  came,  and  before  interested  individuals  connected  with  the  de- 
I)artment  could  have  an  opportunity  to  interfere.  The  effect  of  this  determina- 
tion upon  the  dei)artment  was  almost  magical.  During  the  first  six  months  but 
one   hundred  and   forty-three   Policemen  were  cited  to   appear  before  the 


13° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Commissioners  for  trial,  being  a  diminution  of  one-fourth,  as  compared  with  the 
previous  six  months.  This  had  resulted  entirely  from  the  certainty  and  not  from 
the  severity  of  the  punishment,  as  but  three  or  four  trials  had  taken  place 
in  which  judgment  was  not  immediately  rendered.  The  old  system  of  detail- 
ing officers  for  various  special  duties,  which  was  open  to  so  many  objections 
on  account  of  the  abuses  perpetrated  under  it,  had  been  abolished,  and  a 
reserve  corps,  as  already  noticed,  established.  The  Commissioners  also  adopted 
a  resolution  requiring  all  the  members  of  the  department  to  wear  a  blue 
coat  of  uniform  make,  and  a  cap  for  night  and  day  patrol  duty,  so  that 
the  men  could  be  easily  recognized  by  the  citizens.  The  regulation  had  been 
complied  with  by  all  the  members  of  the  department,  with  three  or  four 
exceptions.  The  Policemen  who  had  refused  to  comply  were  tried  by 
the  Commissioners  of  Police  and  dismissed  the  force,  and  the  case  carried 
up  to  the  Supreme  Court,  where  the  action  of  the  Commissioners  was 
sustained. 

Chief  Matsell  selected  a  competent  Policeman  to  act  as  Drill  Sergeant, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  take  the  men  appointed  by  the  Commissioners  and  in- 
struct them  in  the  military  art,  and  in  the  rules  and  regulations  adopted  for 
the  government  of  the  Police  Department.  While  under  instruction  they 
were  required  to  act  as  a  reserve  force  to  attend  at  fires,  etc.,  and  to  perform 
patrol  duty  in  different  parts  of  the  city,  under  the  direction  of  their  Sergeants. 
After  being  thus  thoroughly  drilled  and  instructed,  they  were  directed  to  report 
themselves  to  their  several  Captains,  and  were  ready  to  perform  any  duty  he 
might  require  of  them. 

The  greatest  benefit,  it  was  acknowledged,  resulting  to  the  community  under 
the  law  of  1853,  was  the  separation  of  the  department  from  political  influences. 
Under  the  former  law.  Policemen  well  understood  that  they  had  to  enter  the 
political  arena,  and  connect  themselves  with  the  dominant  clique  of  partisans  in 
the  separate  Wards,  in  order  to  secure  a  re-appointment  at  the  expiration  of  the 
term  for  which  they  were  appointed.  So  that  instead  of  being  disinterested 
officers  at  the  polls  during  the  election,  they  became  interested  partisans,  striving 
for  the  success  of  their  favorite  cliques.  Policemen  were  found  connected  with 
clubs,  committees,  and  other  organizations  of  a  political  character,  leading  them 
to  perform  their  duty  with  inattention,  and  sometimes  to  entirely  neglect  it,  thus 
exercising  a  most  ])ancful  influence  upon  the  efficiency  and  character  of  the  de- 
partment. In  this  way  the  whole  force  was  turned  into  a  political  engine  for 
the  advancement  of  jjarticular  cliques  or  individuals.  To  obviate  this  evil, 
the  Commissioners  adopted  a  rule  to  the  effect  that  no  member  would  be  per- 
mitted to  connect  himself,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  any  way,  with  a  society,  club, 
committee,  or  organization  of  any  kind,  the  object  of  which  was  the  political 
advancement  of  a  party,  clique  or  individual. 

By  resolution  of  the  Common  Council,  jjassed  October  21,  1853,  the  salaries 
were  increased  as  follows  :  Captains,  one  thousand  dollars  ;  Lieutenants,  eight 
hundred  dollars;  and  Sergeants  and  Policemen,  seven  hundred  dollars  per 
annum.  By  resolution,  approved  the  twenty-ninth  of  the  following  December, 
the  salary  of  Doormen  was  increased  to  six  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 


OUR  POLICE  I'ROTr.CrORS. 


I  hc  effective  force  on  the  first  day  of  Janii.iry,  1854,  was:  Captains,  nineteen; 
Lieutenants,  forty;  Sergeants,  seventy-seven;  and  Policemen,  eight  hnndred  and 
forty-two.    Total  978. 

The  wiiole  number  of  arrests,  and  description  of  offences,  from  the  first 
organization  of  the  Police  Department,  July  15,  1845,  to  the  thirtv-first  of 
December,  1853,  inclusive,  is  as  follows: 


Arson  147 

Assault  with  intent  to  kill  1,061 

Assault  and  battery  27,904 

Assaulting,  and  interfering  with  Police  '.321 

Attempt  at  rape    194 

Attempt  to  steal  1,218 

Attempt  at  burglary  371 

Aiding  and  assisting  to  escape  420 

Abandonment  899 

Burglary  i^loS 

Bigamy  112 

Bastardy  644 

Constructive  larceny    108 

Disorderly  conduct  34.735 

Deserters  428 

Driving  without  licerfse  361 

Embezzlement  169 

Escaped  convicts  429 

Forgery  195 

Felony  279 

Fraud  264 

Fighting  in  the  street  4,131 

Gambling  735 

Grand  larceny  4,196 

Insanity  2,873 

Intoxication  ,  63,944 

Intoxication  and  disorderly  conduct  48,217 

Indecent  exposure  550 

Insulting  females  270 

Keeping  disorderly  houses  592 

Miscellaneous  misdemeanors  <J.983 

Murder  160 

Obtaining  goods  under  false  jiretences   526 

Petit  larceny  24,298 

Pickpockets  687 

Passing  counterfeit  money  829 

Perjury  60 

Rape  136 

Robbing  in  the  first  degree  415 

Recei\  ing  stolen  goods  377 

Runaway  apprentices  344 

Selling  licpior  without  license  718 

Threatening  life  293 

Vagrancy  21, 155 

Violation  corporation  ordinances  2,700 


132 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


From  the  first  of  January  to  the  thirtieth  of  June,  1854,  there  were  twenty- 
five  thousand  one  hundred  and  ten  persons  arrested  for  criminal  offenses,  being 
an  increase  of  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-four  over  the  previous  six 
months,  and  an  increase  of  seven  thousand  three  hundred  and  ninety- seven  over 
the  corresponding  period  of  time  in  1853.    Of  the  whole  number,  there  were 


Capt.  John  D.  McKeb.  Capt.  Michael  Halpin.  Capt.  Edwakd  Lktts. 

Capt.  Thdmas  Han.negan. 

Police  Captains,  1856. 


arrested  by  the  reserve  corps  three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty-five;  one 
thousand  and  thirty-five  of  which  were  for  violation  of  the  cor])oration  ordi- 
nances. This  large  increase  in  the  number  of  arrests  resulted,  as  Chief  Matsell 
clauned,  from  an  increased  activity  and  vigilance  on  the  part  of  Policemen. 

The  force,  without  doubt,  had  greatly  improved.  The  ajipointment  of 
Commissioners  and  the  introduction  of  a  uniform  had  much  to  do  with  this. 
A  stricter  discipline  was  also  enforced,  and  the  men  began  to  take  an  honest 
pride  in  their  work,  and  to  be  a  terror  to  evil-doers. 


oi'R  ro /./(•/■  /'h'or/'.croNs. 


Tlu"  Commissioners  on  Rules  antl  Regulations  promulgated  a  new  regu- 
lation in  relation  to  the  dress  to  he  worn  the  members  of  the  force  when 
orf  duty.  This  regulation  i)res<  rilntl  uniturin  trousers,  buttons,  belt  for  baton, 
and  an  overcoat,  to  be  worn  in  winter,  and  lighter  coats  for  summer  use.  I?y 
previous  regulations,  the  Captains  of  the  several  districts  were  emj)owered  to 
select  the  material  for  the  summer  coats  to  l)c  worn  by  the  members  of  their 
command,  but  this  was  not  found  to  work  well  in  practical  operation,  as  there 
was  no  uniformity  of  a])i)earance,  and  the  force  began  to  assume  the  same 
look  of  negligence  in  attire  lliat  existed  previous  to  the  adojjtion  of  the  uni- 
form coat  and  cap,  and  numerous  complaints  were  made  by  citizens  that  they 
could  scarcely  distinguish  a  Policeman  from  any  other  citizen.  This  new  regula- 
tion imposed  upon  the  members  of  tiie  department  additional  exi)ense,  which 
in  many,  if  not  in  every  instance,  was  found  hard  to  be  borne,  and  it  was  asked 
that  the  Common  Council  make  an  apj)ropriation  to  meet  the  whole  or  a  portion 
of  these  additional  expenses. 

Complaint  having  been  made  by  Chief  of  Police  Matsell  to  the  Mavor,  of 
the  inadequate  accommodations  of  the  station  houses,  their  unsanitary  condition 
and  general  dilapidation,  an  inspection  and  report  of  the  various  station  houses 
were  caused  to  be  made,  from  which  it  appears  that  the  necessity  for  reform  and 
improvement  was  urgent.  Chief  Matsell,  in  view  of  these  facts,  suggested  that 
two  or  three  eminent  architects  should  be  invited  to  draw  plans  for  a  model 
station  house,  and  that  thereafter  all  station  houses  should  be  required  to  be  built 
according  to  the  plan  adopted. 

From  the  first  day  of  January  to  the  thirtieth  day  of  June,  1854,  inclusive, 
two  hundred  and  thirty-nine  comjjlaints  were  preferred  against  members  of  the 
Police  Department,  which  were  disposed  of  as  follows: 


Dismissed  from  office   19 

Resigned,  after  com])laint   7 

Complaints  dismissed   75 

Suspended  from  pay   138 

Total   239 


The  effective  force  on  the  first  of  July,  1854,  was:  Captains,  twentv-two; 
Lieutenants,  forty-four;  Sergeants,  eighty-three;  Policemen,  nine  hundred  and 
fifty-three.    Total,  1.102. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1855,  the  effective  force  was:  Captains,  twenty- 
two;  Lieutenants,  forty-four;  Sergeants,  eighty-eight;  Policemen,  nine  hundred 
and  sixty-two.    Total,  1,116. 

The  sanitary  condition  of  nearly  all  the  station  houses  was  defective  in  a 
marked  degree,  and  but  little  attention  was  paid  to  the  general  health  of  the 
force.  This  naturally  resulted  in  much  unnecessary  suffering  and  sickness 
among  the  members,  and  a  consequent  loss  of  time  to  the  department.  Under 
the  old  system  station  houses  w-ere  rarely  visited  and  inspected  ;  cleanliness  was 
not  deemed  a  part  of  the  discijjline,  and  when  sick  at  home,  the  men  were  not 
visited,  except  merely  to  ascertain  whether  the  disability  had  been  procured  in 
the  discharge  of  duty.    This  led,  in  1855,  to  an  alteration  in  the  surgical  bureau 


C M  T.  Chas.  S.  TrRNnrLL.                Capt.  John  E.  Russell  C\pt.  D  wii)  Rissvek. 

Capi.  Aukam  Ackekman.                 Capt.  Petek  S..ii  ike.s.  Cait.  James  Leonapo. 

Capt.  Jas.  A.  Hopkjns. 

Police  Captains,  1856. 


C \l  T.  G  M.KN    r.  I'"KTFK.                           C  \  !  T.  ( "■  K       W .  N"  I,  K  I  s.  CM     .Il    -.M:  Wl'Ifk. 

CaI'T.  FkaXCIS  Sl  tlOHT.                      CaI  I.    I.  Ml  KKAV  DircHE[T.  CaI  I.  FliAM.!--  J.  r«OMEY. 

Caj  t.  I.  W.  Haktt. 
Police  Captains,  1856. 


136 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


of  the  department.  The  new  plan  regarded  the  proper  ventilation  and  cleanli- 
ness of  the  station  houses  and  sleeping  apartments;  furnished  at  all  times  a 
sufficient  supply  of  medicines,  surgical  instruments,  tourniquets,  etc. ;  recjuired 
immediate  attention  to  be  given  to  all  invalid  Policemen,  whether  becoming  sick 
or  disabled  in  the  discharge  of  duty  or  not,  unti!  entirely  recovered  and  fit  for 
duty.  In  order  the  better  to  carry  out  this  system,  the  city  was  divided  into 
seven  surgical  districts,  and  each  district  was  placed  under  the  charge  of  a  com- 
petent practicing  physician,  who,  under  the  law,  had  to  be  appointed  a  Police- 
man, and  detailed  for  this  duty,  with  a  Surgeon-General  as  chief  of  the  whole,  to 
whom  reports  were  made  by  the  District  Surgeons  once  every  forty-eight  hours. 
Critical  physical  examinations  were  made  of  every  person  appointed  by  the  Com- 
missioners, not  only  by  the  District  Surgeon  in  the  Ward  to  which  said  person 
might  belong,  but  also  bv  the  Surgeon-General  stationed  permanently  at  the 
office  of  the  Chief  of  Police.  Stephen  Hasbrouck,  M.D.,  filled  the  post  of  Sur- 
geon-General. 

During  the  five  months  succeeding  the  establishment  of  this  surgical  system, 
it  appears  from  the  records  that  the  time  lost  by  reason  of  sickness  or  disabil- 
ity of  the  Policemen,  in  all  the  twenty-two  districts,  amounted  to  three  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  forty-six  and  one-half  days,  and  the  time  lost  during  a  corres- 
ponding period  in  1854,  amounted  to  five  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
nine  days. 

The  amount  thus  saved  was  several  hundi"ed  dollars  over  the  sum  neces- 
sary to  pay  all  the  surgeons,  besides  the  advantage  to  the  men  of  receiving  the 
benefit  of  prompt  and  gratuitous  attendance. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


137 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE  METROPOLITAN  POLICE  DISTRICT. 


1857-1863. 


The  Law  Designating  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  and  Citv  Judge,  Police  Com- 
missioners, Repealed. — Appointment  oe  Five  Commissioners. — The  Coun- 
ties OK  New  York,  Kings,  Westchester  and  Richmond  made  to  Comprise 
the  New  District. — Opposition  to  the  Change. — A  Year  of  Riots  and 
Financial  Failures. — The  Metropolitan  Police  District  \z-\  Declared 
TO  BE  Constitutional. — Conflict  Between  Mayor  Wood  and  the  Newly- 
Appointed  Commissioners. — The  Municipal  Police  and  the  Metropolitan 
Police  Arrayed  in  Open  Battle. — Intervention  of  the  Military. — The 
Act  Amended  by  Makinc;  the  District  to  Consist  of  the  Counties  of  New 
York,  Kings,  Westchester  and  Richmond,  and  the  Towns  of  Newtown, 
Flushing  and  Jamaica. — The  Number  of  Commissioners  Reduced  to 
Three. 


P  to  the  year  1857,  with  various  vicissitudes,  as  has  been  set  forth  in  the 


preceding  pages,  the  city  of  New  York  had  a  Municipal  Police  force 
which,  on  the  whole,  was  inadequate  for  the  duties  it  was  called  upon  to  perform, 
and  did  not  give  general  satisfaction.  In  this  year  the  legislature  established 
the  Metropolitan  Police  District,  and  for  thirteen  years  the  City  Police  was 
merged  in  that  body.  The  charter  of  1870  abolished  the  Metroi)olitan  Police 
District,  and  again  substituted  the  Municipal  Police,  which  remained  in  force 
until  1873,  when  the  present  Police  Department  was  created. 

The  organization  of  a  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  (Act  1853)  consisting 
of  the  Mayor,  Recorder  and  City  Judge,  and  the  extending  the  tenure  of  office  of 
the  Police  during  good  behavior,  were  instrumental  in  bringing  about  a  marked 
change  for  the  better  in  the  character  and  efficiency  of  the  Police.  It  was, 
however,  found  that  the  judicial  duties  of  the  Recorder  and  City  Judge 
rendered  them  unable  to  discharge  those  duties  which  devolved  on  them  as 
Commissioners  of  Police,  and  that  the  power  of  aj)pointment  and  dismissal  was 
virtually  lodged  with  the  Mayor.  The  alleged  abuse  of  this  power,  and  the 
rapid  increase  of  population  in  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  conspired 
to  make  a  change  in  the  Police  organization  desirable. 

The  year  1^57  was  a  disastrous  one  to  New  York — a  year  of  mob  rqle;  be- 
ginning with  civil  strife  and  ending  w  ith  fmancial  ruin.  In  tiie  spring  ,0/  this 
year  the  State  Legislature  passed  several  bills  relating  to  the  city,  and  amended 
the  charter  in  several  important  particulars.    The  charter,  and  State  elections, 


1 


1.^8  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

which  had  hitherto  been  held  on  the  same  day,  were  separated,  the  first  Tuesday 
in  December  being  fixed  as  the  date  of  the  former.  The  most  important  inno- 
vation was  the  transf.er  of  the  Police  Department  from  the  city  to  the  State.  By 
tlie  Metropolitan  Police  Act,  a  Police  District  was  created,  comprising  the  coun- 
ties of  New  \  ork,  Kings,  Westchester,  and  Richmond;  and  a  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners was  instituted,  to  be  appointed  for  five  years  by  the  Governor  of  the 
State,  to  have  the  sole  control  of  the  appointment,  trial,  and  management  of  the 
Police  force,  which  was  not  to  outnumber  two  thousand,  and  to  appoint  the 
Chief  of  Police  and  the  minor  offices.  The  Police  Commissioners  were  to  secure 
the  peace  and  protection  of  the  city,  to  insure  cjuiet  at  the  elections,  and  to  look 
after  the  public  health. 

In  this  instance  the  changes  that  were  thereby  effected  were  of  a  radical 
nature.  The  Metroj)olitan  Police  District  included  the  Counties  of  New  York, 
Kings,  AVestchester  and  Richmond.  The  Governor,  by  and  with  the  consent  of 
the  Senate,  had  the  ajjpointing  of  five  Commissioners  of  Police;  one  from  the 
county  of  Richmond  or  Westchester,  one  from  Kings  County,  and  three  from 
New  York,  the  Mayors  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn  being  c.x-officio  members 
of  the  Board.  The  officers  of  the  Board  were  a  president  and  a  treas- 
urer, the  Board  being  empowered  to  appoint  a  chief  clerk  and  six  deputy 
clerks.  The  Police  force  was  then  made  to  consist  of  a  General  Superintendent, 
two  Deputy  Superintendents,  five  Surgeons;  Inspectors  and  Captains  not  to 
exceed  forty;  Sergeants  not  to  exceed  one  hundred  and  fifty;  and  as  many 
Patrolmen  as  should  be  determined  upon  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  New- 
York,  the  Common  Council  of  Brooklyn,  and  the  Supervisors  of  the  Counties  of 
Kings,  Richmond  and  Westchester. 

The  qualifications  for  appointment  on  the  force  were  about  the  same  as  in 
the  preceding  Act,  the  term  of  office  continuing  also  during  good  beliavior. 

The  salaries  were  as  follows:  Treasurer  of  the  Board,  three  thousand  dollars 
per  annum;  the  other  Commissioners,  eight  dollars  per  day,  for  actual  service 
performed;  General  Superintendent,  three  thousand  dollars  per  annum;  Deputy 
Superintendents,  two  thousand  dollars  each  ;  Surgeons,  one  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars;  Inspectors  and  Captains,  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  each; 
Sergeants,  nine  hundred  dollars;  Patrolmen,  eight  hundred  dollars;  and  Door- 
men, seven  hundred  dollars. 

The  new  Board  possessed  all  the  power  and  authority  hitherto  conferred 
by  law  upon  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  of  the  city  of  New  York,  or 
upon  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  and  City  Judge  of  said  city,  as  Police  Commissioners,^ 
or  uj)on  the  Mayors  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  respectively,  as  the  heads  therein 
of  the  respective  Police  Departments  of  those  cities,  or  upon  the  Aldermen  of 
the  city  of  Brooklyn.  ♦ 

The  Chiefs  of  Police,  in  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  were  desig- 
nated, respectively.  Deputy  Superintendents  of  Police.  From  and  after  the 
])assage  of  the  Act,  Captains  were  designated  Inspectors  and  Captains  ;  Lieu- 
tenants and  Assistant  Captains,  Sergeants;  and  Policemen,  Patrolmen. 

The  Police  Districts  were  divided  into  i)recincts,  without  any  regard  to 
county  or  ward  boundaries,  there  being  assigned  one  Inspector,  one  Captam,  and 


OUR  por.icr.  protf.ctors.  139 

four  Sergeants  (besides  such  (luota  of  Patrolmen  to  he  thereafter  determined) 
in^each  precinct.  'I'he  15(jartl  was  autliori/.ed  to  estal)lish,  from  time  to  time,  a 
station  or  sul)-station  in  lac  li  tlistric  t  for  tlie  accommodation  of  tlie  Police  force 
on  duty  therein;  to  detail  Police  officers  to  the  Polin-  and  C'riminal  Courts,  tc 
the  i)id)lic  ot'tices  of  the  cities  of  New  York  and  l!iookl\  n,  the  Quarantine  and 
Emigration  offices,  etc.,  as  might  be  deemed  advisable.  The  Board  was  re- 
strained from  suspending  members  of  the  force  from  j)ay  for  more  than  thirtv 
days.  All  orders  and  regulations  of  the  Board  were  ])romulgated  through  the 
General  Superintendent,  who  was  the  head  and  chief  of  the  Police  force. 

The  follow  ing  persons  were  the  first  (-onimissioners  api)ointed   under  this 

Act: 

Simeon  Draper,  James  Bowen,  James  W.  Nye,  Jacob  Cholwell  and  James 
S.  T.  Stranahan. 

Draper,  Nye  and  Cholwell  resigned,  and  Pelatiah  Pcrit  and  S.  B.  Ward 
were  appointed  their  successors.  They  in  turn  resigned,  and  Thomas  B.  Still- 
man,  Michael  I'lshoffer  and  Isaac  H.  Bailey  were  the  next  ajjpointees.  This  re- 
sulted in  the  formation  of  the  following  Board  of  Police  : 

James  Bowen,  of  Westchester  County;  James  S.  T.  Stranahan,  of  Kings 
County,  Thomas  B.  Stillman,  Michael  Ulshoffer  and  Isaac  H.  Bailey,  of  New 
York. 

There  were  three  terms  of  office:  one  term,  for  three  Commissioners,  expired 
on  the  first  day  of  May,  1858;  another  term,  for  two  Commissioners,  expired 
on  the  first  of  May,  1859.  It  was  determined  by  lot  which  Commissioners  were 
to  serve  the  long  and  which  the  short  term.  Each  Commissioner  appointed  to 
fill  a  term  succeeding  an  expiring  one,  it  was  provided,  should  be  appointed 
thereafter  for  a  full  term  of  three  years,  such  appointment  to  be  made  from  the 
county  in  which  the  vacancy  occurred.  Any  vacancy  as  Commissioner  of  Po- 
lice should  be  filled  by  the  Board  of  Police  for  the  residue  of  the  unexpired 
term.    The  Governor  possessed  the  power  of  removal  for  cause. 

The  Police  Commissioners  successively  appointed  the  following  as  General 
Superintendent:  James  R.  Whitney,  Joseph  Keeneand  Welcome  R.  Beebe,  all  of 
whom  in  turn  declined  to  serve.  The  Board  next  appointed  Frederick  A.  Tall- 
madge,  who  accepted.  Reserved  in  such  capacity  from  the  date  of  his  appoint- 
ment, May  13,  1857,  to  April  18,  1859,  when  Amos  Pilsbury  was  appointed 
to  succeed  him.  May  20,  1S59.  Superintendent  I'ilsbury  did  not  assume 
the  duties  of  the  office  until  the  first  of  July  following,  Deputy  Superintendent 
Daniel  Carpenter  acting  as  General  Superintendent,  pro  tern.,  in  the  interum. 
Pilsbury  resigned  as  General  Superintendent  on  March  5,  i860. 

The  Act  declared  that  the  Municipal  or  Local  Police  of  the  cities  of  New 
York  and  Brooklyn  should  be  embodied  in  the  Metropolitan  force,  and  that  the 
local  authorities  should  be  divested  of  all  control  over  them  after  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Commissioners.  It  had  lieen  so  confidently  asserted  by  the 
opponents  of  the  Act  that  the  courts  would  declare  it  unconstitutional  that 
doubts  were  infused  into  the  minds  of  members  of  the  New  York  force  as  to 
the  lawfulness  of  obeying  the  orders  of  the  Commissioners.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  it  was  a  question  of  vital  importance  to  the 


140 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Policemen,  the  Board  refrained  from  assuming  the  control  of  the  force  until  the 
validity  of  the  law  was  judicially  determined.  On  the  fourth  of  May  Justice 
Gierke,  of  the  Supreme  Court,  affirmed  the  constitutionality  of  the  Act,  and 
on  the  twenty-fifth  of  'that  month  the  Supreme  Court,  at  general  term,  declared 
it  valid  and  binding  in  all  parts. 

On  the  rendition  of  this  decision  the  Commissioners  assumed  the  direct 
control  of  the  Police  force.  That  portion  on  duty  in  the  City  of  Brooklyn, 
with  but  few  exceptions,  obeyed  the  orders  of  the  Board.  Of  the  New  York 
force,  fifteen  of  the  Captains  and  about  eight  hundred  of  the  Patrolmen  refused 
to  recognize  the  authority  of  the  Commissioners,  or  obey  the  orders  of  the 
General  Superintendent.  Charges  of  insubordination  were  preferred  against 
them,  and  they  were  tried  and  dismissed  from  the  service  in  conformity  with 
the  provisions  of  the  law. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  May,  1857,  in  pursuance  of  a  requisition  from  the 
Health  Officer,  Deputy  Superintendent  Matsell  was  directed  to  detail  five 
Patrolmen  to  guard  the  public  hospitals  at  the  Quarantine  from  the  threatened 
attacks  of  incendiaries.  He  refused  to  obey  the  order,  and  was  tried  and  re- 
moved from  office  for  insubordination,  and  Daniel  Carpenter  was  appointed  in 
his  place.    Mr.  Matsell  was  soon  after  restored  to  duty. 

The  new  Metropolitan  Police  force,  handicapped  as  they  were  by  the  action 
of  the  old  Municipal  body,  and  legal  proceedings,  found  their  hands  full  in 
combating  public  outbreaks  and  riotous  disturbances,  as  well  as  quelling  the 
internecine  strife  that  kept  two  bodies  of  Policemen  in  open  brawls,  to  the 
injury  of  good  government  and  law  and  order. 

The  power  exercised  by  the  State  Legislature,  in  respect  to  the  Police, 
embodied  in  the  Act  to  establish  a  Metropolitan  Police  District,  was  considered 
by  Mayor  Wood  and  his  adherents  in  the  light  of  a  usurpation  of  authority,  on 
the  ground  that  the  government  of  the  Police  was  entrusted  to  a  Board  of  Com- 
missioners not  appointed  or  selected  by  those  who  were  taxed  for  their  salaries, 
and  who  were  immediately  affected  by  the  operation  of  those  laws.  The  Mayor 
also  thought  it  decidedly  objectionable  that  the  State  Government,  besides 
creating  the  Board  and  appointing  its  officers,  should  have  also  fixed  their  com- 
pensation to  be  paid  out  of  the  city  treasury,  without  a  right  on  the  part  of 
the  people  of  the  city  to  regulate  or  control  them  in  any  degree.  The  Police, 
the  Mayor  considered  as  an  army  for  preserving  domestic  order  in  time  of 
peace,  just  as  the  regular  army  protects  us  from  foreign  invasion  in  time  of  war. 
"It  should  be  our  object,"  he  said,  "to  elevate  the  guardians  of  our  lives  and 
properly  to  a  position  of  dignity  scarcely  inferior  to  the  guardians  of  the, 
national  honor."  He  therefore  recommended  that  the  Police,  in  the  designation 
of  its  men  and  officers,  and  also  in  their  appointment,  suspension,  trial  and  re- 
moval, should  be  organized  and  governed  according  to  like  features  in  our 
military  system,  the  Mayor  to  be  considered  the  head  of  the  force.  But  his 
arguments  proved  unavailing,  and  the  Metropolitan  District  went  into  operation, 
fulfilled  its  mission,  and  ran  its  course. 

The  appointment  of  the  new  Commissioners  was  the  signal  for  war.  Mayor 
Wood,  who  had  strenuously  opposed  the  action  of  the  legislature,  announced 


OUR  PO/./CF.  PROTECTORS. 


141 


his  determination  to  test  the  constitutionality  of  the  law  to  the  uttermost,  and 
to  resist  its  execution.  He  refused  to  surrender  the  Police  property  or  to 
di^and  the  old  Police,  and  for  some  time  the  city  witnessed  the  curious  spectacle 
of  two  departments — the  Metropolitan  Police  under  the  Commissioners,  and  the 
Municipal  Police  under  the  Mayor — vieing  for  mastery.  After  exhausting  all 
the  resources  of  the  law  to  evade  obedience  to  the  Act,  the  Mayor  and  Municipal 
government  finally  caused  it  to  he  referred  to  the  Court  of  Appeals.  Before  the 
final  decision  came,  blood  was  spilled.    On  the  sixteenth  of  June  matters  were 


Mayor  Wood. 


brought  to  a  crisis  by  the  forcible  ejection  from  the  City  Hall  of  Daniel  D. 
Conover,  who  had  been  appointed  Street  Commissioner  by  Governor  King,  to 
fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  the  former  incumbent.  The  Deputy 
Commissioner  meanwhile  claimed  his  right  to  hold  the  office,  and  a  third 
competitor,  Charles  Devlin,  had  been  appointed  by  Mayor  Wood,  who  claimed 
the  appointing  power.  Mr.  Conover  immediately  obtained  a  warrant  from  the 
Recorder  to  arrest  the  Mayor  on  the  charge  of  inciting  a  riot,  and  another  from 
Judge  Hoffman  for  the  violence  offered  him  personally,  and,  armed  with  these 
documents,  and  attended  by  fifty  of  the  Metropolitan  Police,  returned  to  the 
City  Hall.    Captain  Walling  (later  Superintendent)  at  first  attempted  in  vain 


142 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


to  gain  an  entrance  with  one  warrant.  Mr.  Conover  followed  with  the  other, 
but  met  with  no  better  success.  The  City  Hall  was  filled  with  armed  Policemen, 
who  attacked  the  new  comers.  A  fierce  affray  ensued,  during  which  twelve  of 
the  Policemen  were  severely  wounded.  The  Seventh  Regiment  happened  to  be 
passing  down  Broadway  on  its  way  to  take  the  boat  for  Boston.  It  was  sum- 
moned to  the  spot,  and  its  presence  almost  instantly  sufficed  to  quell  the  riot. 
Mr.  Conover,  accompanied  by  General  Sanford,  entered  the  City  Hall  and 
served  the  writ  on  the  Mayor,  who,  seeing  further  resistance  useless,  submitted  to 
arrest.  The  Metropolitan  Police  Act  being  declared  constitutional  by  the  Court 
of  Ajjpeals,  the  Mayor  seemed  disposed  to  submit,  and  the  disturbance  was  sup- 
posed to  be  ended. 

In  the  meantime  the  city  had  become  greatly  demoralized.  During  the 
civil  strife  of  the  Police,  the  repression  of  crime  had  been  neglected.  Gangs 
of  rowdies  had  organized,  whose  purposes  were  disorder  and  plunder.  These 
rival  gangs  were  styled  the  "  Dead  Rabbits,"  and  were  residents  of  the  Five 
Points'  district;  and  the  other  was  known  by  the  name  of  the  "Atlantic  Guard  " 
or  "Bowery  Boys."  These  two  gangs  of  rowdies,  on  the  fourth  of  July  and  the 
preceding  evening,  came  into  a  conflict  in  Bayard  Street,  near  the  Bowery. 
Sticks,  stornes,  and  knives  were  freely  used  on  both  sides,  and  men,  women  and 
children  were  wounded  in  the  melee.  A  small  body  of  Policemen,  sent  to  quell 
the  disturbance,  was  soon  repulsed,  and  several  of  their  number  wounded.  The 
rioters  erected  barricades  in  the  streets,  and  great  consternation  prevailed  through- 
out the  city.  The  Seventh  Regiment  was  summoned  back  from  Boston,  and  the 
city  militia  was  called  out.  The  riot  was  not  quelled  until  late  in  the  evening. 
Six  men  were  killed  and  over  a  hundred  wounded. 

This  riot  aroused  the  citizens  to  the  danger  of  the  position,  and  intensified 
the  prejudice  against  the  Municipal  Police,  which  was  accused  of  abetting  the 
rioters.  Vigorous  measures  were  at  once  taken  to  organize  the  Metropolitan 
Police  and  secure  its  efficiency.  On  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  of  July 
another  outbreak  occurred  in  the  Seventeenth  Ward.  The  riot  continued  for 
tivo  days,  but  was  finally  quelled  by  the  Police. 

During  the  month  of  November,  the  apprehension  of  suffering  by  persons 
thrown  out  of  employment  because  of  the  commercial  reverses,  led  to  the  as- 
semblage of  turbulent  mobs,  which  ^jienaced  the  peace  of  the  city,  but  they 
were  dispersed  witliout  resort  to  extreme  measures. 

On  the  seventh  of  November,  Pelatiah  Perit,  of  New  York,  was  elected 
a  Commissioner  in  place  of  Mr.  Draper.  Soon  after,  the  Board  was  enjoined 
from  making  further  appointments,  on  the  allegation  that  the  dismissril 
of  the  old  force  was  illegal.  The  injunction  was  dissolved  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  November,  1857,  but  the  opinion  of  the  Judge,  delivered  with  the 
order  of  dismissal,  in  respect  to  questions  which  had  not  been  argued 
before  him,  admonished  the  Commissioners  of  the  expediency  of  delaying  to 
fill  the  vacancies  in  the  force  until  the  rights  and  duties  of  the  Board  were 
finally  determined  by  a  judicial  decision.  Some  parts  of  the  Metropolitan 
Police  District  had  been  seriously  disturbed  by  riotous  assemblages,  and  the 
necessity  of  a  vigilant  Police,  extending  over  the  densely  populated  counties 


OUR  POLICE  PKOrRCrORS. 


'43 


adjacent  to  and  including  the  city  of  New  York,  was  strikingly  illustrated  dur- 
inj^the  previous  summer. 

The  opponents  of  the  Act  resorted  to  every  artifice  which  tlicir  ingenuity 
could  devise  to  hinder  the  Commissioners  in  the  j)erformance  of  their  duty. 
The  members  of  the  old  force  were  threatened  with  instant  dismissal  by  the 
local  authorities  if  they  recognized  the  orders  of  the  Commissioners.  A  rival 
Police  was  established,  called  the  Day  and  Night  Watch,  which  patrolled  the 
streets  and  assumed  the  duties  which  devolved  exclusi\  ely  on  the  Metropolitan 
Police.  Prisoners  taken  by  the  latter  in  the  very  act  of  committing  crime,  were 
rescued  from  custody  and  permitted  to  escaj)e  from  justice  by  the  unlawful 
organized  force  of  the  Mayor.  The  station  houses,  which  by  law  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  Commissioners,  were  withheld;  writs  issued  by  the  courts  were 
resisted,  and  were  only  served  when  the  Police  were  seconded  by  men  under 
arms;  and  in  order  to  destroy  the  efificiency  of  the  law,  the  Corporation  of  New 
York  attempted  to  reduce  the  Patrol  force  to  five  men. 

The  station  houses  were  located  as  follows: 

First  Precinct,  Franklin  Market. 

Second  Precinct,  No.  49  Beekman  Street. 

Third  Precinct,  No.  79  Warren  Street. 

Fourth  Precinct,  No.  9  Oak  Street. 

Fifth  Precinct,  No.  49  Leonard  Street. 

Sixth  Precinct,  No.  9  Franklin  Street. 

Seventh  Precinct,  Gouverneur  Market. 

Eighth  Precinct,  No.  126  Wooster  Street. 

Ninth  Precinct,  No.  94  Charles  Street. 

Tenth  Precinct,  Grand  and  Ludlow  Streets. 

Eleventh  Precinct,  Union  Market. 

Twelfth  Precinct,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Street  near  Fourth  Avenue. 

Thirteenth  Precinct,  Delancey  and  Attorney  Streets. 

Fourteenth  Precinct,  No.  53  Spring  Street. 

Fifteenth  Precinct,  No.  220  Mercer  Street. 

Sixteenth  Precinct,  No.  156  West  Twentieth  Street. 

Seventeenth  Precinct,  No.  75  P'irst  Avenue. 

Eighteenth  Precinct,  Twenty-second  Street  near  First  Avenue. 

Nineteenth  Precinct,  Fifty-ninth  Street  near  Second  Avenue. 

Twentieth  Precinct,  No.  212  West  Thirty-fifth  Street. 

Twenty-first  Precinct,  No.  34  East  Twenty-ninth  Street. 

Twenty-second  Precinct,  Corner  Eighth  Avenue  and  Forty-eighth  Street. 

It  was  a  frequent  practice,  with  the  Aldermen  and  ^Lagistrates  of  the  cities 
of  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  to  proceed  to  the  Police  station  immediately  upon 
the  arrest  of  disorderly  or  riotous  persons,  and  discharge  tliem  from  custody. 
This  emboldened  the  dangerous  classes  and  tended  to  bring  the  law  into  con- 
tempt, while  it  discouraged  the  Police  in  the  performance  of  their  duty. 

Up  to  the  middle  of  July  there  were  not,  on  an  average,  more  than  five  hun- 
dred men  (including  officers)  actually  doing  duty,  whereas,  under  the  old  law, 
there  were  upwards  of  one   thousand  two  hundred.      On  the  twenty-first  of 


T44 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


August,  an  apportionment  was  made,  giving  to  each  Precinct  its  allotted  nufnber 
of  Officers  and  Patrolmen.  This  appointment  had  to  be  made  from  the  limited 
number  of  eight  hundred  and  sixty  regular  Patrolmen,  from  whom  had  to  be 
taken  a  sufficient  number  to  be  detailed  at  the  Court  of  Sessions  and  Police 
District  Courts,  the  Commissioners'  office,  and  the  General  and  Deputy  Superin- 
tendent's offices,  and  for  other  contingent  and  necessary  duties. 

It  had  been  a  year  of  riots  and  disturbances,  of  financial  panic 
and  business  disaster.  Prior  to  the  end  of  December  there  had  been  nine 
hundred  and  eighty-five  failures  among  the  merchants  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  involving  liabilities  exceeding  one  hundred  and  twenty  millions.  There 
were  ominous  mutterings  of  bread  riots  among  the  more  impoverished  part  of  the 
population.  The  arsenal  was  protected  by  a  strong  Police  force,  and  United 
States  troops  were  placed  in  charge  of  the  Custom  House  and  Assay  Offices. 

The  Police  force  was  inadequate  to  the  protection  of  the  city.  With  a 
population  of  eight  hundred  and  twenty  thousand,  and  rapidly  increasing,  the 
force  numbered  but  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  more  than  when  the  popu- 
lation was  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand.    The  disparity  of  the  Police  to 


the  population,  at  this 

period,  may  be 

inferred 

from  the 

following  table  of  the 

force  employed  in  the  cities  of  Great  Britain  : 

Population. 

Miles.    Area  in  miles. 

Proportion  to  Population, 

London  (City),  

,  ...  128,851 

569 

li 

I   to  226 

London  (Metropolitan^ 

I  .  .  .2,646,278 

5.813 

700 

I  to  455 

Liverpool  

  423,061 

906 

7f 

I  to  467 

Bristol  

248 

7 

I  to  564 

Dublin  

...  291,948 

775 

6 

1   to  376 

684 

I2i 

I  to  585 

  337>4i2 

,  552 

6i 

I  to  611 

In  the  City  of  New  York,  the  proportion  of  Patrolmen  to  the  popuUtion 
was,  in 

1844    as  I  to  414 

1858  as  I  to  804 

The  necessity  for  an  increase  of  the  Police  force  was  demonstrated  by  the 
arrests  made  in  a  series  of  years.    Arrests  made  from 


May, 

1846, 

to 

May, 

1847  

May, 

1847, 

to 

May, 

1848  

May, 

1848, 

to 

May, 

1849  

 25,808 

May, 

1849, 

to 

April, 

 24,756 

April, 

1850, 

to 

Jan'y, 

1851  

 26,581 

Jan'y, 

1851, 

to 

Jan'y, 

1852  

 36,224 

Jan'y, 

1852, 

to 

Jan'y, 

1853  

 36,257 

Jan'y, 

1853, 

to 

Jan'y, 

1854  

Jan'y, 

1854, 

to 

Jan'y, 

1855  

Jan'y, 

1855, 

to 

Jan'y, 

Jan'y, 

^856, 

to 

Jan'y, 

1857  

 45-287 

lan'v, 

1857, 

to 

July, 

1857  

 18,859 

July. 

1857, 

to 

Nov., 

1857  

 15,833 

Nov., 

1857, 

to 

Nov., 

1858  

 61,455 

The  Commissioners  drew  the  attention  of  the  legislature  and  the  executive 
to  these  facts,  and  argued  that  the  city  and  its  suburbs  should  be  policed  by  a 


OUR  rOIJCE  PROTECTORS.  145 

force  adequate  to  patrol  every  street  and  lane  by  day  and  by  night.  Attention 
was_^'ilso  called  to  the  fact  that  the  l)eats  of  the  Patrolmen  at  this  time  (1858) 
were  in  many  instances  two  miles  in  length,  and  in  several  of  the  precincts,  which 
contained  forty  thousand  inhabitants,  there  could  be  detailed  for  regular  duty 
during  the  day  but  eight  men.    The  Act  establishing  the  Metropolitan  Police  in- 


Old  Metropolitan  Police  Headquarters. 

(413  Broome  Street.) 


vested  the  Supervisors  of  the  several  counties  of  the  district  with  the  power  to 
determine  the  number  of  Patrolmen  to  be  appointed  in  each.  The  Commission- 
ers had  urged  upon  the  Supervisors  of  New  York  the  necessity  of  an  increase  of 
the  Police  for  that  city  without  effect,  and  the  legislature  was  petitioned,  in  view 
of  the  pressing  importance  to  the  public  peace,  and  for  the  security  of  property, 
to  authorize  the  appointment  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  Patrolmen  in  addition 
to  the  number  then  allowed  by  law. 


146 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


This,  in  fact,  was  an  anxious  period,  and  a  trying  one,  for  the  recently  organ- 
ized Police  force.  Its  trials  and  troubles  were  many  and  grievous.  It  was  the 
duty  of  the  Common  Councils  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn  to  furnish  the  stations 
suitably,  and  to  warm  and  light  them.  This,  and  other  kindred  duties,  the  cor- 
porations of  the  two  cities  had  failed  to  do.  Many  of  the  station  houses 
were  so  out  of  repair  as  to  be  unfit  for  habitation;  others  were  so  poorly 
ventilated,  or  so  limited  in  size,  as  to  engender  disease.  Platoons  of  twenty 
men  were  crowded  into  small  and  imperfectly  ventilated  rooms.  The  Police 
surgeons  designated  many  of  the  stations  as  pest-houses,  so  fruitful  were 
they  of  disease.  The  cellars  of  the  station  houses  were  divided  into  cells, 
for  the  retention  of  prisoners,  and  into  rooms  for  the  houseless  poor.  The  stench 
that  arose  from  these  rooms  poisoned  the  atmosphere  of  the  whole  building. 

Truly  the  contrast  with  the  present  commodious  and  well-appointed  station 
houses  is  a  striking  one. 

The  Police  Act  recpiired  that  the  Comptrollers  of  the  cities  of  New  York 
and  Brooklyn,  the  Chairman  of  the  Boards  of  Supervisors  of  the  counties  of  New 
York,  Kings,  Westchester,  and  Richmond,  should  meet  annually  as  an  auditing 
committee,  and  apportion  the  sums  requisite  and  needful  to  be  raised  for  Police 
purposes  by  each  county.  The  Auditing  Committee  met  for  this  purpose  in 
August,  1857,  and  made  the  following  apportionment  : 

To  be  raised  by  the  Coimty  of  New  York  for  the  support  of  the  Po- 
lice in  that  county  $868,070  00 

To  be  raised  by  the  City  of  Brooklyn  for  the  force  employed  in  that 

city   206,600  00 

And  for  the  general  expenses  of  Police,  to  be  raised  by  the  City  and 

County  of  New  York   20,47)*  6° 

To  be  raised  by  the  County  of  Kings   4o>62  13 

To  be  raised  by  the  County  of  Westchester   IjSoj  95 

To  be  raised  by  the  County  of  Richmond   355  32 

The  Counties  of  Westchester  and  Richmond  refused  to  j)ay  the  sums 
assessed  on  them. 

The  Police  force  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  Districts  on  the  first  of  Novem- 
ber, 1858,  was  as  follows  : 

General  Superintendent  of  Police;  one  Deputy  Superintendent  in  New  York; 
one  Deputy  Superintendent  in  Brooklyn. 

Captains,  stationed  in  the  City  of  New  York   25 

Captains  stationed  in  the  City  of  Brooklyn   6 

Sergeants  stationed  in  the  City  of  New  York   105 

Sergeants  stationed  in  the  City  of  Brooklyn   30 

Patrolmen  stationed  in  the  City  of  New  York  1,063 

Patrolmen  stationed  in  the  City  of  Brooklyn   198 

Arrests  made  during  the  year  ending  October  31,  1858:  In  the  City  of 
New  York,  sixty-one  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty-five,  exclusive  of  thirteen 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighteen  in  Brooklyn. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


■47 


Incidental  duties  discharged  hy  the  I'olicenun  in  tlie  city  of  New  Vurk, 
for  the  year  ending  October  31,  1858  : 

121,597  persons  lodged  in  station  houses. 

7,552  lost  children  restored  to  parents  and  guardians. 
58  abandoned  infants  taken  care  of. 
751  sick  or  disabled  persons  in  the  streets  taken  home. 
134  persons  rescued  from  drowning. 
180  fires  extinguished  liy  the  Police. 
1,724  stores  and  dwellings  found  open  at  night,  secured. 
584  strayed  horses  restored  to  owners. 

Property  stolen,  as  rei)orted  at  station  house  $165,825  47 

Recovered  by  Police   96.065  94 

Recovered  by  Detective  Force  (property  stolen  else- 
where than  in  the  Police  District)   65,025  00 

Taken  from  lodgers  and  prisoners,  and  restored  to  them  55,953  00 
Telegraphic  messages,  78,336. 
There  were  thirteen  surgeons  attached  to  the  force,  wliose  duty  it  was  to 
examine  and  report  to  the  Board  of  Commissioners  on  the  physical  condition  of 
candidates  for  the  office  of  Patrolmen,  and  to  perform  such  j)rofessional  duty  as 
might  be  directed  by  the  General  or  Deputy  Superintendent  of  Police,  without 
fee  or  expense  to  the  members  of  the  force. 

New  York  Police  Stations  were  located  as  follows  : 

1.  Franklin  Market,  corner  of  Rector  Street  and  Trinity  Place. 

2.  49  Beekman  Street. 

3.  79  Warren  Street. 

4.  9  Oak  Street. 

5.  49  Leonard  Street. 

6.  12  Franklin  Street. 

7.  Gouverneur  Market. 

8.  126  Wooster  Street. 

9.  94  Charles  Street. 

10.  Essex  Market. 

11.  Houston  and  Second  Streets. 

12.  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Street,  near  Third  Avenue. 

13.  Corner  of  Delancey  and  Attorney  Streets. 

14.  53  Spring  Street. 

15.  221  Mercer  Street. 

16.  156  West  Twentieth  Street. 

17.  75  First  Avenue. 

18.  163  East  Twenty-second  Street. 

19.  F'ifty-ninth  Street,  between  Second  and  Third  Avenues. 

20.  212  West  Thirty-fifth  Street. 

21.  34  East  Thirty-ninth  Street. 

22.  Forty-eighth  Street  and  Eighth  Avenue. 

23.  Fifty-sixth  Street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth  Avenues. 

24.  Corner  of  State  and  Whitehall  Streets. 

25.  Basement  of  Police  Headquarters,  comer  of  Broome  and  Elm  Streets. 

26.  Basement  of  City  Hall. 


148 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


During  twenty-nine  years  ending  with  1858,  thirty-eight  persons  had  been 
sentenced  for  capital  crimes,  of  whom  seventeen  had  been  executed,  fourteen 
had  their  sentences  commuted  to  imprisonment  for  life,  one  was  pardoned,  one 
committed  suicide,  arid  to  four  a  new  trial  was  granted,  of  whom  three  were 
convicted  of  manslaughter,  and  one  discharged.  One  was  under  sentence  of 
death  at  the  beginning  of  1859. 

The  ^^etropolitan  Police  District  was  divided  into  precincts.  The  precincts 
were  divided  into  beats.  In  the  city  of  New  York  each  of  the  several  Wards 
constituted  a  precinct  corresponding  in  number  to  that  of  the  Ward  ;  except 
that  part  of  the  Twelfth  and  part  of  the  Nineteenth  Wards  whiqh  constituted 
Precinct  No.  23  ;  the  East  and  Hudson  Rivers,  within  the  boundaries  of  New 
York  and  the  Bay  of  New  York,  constituted  Precinct  No.  24,  or  Harbor  Police  ; 
the  Detective  force  constituted  Precinct  No.  25  ;  and  the  force  assigned  espec- 
ially for  the  enforcement  of  ordinances  constituted  Precinct  No.  26.  In  each 
of  the  precincts  there  was  one  or  more  station  houses.  The  force  was  divided 
into  companies,  one  company  being  allotted  to  each  precinct. 

The  Police  Commissioners,  from  the  first,  had  an  exalted  and  intelligent 
conception  of  their  duties.  In  the  latter  part  of  1859  they  drew  up  and  pub- 
lished a  series  of  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  and  guidance  of  the 
force.  General  Superintendent  Pilsbury,  in  his  address  to  the  Police,  says: 
"The  uniform  you  wear  should  be  a  perpetual  'coat  of  mail,'  to  guard  you 
against  every  temptation  to  which  you  may  be  exposed,  by  reminding,  you  that 
no  act  of  misconduct,  or  breach  of  discipline,  can  escape  public  observation  and 
censure.  By  exemplary  conduct  and  manly  deportment,  you  will  command  the 
respect  and  cordial  support  of  all  good  citizens.  For  the  faithful  performance 
of  the  important  trusts  committed  to  your  care,  you  will  be  noticed  approvingly, 
and  your  services  will  be  appreciated  by  the  community." 

And  again  :  "  Every  Policeman  must  be  circumspect  in  his  deportment, 
erect  and  manly  in  his  carriage,  and  scrupulously  discreet  in  his  language  and 
acts.  He  must  be  firm,  but  courteous,  in  the  exercise  of  his  authority.  *  *  * 
He  must  be  neat  and  soldierly  in  his  appearance.  *  *  *  He  must  never, 
under  any  circumstances,  use  vulgar  or  profane  language." 

The  rules  and  regulations  were  quite  numerous,  and  space  can  be  found 
but  for  brief  mention  of  a  few: 

The  General  Superintendent  was  by  law  the  executive  head  of  the  whole 
Police  force  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  District,  and  it  was  the  duty  of  the 
members  of  the  same  to  respect  and  obey  him  accordingly.  It  was  his  duty  to 
repair  in  person  to  all  serious  or  extensive  fires  in  the  cities  of  New  York  and' 
Brooklyn;  to  all  riots  or  tumultuous  assemblages  within  the  district,  and  take 
command  of  the  Police  present,  to  save  and  protect  property,  and  arrest  such 
persons  as  he  might  find  disturbing  the  peace,  or  inciting  others  to  do  so.  He 
had  i)ower  to  direct,  temporarily,  any,  or  all,  of  the  Police  force,  to  any  place  with- 
in the  district  where  their  services  might  be  deemed  necessary.  He  had  the 
supervision  of  the  jjublic  health  of  the  district,  and  it  was  his  duty  to 
communicate  to  the  Board  of  Police  and  to  the  Mayors  of  New  York  and 
Brooklyn  the  presence  of  any  contagious  or  infectious  disease,  or  the  existence 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


149 


of  any  nuisance  in  the  district  which  might  be  detrimental  to  the  public  health. 
The  returns  and  reports  of  commanding  officers  of  any  patrol  force  stationed 
elsewhere  tlian  in  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  were  made  to  the 
General  Superintendent.  It  was  his  duty  to  see  that  the  laws  of  the  State  and 
the  ordinances  of  the  city,  town,  and  village  authorities,  were  duly  enforced 
throughout  the  district. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  General  Superintendent,  the  Deputy  Superin- 
tendents had  supervision  of  the  Police  force.  It  was  their  duty  to  see  that  the 
orders  and  directions  of  the  General  Superintendent  in  relation  to  tlie  dress, 
discipline,  deportment,  and  duties  of  members  of  the  force  were  promptly 
obeyed,  and  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Police  Board  enforced. 

The  Captains  of  Police  were  held  strictly  responsil)ie  for  llie  ])reservation 
of  the  public  peace  in  their  respective  precincts;  and  to  insure  good  order,  they 
were  vested  with  the  power  to  post  the  men  under  their  command  in  such  parts 
of  tlieir  precincts,  and  to  assign  them  such  duties,  as  they  might  deem 
expedient. 

In  case  of  sickness,  or  the  absence  of  the  Captain  from  the  Police  station 
house,  or  from  his  precinct,  the  duties  reciuired  of  him  were  performed  by  one 
of  the  Sergeants  of  the  precinct,  selected  for  that  purpose  by  the  General 
Superintendent.  The  Sergeant  so  selected,  during  the  absence  of  the  Ca])tain, 
possessed  and  exercised  all  the  powers  of  a  Captain,  and  enforced  the  rules 
and  regulations  established  for  the  government  of  the  precinct. 

The  prevention  of  crime  being  the  most  important  object  in  view,  a 
PatroJman's  exertions  should  be  constantly  used  to  accomplish  that  end;  he 
should  examine  and  make  himself  perfectly  acquainted  with  every  part  of  his 
beat,  and  vigilantly  watch  every  description  of  person  passing  his  way.  He 
should,  to  the  utmost  of  his  power,  prevent  the  commission  of  assaults,  breaches 
of  the  peace,  and  all  other  crimes  about  to  be  committed,  and  by  his  vigilance, 
render  it  extremely  difficult  for  any  one  to  commit  crime  on  his  beat  (the 
absence  of  crime  being  considered  the  best  proof  of  efficiency),  and,  when  on 
any  beat  offences  frequently  occur,  there  is  good  reason  to  suppose  that  there  is 
negligence  or  want  of  ability  on  the  part  of  the  person  in  charge  of  said 
beat. 

Persons  appointed  to  serve  on  the  Police  Force  should — 
First. — Be  able  to  read  and  write  the  English  language. 
Second. — Be  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

Third. — Have  been  residents  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  District  during  a 
term  of  five  years  next  preceding  their  appointment. 
Fourth. — Never  have  been  convicted  of  crime. 
Fifth. — At  least  five  feet  eight  inches  in  height. 
Sixth. — Not  over  thirty-five  years  of  age. 
Seventh. — Of  good  health  and  sound  body. 
Eighth. — Of  good  moral  character. 

Any  member  of  the  Police  force  might  be  immediately  dismissed  from 
office,  in  addition  to  any  other  punishment  he  might  l)e  subject  to  by  law, 
against  whom  any  of  the  following  charges  should  be  substantiated: — 


15° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


First. — Intoxication. 

Second. — Willful  disobedience  of  orders. 

Third. — Violent,  coarse,  or  insolent  language  or  behavior  to  a  superior,  or 
other  person. 

Fourth. — Receiving  money,  or  other  valuable  thing,  contrar\-  to  the  Rules 
and  Regulations,  or  the  Statutes  of  the  State. 

Fifth. — Willful  non-compliance  with  the  Rules  and  Regulations. 
Sixth. — Inefficiency,  or  gross  neglect  of  duty. 

Seventh. — Willfully  maltreating  or  using  unnecessary  violence  toward  a 
prisoner  or  citizen. 

Eighth.- — Any  member  of  the  Police  force  who  was  found  neglecting  the 
payment  of  his  just  debts  for  necessaries  or  rent,  or  was  found  guilty  of  any  act 
of  insubordination  or  disrespect  toward  his  superior  officers,  or  others,  or 
conduct    unworthy    of   his   station,  might  be    reprimanded,  fined,  or  have 

deductions  made  from  his  pay,  proportioned 
to  his  offense,  or,  in  cases  of  repeated  viola- 
tions of  the  rule,  might  be  dismissed.  No 
person  should  be  removed  from  the  Police 
force  except  upon  written  charges,  i)referred 
against  him  to  the  Board  of  Police,  and  an 
opportunity  afforded  him  of  being  heard  in 
his  defense,  as  prescribed  by  the  law. 

The  mode  of  trial,  when  charges  had  been 
preferred,  was  by  taking  the  testimony  on  oath 
against  and  for  the  accused  officer,  and  reducing 
the  substance  thereof  to  writing.  The  same 
might  be  taken  by  or  before  one  or  more  of  ihe 
Police  Commissioners,  and  one  of  the  clerks 
(under  the  direction  of  the  Commissioner  or 
Commissioners  sitting)  took  down,  as  aforesaid, 
the  substance  of  the  testimony.  The  testimony 
was  reported  to  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners,  with  the  opinion  thereon  of 
the  Commissioner  or  Commissioners  before  whom  the  same  was  taken,  for  the 
action  and  the  decision  of  the  Board  thereon. 

The  dress  of  the  General  Superintendent  was  a  blue  dress  coat  with  Police  but- 
tons; the  dress  of  the  Deputy  Superintendents,  Captains,  and  Sergeants  of  Police, 
was  a  double-breasted  frock  coat,  with  Police  buttons,  and  blue  pantaloons.  Patrol-^ 
men  on  duty,  unless  specially  authorized  to  appear  in  citizen's  dress,  on  all  occasions 
wore  a  black  stock,  a  frock-coat  of  navy  blue  cloth,  single-breasted,  and  with  rolling 
collar,  nine  buttons  on  the  breast,  two  buttons  on  the  hips,  also  two  buttons  on 
the  bottom  of  the  skirt;  blue  waistcoat  and  blue  pantaloons,  on  the  outer  seams 
of  which  there  was  a  white  cord.  The  coat  was  buttoned  at  all  times  when  on 
duty.  Captains,  Sergeants,  and  Patrolmen,  when  on  duty,  wore  caps,  shields, 
badges,  emblems,  devices,  belts  and  buttons,  corresponding  to  a  sample  deposited 
in  the  office  of  the  General  Superintendent,  and  the  time  of  wearing  them  was 
directed  by  him. 


Patrolman's  Shield. 


OrR  POLrCF.  PROTECTORS. 


'5' 


Deputy  Sujierintindcnt  Daniel  C';irj)t'nter,  in  his  quarterly  report,  endip.g 
J;rnuary  31,  1859,  mentions  some  of  the  causes  of  crime,  namely:  there  AVere 
at  this  date  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-nine  places  where 
intoxicating  licjuors  were  sold  at  retail.  From  the  reports  of  the  Captains  of 
nineteen  precincts  it  ajjpears  that  there  were  four  hundred  and  ninety-six  known 
houses  of  prostitution,  and  eighty-four  houses  of  assignation.  These  included 
one  hundred  and  seventy  lager  beer  and  drinking  saloons,  combined  with  houses 
of  ill-fame;  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  low  groggeries,  where  known  thieves  and 
fallen  women  daily  and  nightly  resorted,  but  a  strict  Police  surveilance  was  kept 
over  them,  thereby  preventing  them  from  c  ommitting  dej)redations  that  thev  other- 
wise would. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  had  shortly  before  increased  the  Tatro!  force  to 
one  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  men. 

On  the  first  of  November,  1859,  there  were  altogether  (including  the  entire 
district)  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-nine  persons  belonging  to  the 
Metropolitan  Police  Department,  namely: 

General  Sui)erintendent,  one  ;  Deputy  Superintendents,  two;  Chief,  Deputy 
and  Property  Clerks,  six;  Surgeons,  five  ;  Captains,  thirty-two;  Sergeants,  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five;  Policemen  on  patrol  duty,  one  thousand  three  hundred 
and  twenty-seven  ;  Policemen  on  detailed  duty,  one  hundred  and  eighteen  ; 
Doormen,  seventy-three. 

The  sick  list  averaged  during  the  last  quarter  forty-six  and  two-thirds  per- 
sons daily.  On  an  average,  each  Patrolman  in  New  York  lost  two  and  one-half 
days  during  the  quarter  by  sickness.  The  aggregate  lost  time,  by  reason  of 
sickness  and  disability,  during  this  quarter,  was  three  hundred  and  sixty-five 
and  one-half  days. 

The  Metropolitan  Act  was  amended  by  the  legislature  on  April  10,  i860.  The 
Metropolitan  Police  District  was  then  made  to  comprise  the  counties  of  New 
York,  Kings,  Westchester  and  Richmond,  and  the  towns  of  Newtown,  Flushing 
and  Jamaica,  in  the  county  of  Queens.  The  Governor  appointed  the  following 
to  fill  vacancies: 

John  G.  Bergen,  Amos  Pilsbury,  and  James  Bowen.  Pilsbury  resigned,  and 
Thomas  C.  Acton  was  api)ointed  in  his  place. 

On  May  23,  i860,  the  Board  appointed  John  A.  Kennedy  Superintendent 
of  Police  in  place  of  Amos  Pilsbury,  who  was  appointed  Commissioner. 

The  designation  of  rank,  under  this  chapter,  was  as  follows:  Superintendent, 
Inspectors,  Captains,  Sergeants,  Patrolmen  and  Doormen. 

The  office  of  Deputy  Superintendent  was  abolished.  The  following  were 
api)ointed  Inspectors:  Daniel  Carpenter,  John  S.  Folk,  George  W.  Dilks,  and 
James  Leonard. 

Salaries:  Treasurer,  three  thousand  dollars  per  annum;  other  Commission- 
ers, eight  dollars  for  each  day's  actual  service  ;  Superintendent,  five  thousand 
dollars;  Inspectors,  two  thousand  dollars;  Surgeons,  one  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  ;  Captains,  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  ;  Sergeants,  nine  hundred 
dollars;  Patrolmen,  eight  hundred  dollars;  Doormen,  seven  hundred  dollars. 

The  term  of  office  continued  to  be  during  good  behavior. 


Ol'R  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


This  Act  essentially  modified  the  constitution  of  the  Board  of  Police,  by 
reducing  the  number  of  its  members,  and  by  enlarging  its  powers,  and  confiding 
to  it  new  and  important  duties.  By  the  provisions  of  the  Act  of  1857,  the 
Board  of  Police  consisted  of  five  Commissioners  and  the  Mayors  of  the  cities 
of  New  York  and  Brooklyn.  The  number  of  Commissioners  was  reduced 
to  three,  and  the  Mayors  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn  were  relieved  from 
the  Police  duties  which  had  been  imposed  upon  them.  The  change  was 
not  without  its  advantages.  It  secured,  for  instance,  harmony  of  action,  and  the 
constant  attention  of  the  members  of  the  Board  to  the  important  trusts  confided 
to  them.  At  the  date  of  the  passage  of  the  amended  Act,  the  office  of  Super- 
intendent of  Police  was  vacant.  On  the  twenty-third  of  May,  i860,  John  A. 
Kennedy  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Besides  the  principal  office  in  the  City  Hall,  up  to  1844,  there  was  a  branch 
office  at  the  corner  of  Bowery  and  Third  Street.  The  office  hours  were  from 
nine  o'clock  A.  M.  until  sunset.  One  of  the  Magistrates  received  the  Watch  at 
daybreak  every  morning;  which  duty  was  performed  weekly  by  each  Magistrate 
alternately.  In  1857,  at  the  time  of  the  conflict  between  Mayor  Wood  and 
the  newly  appointed  Police  Commissioners,  the  Headquarters  were  moved  from 
the  City  Hall  to  No.  88  White  Street,  and  six  months  later  to  No.  413  Broome 
Street,  and  in  1863,  to  the  present  building  at  No.  300  Mulberry  Street.  The 
new  Headquarters,  with  the  land  and  buildings,  and  the  additions  made  in  1868 
and  1869,  cost  two  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty  dollars 
and  ninety  cents.  The  expense  was  defrayed  from  a  surplus  accumulated  by 
careful  economy  from  the  annual  appropriations  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
Police  in  New  York,  and  by  virtue  of  the  legal  authority  vested  in  the  Board 
by  the  Police  law  of  i860.  The  title  to  the  property  is  vested  in  the  county 
of  New  York. 

The  area  of  territory  embraced  in  the  Metropolitan  Police  District  was 
nine  hundred  and  twenty  square  miles,  and  the  population  estimated  at  fourteen 
hundred  thousand  persons.  Except  in  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn, 
there  was  no  Police  force  permanently  stationed  in  any  part  of  the  district,  and 
in  those  cities  the  force  was  quite  inadequate  for  the  population  they  contained. 

The  Police  force  at  this  time  consisted  of  one  Superintendent,  four  Inspec- 
tors, thirty-two  Captains,  one  hundred  and  forty-six  Sergeants,  one  thousand  six 
hundred  Patrolmen. 

The  cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn  were  divided  into  precincts,  to  each 
of  which  there  were  assigned  one  Captain,  four  Sergeants,  and  from  forty  to  sixty 
Patrolmen.  There  were  also  sub-precincts,  to  which  two  Sergeants  and  from 
ten  to  fifteen  men  were  assigned.  Two  Doormen  were  attached  to  each  station 
house. 

In  the  cities  of  Europe,  where  the  Police  are  sustained  by  the  constant 
presence  of  a  military  force,  there  was  a  Policeman  to  about  every  five  hundred 
inhabitants,  while  in  the  city  of  New  York,  the  proportion  which  the  Police  bore 
to  the  population  was  one  to  six  hundred  and  fifty,  and  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn 
as  one  to  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty. 

The  Embassy  from  the  Government  of  Japan,  which  visited  the  city  of 


OUR  POfJCF.  PROTECTORS.  153 

New  York  in  June  (i860)  gave  to  the  Board  for  the  benefit  of  the  Metropolitan 
Poiicc,  the  sum  of  thirteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dolhirs,  with  the 
recommendation  tliat  it  should  constitute  a  fund,  and  that  the  annual  interest 
thereof  he  distributed  among  the  force  in  such  manner  as  the  Board  should 
deem  expedient.  The  fund  was  called  the  Japanese  Merit  Fund,  the  interest 
of  which,  it  was  directed,  should  be  distributed  in  the  following  manner: 

To  the  Captain  who  should  have  best  performed  his  duty  for  the  i)rcceding 
year,  two  hundred  dollars. 

To  the  two  Sergeants  who  should  have  best  performed  their  duty,  each, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars. 

To  the  five  Patrolmen  who  should  have  best  performed  their  dutv,  each, 
one  hundred  dollars. 

The  whole  number  of  arrests  for  the  year  i860: 

Offences  against  the  person  54,820 

Offences  against  property  10,989 

Total  65,809 

The  drafts  upon  the  force,  for  the  discharge  of  numerous  duties,  reduced 
the  active  Patrol  force  in  New  York  to  one  thousand  and  ten  men.  This 
number  was  further  subject  to  a  reduction  by  sickness  and  absence.  The 
needful  requirements  for  rest  and  refreshments  prevented  more  than  one-half 
of  that  number,  except  in  extreme  cases,  from  being  on  post  at  one  time. 
Hence  all  the  streets  and  piers  of  the  city  of  New  York  were  guarded  by  a 
force  not  exceeding  four  hundred  and  ninety-one  men.  In  the  city  of  New 
York  there  were,  at  this  time,  four  hundred  and  twelve  and  one-eighth  miles  of 
streets,  and  twelve  and  one-eighth  miles  of  piers,  being  an  aggregate  of  four 
hundred  and  twenty-four  and  one-fourth  miles.  Should  every  man — whose  duty  it 
was  to  patrol,  deducting  the  sick  only— be  on  post,  the  average  length  of  the  beats 
would  be  eight  hundred  and  sixty-two  one-thousandths  of  a  mile,  very  nearly 
seven-eighths  of  a  mile  for  each  man  to  guard.  But  as  in  many  places,  from  the 
turbulent  character  of  the  population  or  other  cause,  the  patrol  was  required  to 
be  doubled,  and  a  further  reduction  occurring  in  the  number  of  the  men  by 
occasional  necessary  absence,  the  actual  force  on  duty  would  not  allow  the 
length  of  beats  to  average  less  than  one  and  one-fourth  miles. 

The  Supervisors  of  the  County  of  New  York  had  authorized  the  increase 
of  the  Patrol  force  of  that  county  from  fourteen  to  eighteen  hundred  men. 
The  Police  then  consisted  of  a  Superintendent,  four  Inspectors,  thirty-eight 
Captains,  one  hundred  and  sixty  Sergeants,  two  thousand  Patrolmen,  of  whom 
thirty  Captains,  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  Sergeants,  and  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  Patrolmen  were  stationed  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the  remainder 
in  the  city  of  Brooklyn. 

It  was  estimated  that  for  the  proper  protection  of  the  public  interests,  the 
Police  force  of  a  city  should  be  as  one  Patrolmen  to  every  five  hundred  inhabi- 
tants. This  proportion  was  maintained  in  the  city  of  New  York;  but  in  Brooklyn, 
which  contained  three  hundred  thousand  inhabitants,  there  were  stationed  but 
two  hundred  Patrolmen,  or  one  to  every  one  thousand  five  hundred  inhabitants. 


154  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

In  the  month  of  Ma)-,  this  year,  the  Grand  Jury  of  New  York  requested 
the  Board  of  Police  to  supervise  the  cleaning  of  streets.  In  accordance  with 
this  request  the  Board  caused  daily  reports  to  be  made  by  the  Patrolmen  of 
the  streets  swept  and  not  swept,  and  make  weekly  returns  thereof  to  the 
Comptroller. 

The  Board  complained  to  the  Governor  that  the  facility  with  which  bur- 
glars and  thieves  could  dispose  of  property  through  the  receivers  of  stolen  goods, 


Police  Headquarters,  300  Mulberry  Street, 
formed  a  powerful  stimulus  to  the  commission  of  crime.    It  was  recommended 
that  the  Board  be  authorized  to  pay  out  of  the  Police  Life  and  Health  Fund  for 
the  conviction  of  every  receiver  of  stolen  goods  a  reward  of  not  exceeding  one 
hundred  dollars,  as  a  means  to  break  up  this  class  of  lawbreakers. 
The  total  number  of  arrests  made  in  New  York  City  were: 

Offences  against  property  1 1.294 

Offences  against  the  person  59'83'^ 


Grand  Total 


71.130 


OUR  rOfJCF.  PROTECTORS. 


'55 


The  value  of  property  and  money  lost  and  recovered,  t<jr  the  year  ending 
October  31,  1861,  was: 

Lost,  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  thousand  six  luindred  and  seventy-nine 
dollars  and  ninety-six  cents. 

Recovered,  seventy-nine  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-two  dollars 
and  eleven  cents. 

Exclusive  of  the  amount,  recovered  as  above,  the  Detective  force,  or 
Twenty-fifth  Precinct,  recovered  twenty-five  thousand  nine  hundred  and  ninety- 
seven  dollars  and  fifteen  cents. 

Lost  time,  by  reason  of  sickness,  for  the  year  ending  October  31,  1861, 
fourteen  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  ninety-six  days. 

The  Act  of  April  24,  1862,  provided  that  Constables  elected  or  appointed 
after  the  passage  of  this  Act,  should  be  denominated  the  "  Marshals  of  the 
City  of  New  York,"  and  they  should  have  the  same  power,  and  perform  all  the 
duties  that  had  hitherto  appertained  to  the  office;  and  each  of  said  Marshals 
should  be  a  resident  of  the  district  wherein  the  Court,  for  or  to  which  he  should 
be  appointed,  was  located  ;  such  Marshal  to  execute  a  bond,  with  two  sufficient 
sureties,  in  the  penal  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars. 

All  laws  relating  to  the  election  of  Constables  were  repealed. 

The  Board,  by  careful  economy,  had  accumulated  a  surplus  from  the  annual 
appropriations  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Police  in  New  York,  which,  with  the 
consent  of  the  Supervisors  of  that  county,  they  expended  in  the  erection  of  a 
building  for  the  Central  Department  of  Police. 

The  station  houses  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn  had  been  condemned  by  the 
Police  Surgeons  as  unfit  for  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  used.  These  evils 
were  corrected;  spacious  and  commodious  stations  having  been  erected  in  many 
of  the  precincts,  while  in  others  the  houses  had  been  enlarged  and  provision 
made  for  their  thorough  ventilation.  The  cells  and  lodging  houses  for  the  poor 
had  been  removed  to  separate  buildings  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  several  stations. 

At  the  request  of  the  Federal  authorities,  the  Board,  in  the  month  of  July, 
began  to  recruit  for  volunteers  to  serve  in  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  To 
defray  the  expenses  of  recruiting,  the  members  of  the  Police  and  others  sub- 
scribed the  sum  of  twenty-eight  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-nine  dollars  and 
fifteen  cents;  and  by  their  efforts  there  was  obtained  from  citizens  the  sum  of 
seventy-seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-nine  dollars  and  forty-six  cents, 
which  was  appropriated  to  the  families  of  recruits.  The  Board,  with  the  means 
thus  afforded  them,  was  enabled  to  place  five  regiments  of  infantry  and  four 
companies  of  one  hundred  men  each,  of  cavalry,  in  the  field. 

The  Police  force  of  New  York,  for  the  year  1 862,  consisted  of  one  Superinten- 
dent, thirty  Captains,  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  Sergeants,  sixty-four  Rounds- 
men, one  thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty-eight  Patrolmen,  one  hundred  and 
seven  Special  Duty  in  the  precinct,  one  hundred  and  seventy-four  Special  Duty 
out  of  the  precinct,  sixty-seven  Doormen.    Total,  1,999- 

Lost  time  by  reason  of  sickness  or  disability  for  the  same  period,  eighteen 
thousand  two  hundred  and  thirt\  -nine  days. 

By    the    rules   of  the  department,   when  sickness  or  disability  resulted 


156  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

from  extraordinary  exertion  or  exposure,  in  discharge  of  Police  duty,  the  full 
time  lost  was  paid  for.    When  it  resulted  from  ordinary  circumstances,  one-half 
the  lost  time  was  paid  for.    When  it  was  feigned,  or  resulted  from  carelessness, 
excess,  or  fault  of  the  Policeman,  no  pay  was  allowed  for  the  lost  time. 
The  total  number  of  arrests  were: 

For  offences  against  property   1 3,344 

Offences  against  the  person   68,728 

Total  82,072 

Value  of  jjroperty  and  money,  lost  and  recovered,  for  the  year  ending 
October  31,  1862 : 

Lost  $202,939  76 

Recovered   76,912  27 

Total  loss  $126,027  49 

The  Twenty-fifth  Precinct  consisted  of  the  Detective  force.  This  force 
recovered  large  amounts  of  money  and  property  which  were  not  lost  within  the 
Police  District.  For  this  reason  the  figures  were  not  carried  into  the  foregoing 
table,  representing  the  losses  and  recoveries  within  the  district.  The  amount 
recovered  by  the  Detective  force,  during  the  year  ending  October  31,  1862,  was 
fifty-five  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty-five  dollars  and  eighty-five  cents. 

The  system  of  discipline  established  and  carried  out  by  the  Board,  though 
much  criticised  and  opposed  in  the  beginning,  was  fully  vindicated  to  all  candid 
persons  by  beneficial  results.  The  marked  fidelity,  vigilance  and  efficiency  of 
the  Police,  in  ordinary  as  well  as  extraordinary  occasions,  was,  it  was  claimed, 
the  legitimate  fruit  of  this  system.  Instead  of  fearing  or  despising  the  Police- 
man, the  public  had  learned  to  trust  him  as  the  protector  and  defender  of 
social  order. 

On  the  morning  of  the  thirteenth  of  July  the  city  was  startled  by  the  law- 
less acts  of  a  formidable  mob,  which  entered  on  a  career  of  robbery,  arson  and 
murder  that  was  not  completely  checked  until  the  morning  of  the  seventeenth. 

Concerning  these  exciting  events,  and  the  action  of  the  Police  in  sup- 
pressing the  rioters  and  restoring  law  and  order,  more  will  be  said  in  another 
place. 

The  entire  force  for  the  year  ending  October  31,  1863,  was  as  follows: 
Captains,  thirty-four;  Sergeants,  one  hundred  and  twenty-six;  Patrolmen, 
(including  Roundsmen  and  Special  Duty  men),  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-four;  Doormen,  sixty-six. 

Lost  time,  by  reason  of  sickness  or  disability,  twenty-two  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  five  days. 

This  large  increase  of  lost  time  over  the  previous  year  is  attributable  to  the 
July  riots. 

Arrests: 

Offences  against  property  8,912 

Offences  against  the  person  52,976 


Total 


61,888 


OCh'  I'OI.ICF.  PROTECTORS. 


'57 


The  annexed  cut  is  an  accurate  representation  of  the  old  Jefferson  Market, 
shewing  the  old  fire  tower,  the  rear  of  the  prison,  and  Jefferson  Assembly  Rooms, 
which  formerly  was  used  as  a  watch-house  by  the  old  Leatherheads. 

On  the  thirty-first  of  December,  1863,  Governor  Seymour  apjiointed  as 
Police  Commissioners,  Joseph  S.  Bosworth,  A\'il!iam  McMurray,  and  William  1'. 
Lewis,  in  tiie  place  of  Bergen,  Acton  and  liow  cn,  removed. 


Old  Jefferson  Market. 

The  removed  Commissioners  refused  to  obey  the  edict  of  the  Governor, 
and  held  on  to  the  office  of  Police  Commissioners,  continuing  to  discharge  the 
duties  thereof.  In  this  emergency  the  legislature  stepped  in,  and,  on  March  15. 
1864,  by  enactment,  provided  that  "in  place  of  the  Commissioners  ot 
Metropolitan  Police,  appointed  under  and  by  virtue  of  Chapter  259,  Laws  of 
1864,  whose  several  terms  of  office  are  hereby  vacated,  there  are  hereby 
a[)pointed,  respectively,  as  such  Commissioners,  Thomas  C.  Acton,  to  hold 
office  until  March  i,  1872;  Joseph  S.  Bosworth,  to  hold  office  until  !March  i, 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


1870;  John  G.  Bergen,  to  hold  office  until  March  i,  1868;  and  William  McMurray, 
to  hold  office  until  March  1,  1866. 

Any  vacancy  occurring  during  the  term  of  any  Commissioner  was  filled  by 
appointment  by  the  remaining  Commissioners,  and  the  Commissioner  so 
appointed  continued  in  office  until  his  successor  had  been  elected  by  the  next 
legislature.  A  Commissioner  whose  term  of  office  had  expired  continued  to 
hold  office  until  his  successor  should  have  qualified. 

Statement  of  convictions,  accjuittals,  etc.,  had  in  the  Courts  of  Oyer  and 
Terminer  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  in  and  for  the  city  and  county 
of  New  York,  from  1841  to  1858,  a  period  of  seventeen  years: 


OFFENCES. 


Murder  

Arson,  first  degree  (capital) . .  . 

Manslaii>;hter  (various  degrees) 

Assault  &  Battery,  with  intent 
to  kill  or  maim  

Ase'lt  &  Batt'y  with  int.  to  rob. 

Rnpe,  and  int't  to  commit  rape. 

Abandoning  a  child  on  a  public 
highway .'  

Robbery  (first  degree)  

Riot,  w  ith  assault.   

Assault  and  Battery  

Procuring  abortion  

Bigamy   . 

Incest  

Sodomy  

Perjury,  and  subornation  of 
perjury  

Arson  (not  capital)  

Burglary  (various  degrees)  

Attempt  to  commit  felonies. . 

Embezzlement  

Grand  larceny,  &  sec.  offence 

Petit  larceny,  and  attempt  to 
commit  petit  larceny..,  . 

Petit  larceny,  second  offence 

Obtaining  property  by  false 
Iiretences  

Conspiracy  

Carrying  slung-ehot  (felony)  . . 

Receiv'g  stolen  g'ds  (scienter). 

Accessory  to  felony  

Forgery  (various  degrees)  

Receiv'g  chall'ge  to  fight  a  duel 

Breaking  prison  

.\iding  prisoners  to  escape  

Keei)ing  gambling  and  disor- 
derly nonses  

Nuisance  

Selling,  issuing,  and  advertis- 
ing lottery  tickets  

Libel  

Cruelty  to  animals   

Selling  liquor  without  license. 

Misdemeanor  

Accpiitted  

Sentenced  to  be  executed  

"         State  i)rison  

"  County  prisons. . . 
"         House  of  Refuge. 

Indictments  found  by  Or.  Jury. 

Compl'ts  dismissed  by  G.  Jury. 


90 


10 


2 
1 
55 
2 
1 

71  84 


48 


10 


40 


22 


43 


52 


18 


54 


182  206 


10 


19 


101 


13 


15 


IS 


15 


14 


25 


14  38 
2 


6  10 


307; 


10 
16 

15.-.  168 
3  1 

252  225,   

1241  144  151 


2.31  2  1( 
13.-54'2698  99; 
220  205  14. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  159 

Convictions,  acquittals  and  discharges  by  tlic  C^oiirt  of  Cicncral  Sessions 
irom  the  year  1838  to  1857  inclusive  : 


OFFENCES. 

i 

0 

i 

eo 

00 

3 

S 

0 

s 

I— 

CO 
GO 

s>  1  <s 
S  3 

i 

i 

g 



Convictioim, 

petit  lurceny.. 

261 

849 

626 

666 

744 

907 

896 

991 

977 

1064 

1180  1419 

...» 
1453 

1475 

1415 

1411 

2047 

1788 

2(M1 

Aiqiiiltiils  

73 

93 

97 

78 

138 

142 

148 

193 

220 

'i73 

258 

261 

219 

187 

214 

179 

108 

196 

208 

273 

CoiivictioiiH,  ng- 

siiiilt  &  Imtt'y. 

125 

168 

226 

296 

287 

395 

551 

615 

50!) 

834 

4-30 

558 

a37 

662 

978 

1230 

1152 

986  1589 

Ai'<|iiittal«  

26 

83 

32 

80 

33 

54 

86 

90 

87 

48 

52 

59 

76 

43 

51 

67 

66 

929 

84 

284 

Di.xcliiirKes  

429 

581 

488 

396 

875 

537 

a38 

1158 

1109 

697 

672 

a38  1-382 

1194 

1167 

1120 

1181 

84 

1454 

1627 

28 

25 

101 

Misdemeniiorc, 

« 

4 

40 

914 

1219 

13C9 

K63:157T 

2032 

2519 

8067 

2922 

2352 

2502 

2996 

3933 

3539 

3884 

8944 

3921 

3290,4549 

5825 

No.  of  Trials  in 

Speciul  St'sfi.,. 

434 

614 

839 

1001 

1119 

1311 

1495 

1741 

1651 

1399 

16:35 

1837 

2218 

2079 

3405 

2570  1528 

1942  2803 

3752 

Sentenced       t  o 

Co.  Prisons. . . 

S9G 

ail 

508 

082 

737 

987 

1058 

1128 

1075 

931 

1003 

1130  1402 

1179 

1254 

1212 

1159 

1528  1436 

1834 

Sentenced       t  o 

H.  of  Refuge. . 

27 

25 

23 

07 

63 

55 

56 

66 

56 

51 

52 

71 

94 

97 

119 

41 

195 

From  January  i,  1830,  to  December  31,  1857  (twenty-eight  years),  thirty- 
seven  persons  had  been  sentenced  to  be  executed,  on  convictions  had  in  the 
criminal  courts  of  the  county.  Of  this  number  sixteen  were  executed;  the  sen- 
tences of  thirteen  were  commuted  to  imprisonment  for  life;  one  was  pardoned  ; 
one  committed  suicide;  in  four  cases  new  trials  were  ordered — two  were  subse- 
quently convicted  of  manslaughter  and  one  discharged,  and  two  under  sentence. 


i6o 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


CHAPTER  Vlir. 


SKETCH  CF  THE  DRAFT  RIOTS. 

JVLY,  1863. 

The  City  in  the  Hands  of  a  Frenzied  Mon. — An  Emergency  in  -which  the 
Police  covered  themselves  with  Glory. — Popular  Discontent  grow- 
ing OUT  OF  A  latent  SYMPATHY  WITH  THE  SOUTHERN   CaUSE.  ThE  MeTH'^D 

ADOPTED  FOR  THE  ENFORCEMENT  OF  THE  DrAFT  NOT  THE  MOST  JUDICIOUS  ONE. 

Superintendent  Kennedy's  arrangements  in  anticipation  of  trouble. — 
Growing  Desperation  of  the  Mob.- — Firing  of  the  Buildings  in  which 
the   Provost'  Marshal  had    his    Office. — Superintendent  Kennedy 

ATTACKED   AND   BrUTALLY  BeATEN.  HiS  MIRACULOUS  EsCAPE  FROM  DeATH. 

— Commissioner  Acton  assumes  Command  of  the  Force. — His  Energy 
AND  Promptitude  more  than  a  M.\tch  for  the  Mob,  who  Fight  Furi- 
ously.— The  Rioters  beat  back  the  Police,  but  are  in  turn  overcome 
and  routed. — Clubs  versus  Stones,  Bricks  and  Bullets. — "  By  the  Right 
F'lank,  Company  Front,  Double  Quick,  Charge  !"— Mob  Desperation  and 
Police  Heroism. — "  Up  Guards,  and  at  'em." — Action  of  the  Military. — 
End  of  the  First  Day's  Fighting. 

T_T  OWEVER  admirably  they  may  have  behaved  in  other  emergencies,  there 
has  been  no  occasion  on  which  our  Police  Protectors  covered  themselves 
with  more  honor  than  during  the  terrible  draft  riots  which  convulsed  the  city 
for  an  entire  week  in  the  summer  of  1863.  At  this  period,  too,  they  assumed  a 
higher  role  than  is  generally  allotted  to  them.  'I'hey  became  not  only  the  de- 
fenders of  the  lives  and  property  of  their  fellow-citizens,  but  also  the  vindicators 
of  the  National  honor.  They  fought  for  the  Union  in  the  streets  of  New  York, 
just  as  truly  as  the  soldiers  of  the  Republic  did  upon  the  banks  of  the  Potomac. 
Day  after  day  they  went  out  to  combat  with  forces  greatly  their  superior  in 
numbers;  day  after  day  they  imperiled  life  and  limb;  they  left  their  own 
homes,  their  wives  and  children  unprotected,  to  obey  the  call  of  duty.  Nothing 
more  honorable  can  be  said  of  them,  as  a  body,  than  that,  in  the  face  of  every 
difficulty,  there  was  no  faltering.  It  is  not  recorded  that  any  one  man  failed  to 
respond  to  the  demands  of  the  hour;  it  is  not  on  record  that  any  man  shirked 
duty,  however  dangerous  or  unpleasant  it  might  be.  It  is  on  record  that  the  Ut- 
most bravery,  energy,  and  judgment  were  disi)layed  by  the  entire  force  from  the 
chiefs  to  the  lowest  subordinates.  To  their  efforts,  bravely  seconded  by  a  force 
of  Federal  soldiery,  perhaps  are  due  the  preservation  of  the  city  from  untold  of 
horrors,  and  the  salvation  of  the  nation  from  dismemberment  through  the  failure 
of  the  draft. 


/ 

/ 


l62 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Marshals  into  the  various  districts  to  take  direct  charge  of  the  selection  of  the 
conscripts.  This  course  greatly  increased  the  popular  exasperation,  and,  during 
the  preliminary  work,  signs  and  omens  of  coming  trouble  were  not  wanting  in 
New  York.  Thus,  in  the  Ninth  Conscription  District,  which  included  the  lower 
part  of  the  city,  Captain  Joel  B.  Erhardt,  the  Provost  Marshal,  narrowly  escaped 
with  his  life  while  performing  the  necessary  duty  of  collecting  the  names  of  those 
liable  to  being  drafted.  He  was  ordered  by  Colonel  Nugent,  the  Provost  Marshal 
for  the  whole  city,  to  personally  collect  the  names  of  some  workmen  engaged  on 
a  building  at  the  corner  of  Liberty  Street  and  Broadway,  who  had  refused  to 
register  when  the  regular  enrolling  officers  approached  them.    Captain  Erhardt 


Process  of  Drafting  in  the  Sixth  District, 
was  assailed,  in  the  performance  of  his  duty,  by  a  man  armed  with  an  iron 
crowbar.      He  drew  his  pistol  and  frustrated  the  attack,  but  after  waiting  a  long 
time  in  vain  for  aid,  he  was  com])elled  to  retreat  before  an  infuriated  mob. 

More  than  one  incident  like  this  created  anxiety  among  the  authorities  as 
the  date  for  the  draft  drew  nigh,  and  yet  it  is  doubtful  to  this  day  if  there  was 
any  organized  design  to  resist.  Information  was  given  to  the  Police  that  a 
plan  was  afoot  to  seize  the  State  Arsenal  at  Seventh  Avenue  and  Thirty-fifth 
Street  on  Saturday,  July  ii,  the  day  on  which  the  drafting  opened.  This 
was  probably  the  case;  but  it  is  believed  that  the  design  extended  no  further. 
When  this  was  defeated  by  the  measures  of  Superintendent  Kennedy — as  will 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


'63 


soon  be  described — it  is  more  than  probable  that  no  definite  course  was  marked 
out  by  the  lawbreakers.  When  the  first  acts  of  violence  were  committed  on 
Monday,  the  13th,  it  is  likely  that  the  members  of  the  mob  had  no  idea 
beyond  that  of  breaking  up  the  draft,  and  perhaps  taking  vengeance  on  some 
of  the  officials  in  charge  of  it.  That  afternoon  and  the  succeeding  days,  an 
entirely  new  element  entered  into  the  tumult.  The  thirst  for  violence  had 
grown  furious;  the  craving  for  plunder  had  taken  possession  of  the  lower 
elements  of  the  population.  The  draft  became  a  mere  pretext  for  lawlessness, 
the  real  object  of  which  was  the  gratification  of  instincts  of  rapine  and 
destruction.  The  riots  were  no  longer  draft  riots,  but  riots  for  blood  and 
booty.  Their  desperate  character  was  in  no  way  lessened,  however;  on  the 
contrary,  tiie  second  day's  fighting  was  the  bitterest  of  all.      .  '.      '  -     r  '  -  .  : 

As  organized  at  the  period  under  discussion,  the  Police  force  was  under 
the  management  of  Commissioners  Thomas  C.  Acton  and  John  G.  Bergen^ 
Commissioner  Bowcn  having  resigned  to  accept  a  brigadier  general's  commission. 
John  A.  Kennedy  was  Superintendent,  and  Daniel  Carpenter,  George  W.  Dilks 
and  James  Leonard  were  Inspectors.  "  ■  . 

The  violent  proceedings  of  the  rioters  had,  as  the  Police  Commissioners 
were  convinced,  a  political  origin,  motive  and  direction,  and  received  sympathy, 
and  encouragement  from  newspapers  and  partisans  of  influence  and.  rntelligence. 
The  Board  of  Police  had  long  been  threatened  with  summary  removal,  which 
was  expected  to  occur  immediately.  Numbers  ot  the  force  desired  the  removal, 
and  a  sjiirit  of  insubordination  had  crept  in  among  the  force,  the  fruit  of  the 
expected  change.  "  Under  these  new  and  extraordinary  circumstances,"  to 
quote  from  the  annual  report  of  the  Commissioners  to  the  legislature,  "  there 
were  apprehensions  that  the  force  might  fail  in  united  action,  or  be  embarrassed 
by  sympathy  with  the  rioters,  and  be  overpowered  and  beaten.  *  *  The 
apprehension  proved  to  be  groundless.  The  force  acted  as  a  unit,  and  with  an 
energy,  courage  and  devotion  rarely  exhibited.  The  keenest  observation  failed 
to  discover  that  political,  religious  or  national  feeling  had  any  influence  adverse 
to  the  efficient  action  of  the  force.  The  courage  that  arises  from  the  aggregation 
of  numbers,  the  steadiness  and  celerity  of  movement  which  resulted  from 
organization  and  drill,  and  the  fidelity  and  pride  of  corps  which  result  from 
discipline,  were  exhibited  in  a  most  gratifying  degree,  considering  the  numerous 
and  severe  contests,  the  disparity  of  numbers,  and  the  advantage  enjoyed  by 
the  mob  from  their  intrenched  position  in  tenement  houses,  the  small  number 
of  Policemen  killed  and  wounded  is  a  subject  of  congratulation.  The  number 
wounded  was  eightv,  but  three  have  died." 

As  bad  luck  would  have  it,  the  drafting  began  on  a  Saturday  (July  11). 
There  was  no  si)ecial  disturbance,  but  the  whole  aspect  of  the  city  was  uneasy. 
Sergeant  Van  Orden,  with  fifteen  men,  early  took  possession  of  the  Seventh 
Avenue  Arsenal.  In  pursuance  of  the  plot  already  mentioned,  disorderly 
crowds  gathered  about  the  building,  but  the  strength  of  the  place,  and  the 
determined  aspect  of  the  little  band  of  defenders,  prevented  any  attack  from 
being  made.  The  drafting,  too,  passed  off  peaceably  in  the  two  districts — the 
Ninth  and  Eleventh — appointed  for  that  day,  and  people  began  to  hope  that 


164 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


the  danger  was  over — that  the  popular  discontent  would  not  reach  the  point  of 
open  outbreak. 

Under  more  favorable  circumstances  this  might  have  been  so;  but  the  day 
was  unfavorable.  All  the  Sunday  newspapers  came  out  with  long  lists  of  the 
conscript's  names.  These  were  eagerly  scanned  in  all  the  tenements  of  the 
city.  People  found  the  names  of  relatives  and  friends  among  the  number,  and 
their  rage  grew  in  proportion.  All  day  excited  groups  of  unemployed  men  and 
women  discussed  the  situation  in  the  houses,  in  the  streets,  and,  above  all,  in  the 
liquor  saloons,  and  by  midnight  they  were  ready  for  any  madness. 

Monday's  sun  rose  hot  and  angry  upon  the  seething  city.  The  people  came 
pouring  from  the  tenement  houses  to  face  the  fact  that  a  fresh  raid  was  now  to 
be  made  on  their  households  by  the  demon  of  war.  Vainly  confident  in  the 
strength  of  their  numbers  and  their  passion,  they  determined  that  this  should  not 
be. 

Superintendent  Kennedy,  though  not  fully  aware  of  the  force  of  the  coming 
storm,  had  yet  the  forethought  to  see  that  danger  was  ahead.  The  drafting  was 
to  ])roceed  at  two  points  on  this  day-  They  were  No.  11 90  Broadway,  near 
Twenty-ninth  Street,  and  a  house  on  the  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and  Forty-sixth 
Street.  Superintendent  Kennedy  began  by  collecting  some  force  at  headquarters, 
and  sending  the  reserves  of  the  Twentieth  Precinct  to  aid  in  the  defence  of  the 
arsenal.  The  drafting  office  at  No.  11 90  Broadway  lay  within  the  Twenty-ninth 
Precinct,  and  accordingly.  Captain  Speight  took  charge  of  it  at  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  He  brought  with  him  twenty  of  his  own  men,  to  whom  were  added  ten 
men  from  the  Eighth  Precinct  under  Sergeant  Wade,  ten  from  the  Ninth  under  Ser- 
geant Mangin,  fourteen  from  the  Fifteenth  under  Sergeant  McCredie,  and  ten  men 
from  the  Twenty-eighth  under  Sergeant  Wolfe.  This  total  force  of  sixty-nine  men, 
all  told,  sufficed  to  overawe  the  mob.  The  draft  proceeded  peaceably  until  noon, 
when  it  was  adjourned.  The  auxiliary  forces  were  then  sent  to  Third  Avenue 
and  Forty-sixth  Street,  where  the  state  of  things  was  very  different.  Captain 
Speight,  however,  with  his  own  gallant  boys,  remained  at  the  office  until  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  he  repaired  to  Headquarters  in  response  to  an 
order.  During  the  day  he  dispersed  many  crowds,  and  maintained  good  order 
constantly.  Ten  minutes  after  he  left,  however,  the  mob,  emboldened  by  its  suc- 
cesses elsewhere,  set  fire  to  the  Marshal's  office,  and  the  entire  block  on  Broad- 
way between  Twenty-eighth  and  Twenty-ninth  Streets  was  destroyed  by  the 
flames. 

Far  different  from  those  on  Broadway  were  the  scenes  in  the  Nineteenth  ^ 
Precinct,  in  which  the  Provost  Marshal's  office  at  Forty-sixth  Street  and  Third 
Avenue  was  located.  Captain  G.  T.  Porter  was  the  commanding  officer  at  this 
point.  He,  and  the  brave  men  under  his  orders,  had  to  bear  the  first  shock  of 
the  riot,  and  right  well  they  did  their  duty.  It  is  no  discredit  to  them  that  they 
were  unable  to  resist  successfully  the  infuriated  thousands  that  were  pitted 
against  them.  Captain  Porter  repaired  to  the  Marshal's  office  at  nine  o'clock  in 
the  forenoon.  He  collected  his  entire  force  of  sixty  men  about  the  place, 
stationing  some  in  front  of  the  building  and  some  within  it,  as  the  crowd  in- 
creased minute  after  minute  in  numbers  and  audacity.    With  Captain  Porter 


I 

OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


were  Captain  S.  Brovver,  of  the  Seventeenth  Precinct,  and  a  squad;  Captain  A. 
M.  Pahner,  of  the  Twenty-first  Precinct,  and  a  squad  ;  Sergeant  William  M. 
Gross,  of  the  Twenty-second  Precinct,  with  twelve  men  ;  and  later.  Sergeant 
Mangles,  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Precinct,  with  eleven  men. 

The  drafting  began  at  a  quarter  past  ten,  a.  m.,  and  went  on  for  twenty 
minutes  without  interruption.  The  mob  had  grown  to  huge  proportions;  the 
excitement  was  intense.    The  Police  were  hooted,  and  curses  were  breathed 


Provost  Marshal's  Office,  185  Sixth  Avenue. 

against  the  negro  race,  the  National  government,  the  drafting  authorities,  and, 
in  fact,  against  all  public  ofificials.  Only  a  spark  was  needed  to  bring  about  the 
explosion. 

It  was  supplied.  On  a  sudden  some  one  shouted,  "  Stop  the  cars."  An  in- 
stantaneous rush  was  made.  Horses  were  uncoupled,  drivers  were  forced  from 
their  platforms,  and  terrified  j)assengers  were  driven  from  their  places  into  the 
depths  of  the  swaying,  shouting  mass  of  humanity  that  filled  the  Avenue. 

But  now  the  mob  was  fairly  warmed  to  work.    With  one  awful  movement  it 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


launched  itself  upon  the  band  of  Police  drawn  up  before  the  Marshal's  office. 
The  shock  was  irresistible.  One  might  as  well  try  to  dam  the  Hudson  as  op- 
pose that  mob.  There  was  a  momentary  struggle,  and  the  little  band  gave  way, 
taking  shelter  with  their  comrades  within  the  building.  A  hurricane  of  stones 
now  assailed  the  windows  and  doors,  which  speedily  gave  way.  Then  the  mob 
dashed  in,  and  joined  in  hand-to-hand  encounters  with  the  defenders.  It  was 
in  vain  for  the  Police  to  strike  them  down;  as  one  fell  beneath  a  blow  of  a  club, 
another  and  another  took  his  place.  The  Marshal  and  his  clerks  escaped  through 
the  rear  of  the  building;  the  Police  slowly  followed,  fighting  all  the  way,  until  they 
emerged  into  Forty-sixth  Street.  By  this  time  all  the  furniture  in  the  office 
was  demolished,  and  the  mob  proceeded  to  fire  the  building.  Then  the  brave 
Police  endeavored  to  save  the  property  in  the  adjoining  houses,  but  were  bitterly 
assailed  at  every  step.  Sergeant  Finch,  of  the  Seventeenth  Precinct,  in  heading 
the  attack  on  the  mob,  had  his  forehead  laid  o[)en  with  a  frightful  gash.  Officers 
Hill  and  Weill,  of  the  same  precinct,  were  also  badly  injured.  Officer  Cook,  of  the 
Nineteenth  Precinct,  was  knocked  down  and  separated  from  his  comrades,  who 
were  themselves  fully  occupied  keeping  off  the  crowds  that  beset  them.  At  last, 
when  it  became  evident  that  no  good  could  be  done  while  the  men  were  receiving 
terrible  puishment,  Captain  Porter  gave  the  signal  for  retreat.  The  force  scat- 
tered into  small  groups  forthwith,  and  made  their  way,  as  best  they  might,  to 
their  several  station  houses. 

With  their  usual  promptitude,  the  firemen  were  on  hand  almost  as  soon  as 
the  flames  in  the  Marshal's  office  became  visible.  At  first  the  mob  refused  to 
allow  them  to  throw  any  water  into  the  burnipg  building,  and  two  adjoining 
houses  were  speedily  involved  in  the  conflagration.  At  length,  however.  Chief 
Engineer  Decker  made  the  rioters  a  speech,  pointing  out  that  the  property  of 
people  with  whom  they  had  no  quarrel  was  being  destroyed.  To  this  appeal 
they  yielded,  and,  the  Police  being  driven  off,  the  crowd  began  to  watch  with 
the  usual  interest,  but  unusual  hilarity,  the  progress  of  the  flames,  and  the  efforts 
of  the  fire  laddies  to  extingui.sh  them. 

At  this  disastrous  moment,  by  an  untoward  accident.  Superintendent 
Kennedy  put  in  an  appearance  on  the  scene.  Mr.  Kennedy's  fears  of  riot  had 
arisen  that  Monday  morning,  mainly  from  the  intelligence  which  reached 
him  shortly  after  seven  o'clock,  that  the  street  contractor's  men  in  the  Nine- 
teenth Ward  had  not  gone  to  work  at  the  usual  hour.  He  at  first  deemed  it 
sufficient  to  strengthen  the  Police  forces  at  Provost  Marshal  Manierre's  office  on 
Broadway,  and  Marshal  Jenkins'  office  on  Third  Avenue,  in  the  manner  already  ' 
detailed;  but  as  the  progress  of  the  morning  brought  fresh  indications  of  trouble, 
he  telegraphed  to  all  the  precincts  to  call  in  as  reserves  all  the  men  who  had 
gone  off  duty  at  six  a.  m.  Towards  ten  o'clock,  all  Mr.  Kennedy's  arrangements 
being  completed,  he  took  his  wagon,  and  started  on  a  tour  of  personal  inspec- 
tion. P'irst  he  called  on  Captain  Speight,  at  No.  1190  Broadway,  and  then 
visited  the  arsenal,  leaving  at  each  point  directions  to  cover  any  emergency  that 
might  arise.  At  last  he  turned  his  horse  to  the  eastward,  and  about  twelve 
o'clock  approached  the  cpiarter  where,  unknown  to  him,  the  first  battle  of  the 
riot  had  been  fought.    The  Superintendent  was  not  in  uniform,  and  was  totally 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


167 


unarmed.  It  is  impossible  to  avoid  the  reflection,  therefore,  that  his  courage  (or 
indiscretion  ?)  ran  to  the  point  of  rashness  when  he  left  his  wagon  at  Forty- 
sixth  Street  on  perceiving  the  fire  that  the  rioters  had  kindled,  and  walked 
rapidly  through  the  angry  crowd  towards  it. 

Everything  seemed  very  quiet,  and  everybody  good-natured  about  him, 
until,  on  a  sudden,  some  one  cried  out,  "There's  Kennedy!" 

"  Where,  where  ?    Where  is  he  ?"  demanded  a  thousand  angry  voices. 

He  was  pointed  out,  and  before  he  had  time  to  realize  the  situation,  a 
cowardly  blow  from  behind  sent  him  down  an  embankment  six  feet  high  into  a 
vacant  lot.  In  an  instant  the  Superintendent  was  on  his  feet;  a  glance  showed 
that  flight  was  his  only  course,  and  he  sped  away  across  the  lots,  while  the 
infuriate  rabble  pressed  hard  behind  him.  He  distanced  his  pursuers,  and 
succeeded  in  climbing  the  Forty-seventh  Street  embankment.  But  here  a 
fresh  crowd,  as  cowardly  and  brutal  as  the  first,  was  waiting  for  him.  They 
came  at  him  with  a  rush,  and  for  the  second  time  he  was  hurled  to  the  foot  of 
the  embankment.  The  crowd  followed  him.  Mr.  Kennedy  regained  his  feet. 
A  burly  ruffian  tried  to  dash  his  brains  out  with  a  club,  and  Mr.  Kennedy 
with  difficulty  protected  his  head.  By  this  time  he  must  have  received  fully 
fiftv  blows  on  various  parts  of  his  body.  He  now  turned  and  ran  toward 
Lexington  Avenue,  where  there  was  a  pond  or  mud  hole  of  considerable  width 
and  depth. 

"  Drown  him,  drown  him  !"  shouted  the  rioters,  and  a  tremendous  blow  sent 
the  victim  into  the  pond,  when  his  face  struck  on  some  stones  at  the  bottom  and 
was  frightfully  lacerated.  But  even  yet  he  was  not  overcome.  Making  his  way 
through  the  mud  and  water  through  which  his  pursuers  were  unwilling  to  follow, 
he  reached  Lexington  Avenue  before  they  got  around.  As  he  emerged  from  the 
pond  he  met  Mr.  John  Eagan,  a  prominent  citizen,  and  begged  for  aid.  Mr.  Eagan 
possessed  sufficient  influence  with  the  mob  to  prevent  them  from  doing  any  fur- 
ther violence,  and  Mr.  Kennedy,  now  fainting  with  pain  and  exhaustion,  was  laid 
on  a  common  feed  wagon,  and  driven  to  Headquarters.  As  the  wagon  drove  up 
to  the  building,  Commissioner  Acton  was  standing  on  the  steps.  He  noticed  the 
bruised  and  bleeding  man,  but  never  guessed  who  it  was,  so  far  beyond  recogni- 
tion was  the  Superintendent. 

When  he  realized  the  truth  he  had  the  injured  man  taken  to  the  house  of 
a  friend,  and  surgical  aid  was  procured.  It  was  found  that  no  bones  were 
broken,  and  so  wonderful  was  his  constitution,  and  so  determined  his  will,  that 
the  Superintendent  returned  to  duty  on  the  Thursday  following,  a  fact  all  the 
more  wonderful  when  it  is  remembered  that  he  was  over  sixty  years  of  age. 
He  was  shockingly  disfigured  for  the  time  being,  but  in  time  the  traces  of  his 
thrilling  fight  for  life  disappeared  from  his  countenance. 

The  early  disablement  of  the  Superintendent  placed  the  command  of  the 
force  upon  the  shoulders  of  Commissioner  Acton,  at  Headquarters,  and  ot 
Inspector  Daniel  Carpenter  in  the  field — or  rather  in  the  streets.  Both  proved 
equal  to  the  demands  upon  them.  To  no  one  man  was  the  speedy  suppression 
of  the  riots  due  so  largely  as  to  Mr.  Acton.  His  very  first  step  showed  his 
consummate  generalship.    The  moment  he  realized  the  extent  of  the  disorder. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


on  seeing  Superintendent  Kennedy's  terrible  condition,  he  telegraphed  to  every 
precinct,  except  the  Twelfth,  from  which  the  rioters  had  cut  off  communication, 
ordering  the  entire  force  to  concentrate  at  the  Central  Office.  He  also 
dispatched  the  Steamboat  Squad  with  their  vessel,  under  Captain  Todd,  to 
transport  to  the  city  all  the  Federal  troops  that  could  be  spared  from  the  forts 
in  the  harbor,  and  subsequently  to  land  arms  for  volunteer  troops.  These 
duties,  it  may  be  remarked  here,  were  performed  with  coolness  and  judgment. 

The  energy  displayed  by  Mr.  Acton  was  wonderful.  He  did  not  leave 
the  Central  Office  for  five  days,  except  for  a  couple  of  short  periods  on  official 
business.  From  six  o'clock  on  Monday  morning  until  after  two  a.  m.  the  fol- 
lowing Friday,  he  never  closed  an  eye  in  sleep.  During  the  whole  period  he 
was  engaged  without  cessation.  It  may  serve  as  some  index  of  his  labors  to  say 
that  he  received  and  answered  over  four  thousand  telegrams. 

He  was  ably  seconded.  Hardly  inferior  to  him  in  energy  and  executive 
ability  was  his  colleague,  Commissioner  John  G.  Bergen.  This  gentleman  was 
constantly  at  Headquarters,  sustaining  almost  ec^ual  fatigue  with  Mr.  Acton,  and 
sharing  in  all  his  labors.  Chief  Clerk  Seth  C.  Hawley  was  also  a  most  valuable 
aid.  He  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  ordinance  department,  ser\-ing  out  the  arms 
and  ammunition  needed  by  the  men  as  they  started  on  their  repeated  expeditions. 
He  also  provided  for  the  wants  of  the  wounded,  and  did  all  in  his  power  to 
furnish  accommodations  for  the  crowds  of  refugees  who  early  began  to  throng  to 
Headquarters.  With  Chief  John  Young  of  the  Detective  force,  assisted  by 
Sergeant  Lefferts  of  the  Fourth  District  Court,  and  Officer  Webb  of  the 
Superintendent's  office,  he  had  also  to  provide  for  the  victualing  of  Police, 
military,  Special  Constables,  and  refugees,  in  all  over  five  thousand  persons,  for 
an  entire  week.  It  is  needless  to  add  praise  to  the  statement  that  all  were  well 
and  sufficiently  fed.  Over  fifty  thousand  gallons  of  coffee,  it  is  said,  were 
served  out  while  the  riot  lasted,  and  it  must  here  be  mentioned  to  the  credit  of 
the  entire  force,  that  coffee — during  all  the  scenes  of  terror  and  excitement, 
despite  all  the  blows  and  hardships — was  the  universal  beverage.  Everyone  took 
it  in  preference  to  liquor,  and  while  the  riot  lasted,  not  one  intoxicated  man 
was  seen  about  Headquarters. 

But  it  is  time  to  return  to  the  rioters  who  were  left  at  the  moment  when 
they  had  all  but  beaten  the  Superintendent  of  Police  to  death  at  Lexington 
Avenue  and  Forty-sixth  Street.  About  the  same  time  another  fierce  scene  was 
in  progress  only  a  few  blocks  off.  A  little  before  noon  the  reports  of  the 
agitation  which  prevailed  in  the  Nineteenth  Ward  caused  the  sending  of  several 
contingents  from  various  precincts,  including  the  men  relieved  from  duty  at 
No.  1 1 90  Broadway,  to  Captain  Porter's  aid.  Among  the  first  of  these  intended 
reinforcements  to  arrive  on  the  scene  was  a  squad  of  thirteen  men  from  the 
Eighth,  under  Sergeant  Ellison.  This  little  company  first  encountered  the  mob 
at  Third  Avenue  and  Forty-fourth  Street.  A  desperate  hand-to-hand  fight 
ensued.  The  mob  fought  furiously;  the  Police  were  outnumbered  a  hundred  to 
one,  and  were  soon  obliged  to  retreat.  Sergeant  Ellison,  who  had  been  terribly 
beaten,  remained  a  prisoner  in  the  rioters  hands.  At  this  moment.  Sergeant 
Wade  arrived  with  his  squad  from  Broadway.    The  fight  was  renewed,  and 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


169 


Ellison  was  extricated  from  his  terrible  captivity  more  dead  than  alive.  He 
ha^  defended  himself  bravely  with  his  revolver  and  a  gim  which  he  had 
wrested  from  a  rioter.  But  he  had  been  overwhelmed  by  numbers,  terribly 
beaten,  and  pelted  with  stones  until  he  lost  consciousness.  After  lying  as  if 
dead  for  half  an  hour  on  the  pavement,  he  was  carried  by  two  of  his  comrades 
to  the  Twenty-first  Precinct  station  house.  In  this  fight,  too,  Officer  Van 
Buren  had  his  leg  broken,  Sergeant  Wade  was  struck  in  the  breast  with  a  stone, 
Officer  Andre  had  his  head  badly  cut,  Officers  Law  and  Hart  were  injured  in 
the   head   and    body,    and    Officers    Crolius,    Palmer,    Burns,    Merher  and 


Rioters  Marching  Down  Second  Avenue. 

Magersuppe  were  ail  badly  cut  about  the  head.  Ail  of  the  officers  here  named 
distinguished  themselves  by  their  courage  in  attacking  the  mob. 

A  platoon  from  the  Ninth  Precinct  arrived  at  Forty-fourth  Street  and 
Third  Avenue  at  the  same  time  as  Sergeant  Wade,  and  participated  in  the 
fighting  with  eiiual  courage.  To  show  how  well  the  men  of  this  precinct  played 
their  part,  it  is  only  necessary  to  record  that  Sergeants  Mangin  and  Smith,  and 
ten  officers  were  badly  hurt.  Some  members  of  the  Tenth,  under  Sergeants 
Minor  and  Davenport,  also  had  a  rough  encounter  with  the  mob  in  the  same 
locality. 

Just  as  these  forces  were  defeated,  Sergeant  McCredie,  of  the  Fifteenth, 
arrived  at  Forty-third  Street  and  Third  Avenue  with  his  fourteen  men.  He  was 
joined  by  ten  men  from  the  Twenty-eighth,  under  Sergeant  Wolfe,  and  by  the 


170 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


scattered  men  from  the  other  precincts,  until  his  force  embraced  altogefher 
forty-four  stout  locusts.  With  this  force,  small  as  it  was,  McCredie — who  was 
deservedly ,  christened  by  his  comrades  "Fighting  Mac"  —  began  a  furious 
onslaught  on  the  rabble  that  filled  the  avenue.  He  met  with  an  obstinate 
resistance;  but  discipline  and  courage  enabled  him  and  his  gallant  boys  to  force 
their  way  to  Forty-sixth  Street,  where  they  hoped  Captain  Porter  and  his  men  still 
held  their  ground.  Disappointed  in  this  expectation,  the  little  storming  party 
found  itself  hemmed  in  on  all  sides  by  masses  of  infuriated  men.  Stones  rained 
in  on  them.  Their  charges  were  fiercely  resisted.  Of  the  fourteen  men  from 
the  Fifteenth  station,  nine  were  badly  wounded  before  the  force  was  dispersed. 
Officer  Bennett  was  knocked  down  three  times  Ijefore  he  ceased  fighting.  The 
last  time,  he  lay  senseless.  In  this  condition,  he  was  stripped  to  his  drawers,  and 
savagely  beaten.  At  last  his  seemingly  dead  body  was  taken  by  strangers  to  St. 
Luke's  Hospital,  and  laid  in  the  dead-house.  His  grief-stricken  wife,  coming  to 
claim  the  supposed  remains,  fell  on  them  in  a  transport  of  grief.  But  in  a 
moment  she  sprang  to  her  feet,  almost  delirious  with  joy.  Her  husband's  heart 
still  beat.  Restoratives  were  used,  and  Bennett  recovered,  though  only  after 
three  days  of  insensibility,  and  a  long  illness. 

Officer  Travis,  of  the  same  precinct,  was  also  taken  to  St.  Luke's.  In  trying 
to  escape  the  crowd  he  was  confronted  by  a  fellow  with  a  pistol.  He  captured 
the  weapon,  but  before  he  could  use  it,  was  knocked  down  and  beaten  almost  to 
a  jelly.  His  jaw  and  right  hand  were  broken.  The  mob  stripped  him  naked 
before  they  left  him.  Officer  Phillips  had  a  terrible  run  for  life.  He  disarmed 
a  rioter  of  a  musket,  but  had  no  time  to  use  it.  He  was  stabbed  twice  with  a 
knife  by  a  woman;  and  would  have  been  killed  but  for  the  interference  of  some 
citizens  who  appeared  to  have  influence  with  the  mob.  Sergeant  McCredie  was 
disabled  by  a  blow  on  the  wrist  /"rom  a  bar  of  iron.  His  life  was  saved  by  a 
young  German  woman,  who  hid  him  between  two  mattresses  while  the  rioters 
searched  her  house  from  roof  to  cellar.  Officer  Sutherland  was  knocked  down 
with  a  brick  and  beaten  insensible.  Officers  Mingay,  Broughton  and  Gabriel 
were  very  badly  beaten,  and  Officer  Terence  Kieman,  after  terrible  usage,  only 
escaped  with  his  life  through  the  intercession  of  Mrs.  Eagan,  whose  husband  had 
helped  to  save  Superintendent  Kennedy.  The  off  platoon  of  the  Fifteenth  Pre- 
cinct, under  Roundsman  Thacher,  was  sent  to  reinforce  McCredie,  but  arrived 
only  in  time  to  be  roughly  handled.  Officer  Bodine  was  beaten  insensible  and 
stripped.  Officer  Gibbs  was  left  for  dead  in  the  street.  Officers  Foster  and  Did- 
way  were  shockingly  mangled. 

In  this  fight  the  men  of  the  Twenty-eighth  also  suffered  severely.  Sergeant' 
Wolfe,  who  was  the  last  to  retreat,  was  cut  about  the  head;  Officer  Seibert  had 
an  arm,  and  Officer  Holley  a  finger  broken;  Officers  Dapke,  Polhamus,  Bryan, 
Bassford,  Knight,  and  Bolman  were  more  dr  less  badly  beaten. 

These  were  not  the  only  collisions  between  bodies  of  Police  and  the  Forty- 
sixth  Street  mob.  A  force  had  been  ordered  to  the  scene  from  the  Eighteenth 
Precinct,  Sergeant  Vosburgh  in  command.  It  was  unable  to  effect  a  junction 
with  Captain  Porter,  and  after  a  brief,  but  courageous  struggle,  was  forced  to 
retreat.    Officer  Wynne  was  severely  beaten  and  stabbed  ;  Officers  Lame  and 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


'7' 


Sanderson  were  beaten  and  had  their  clothes  nearly  torn  off.  The  Thirteenth's 
bo_vs  had  a  similar  experience.  At  noon,  Captain  Thomas  Steers,  with  Sergeants 
Bird  and  Smith  and  twenty-five  men,  started  to  the  aid  of  Captain  Porter.  They 
got  as  far  as  Thirty-fifth  Street,  but  could  penetrate  no  further  through  the  tur- 
bulent crowd.  They  therefore  retired  to  the  Twenty-first  Precinct  station  house, 
then  in  East  Thirty-first  Street,  where  Sergeant  Forshay  was  in  command.  The 
rioters  had  been  threatening  to  destroy  the  building,  but  decamped,  afraid  to 
encounter  the  increased  force  brought  by  Captain  Steers. 

Having  thus  defeated  the  Police  in  detail,  the  mob  dispersed  itself  over  the 
city,  plundering  and  burning  in  all  directions,  and  above  all,  committing  frightful 
atrocities  on  negroes  wherever  they  were  found.  Some  of  the  cooler  scoun- 
drels among  the  insurrectionists  saw  that  for  any  lasting  success,  arms  were 
absolutely  necessary.  To  secure  these,  a  [)ortion  of  the  mob,  about  half-past  one 
o'clock,  gathered  about  the  large  gun  factory  at  Twenty-first  Street  and  Second 
Avenue,  wiiere  a  great  ([uantity  of  arms  was  known  to  be  in  storage.  This  move- 
ment had  been  anticipated.  Early  in  the  afternoon.  Sergeant  Banfield,  with  a 
squad,  had,  by  order  of  Captain  John  Cameron,  of  the  Eighteenth  Precinct, 
taken  possession  of  the  l)uilding.  Later  on  they  were  relieved  by  the  Broadway 
Squad  of  thirty-two  men  imder  Sergeant  Burdick  and  Roundsmen  Ferris  and 
Sherwood.  The  men  reached  the  factory  singly  or  in  pairs,  escajjing  the  notice 
of  the  rioters,  who,  as  three  o'clock  approached,  had  swelled  to  thousands  in 
number.  Every  Policeman  was  armed  with  a  carbine,  and  stationed  at  a 
window. 

At  last  the  battle  began.  A  whirlwind  of  stones,  bricks  and  bullets  was 
launched  against  the  doors  and  windows.  The  defenders  dared  not  show  them- 
selves. The  fire  of  the  mob  was  not  returned.  Then  an  effort  was  made  to  burn 
the  building,  but  without  success,  and  the  attack  was  renewed  with  greater  fury 
than  ever.  Presently  one  of  the  rioters  assailed  the  office  door  with  a  sledge-ham- 
mer. His  compatriots  awaited  the  result  of  his  efforts,  and  at  last  a  panel  went 
crashing  in.  The  man  stooped  to  crawl  into  the  aperture,  when  the  single  re- 
port of  a  carbine  was  heard,  and  he  fell  back  with  a  bullet  through  his  skull. 
The  rioters  hesitated,  but  only  for  a  moment.  The  attack  was  once  again  re- 
newed, and  Sergeant  Burdick  sent  to  Captain  Cameron  for  aid.  He  was  told 
that  none  could  be  afforded.  "Then  I  cannot  hold  the  factory,"  he  sent  word. 
*'  Draw  off  your  men,"  was  the  response.  These  messages  were  carried  by  Ser- 
geant Buckman,  of  the  Eighteenth,  in  disguise,  and  at  great  risk. 

The  mob  had  now  been  held  in  check  almost  four  hours,  but  longer  resist- 
ance was  impossible.  The  only  means  of  retreat,  however,  which  was  not  cut 
off,  lay  through  a  hole  in  the  rear  wall  of  the  building,  twelve  by  eighteen  inches 
in  size,  and  eighteen  feet  from  the  ground.  Through  this  they  squeezed  their 
way,  gaining  the  street  through  a  stone  yard.  They  had  hardly  got  clear  of  the 
factory  when  the  rioters  gained  access  to  it.  Subsequently  they  had  to  escajie 
from  the  Eighteenth  Precinct  station  house  in  plain  clothes.  They  did  picket 
duty  about  the  Central  office  all  Monday  night. 

So  far,  we  have  found  the  mob  victorious  at  every  point.  There  is  now  to 
be  a  complete  change,  and  from  this  time  forward,  the  Police,  aided  by  the  mili- 


172 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


tary,  will  be  found  inflicting  a  series  of  crushing  defeats  on  the  disturbers  of  the 
public  peace.  The  first  of  these  was  inflicted  by  a  force  of  two  hundred  men, 
under  Inspector  Daniel  Carpenter,  at  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Amity  Street. 
The  telegrams  sent  to  all  the  precincts  ordering  the  concentration  of  the  entire 
Police  force  at  headquarters,  by  three  o'clock,  caused  a  considerable  number  of 
men  to  muster  there. 

Telegrams  were  now  pouring  in  announcing  deeds  of  destruction  in  every 
quarter.  Buildings  on  Broadway  and  Lexington  Avenue  were  being  sacked  and 
burned;  Police  stations  were  beseiged,  and,  despite  the  efforts  of  Fire  Chief 
Decker  and  his  men,  the  Colored  Orphan  Asylum,  on  Fifth  Avenue,  was  wrecked 
and  burned,  the  poor  little  inmates  narrowly  escaping  with  their  lives  by  a  back 
way. 


Colored  Orphan  Asylum. 
Fifth  Avenue,  between  43fd  and  44th  Streets.    Burned  Down  by  the  Rioters. 

Towards  four  o'clock  it  was  announced  that  a  vast  crowd  was  coming  down 
Broadway  to  attack  Police  Headquarters.  This  was  the  moment  for  action. 
Drill  Officer  T.  S.  Copeland,  from  the  available  forces,  quickly  organized  a  band 
of  two  hundred  men,  which  he  himself  joined  as  second  in  command  to  Inspector 
Carpenter.  There  were  included  details  from  the  First,  Seventh,  Eighth,  Four- 
teenth, Fifteenth  and  Twenty-seventh  Precincts.  Carpenter  made  his  men  a  brief 
speech.  "  We  are  going  to  put  down  a  mob,"  he  said ;  "  take  no  prisoners,  but  strike 
quick  and  hard."  Then  the  force  marched  up  Broadway.  The  rioters  were  met 
near  Amity  Street.  They  bore  a  National  ensign,  and  a  standard  of  planks  with 
the  words  "  No  draft."  They  were  armed  with  clubs,  i)itchforks,  crowbars, 
swords,  guns,  and  pistols. 

In  a  minute  the  ojjposing  bodies  stood  but  a  few  feet  apart. 

"By  the  right  flank,  company  front,  double  quick,   charge!"  shouted 


OUR  POLiCI-:  PROTECTORS. 


Carpenter,  and  in  a  moment  he  and  his  men  were  upon  the  lawbreakers.  He 
drew  the  first  blood,  fracturing  the  skull  of  a  ringleader.  His  men  obeyed  his 
orders  literally,  striking  quick  and  hard  on  all  sides.  The  crowd  wavered,  broke, 
and  in  a  moment  fled,  leaving  their  banners  in  the  hands  of  tlie  Police,  and  the 
I)avement  strewn  with  their  wounded  and  dying  comrades.  The  Police  marched 
on  to  Mayor  Opdyke's  house  on  Fifth  Avenue,  which  had  been  threatened,  but 
finding  all  c[uiet,  marched  back  to  Headquarters.  The  Amity  Street  battle  de- 
cided the  fortunes  of  the  city.  After  it,  the  defeat  of  the  rioters  was  only  a 
question  of  time  and  hard  figliting.  It  was  demonstrated  that  they  could  not 
stand  up  before  regular  discij)line.  Among  those  who  won  distinction  in  the 
fight  were  Roundsmen  Connor  of  the  First ;  Sergeants  McConnell  and  Carland 
of  the  Seventh  ;  Sergeants  Wade  and  O'Connor  of  the  Eighth  ;  Sergeant  Mackey 
of  the  Fourteenth  ;  Sergeant  Roe  and  Officer  Barhebt  of  the  Fifteenth — both 


Present  Colored  Orphan  Asylum. 

143rd  Street.    Former  Building  Destroyed  During  the  Draft  Riots. 


of  whom  captured  ringleaders  in  the  riot  ;  and  Sergeant  Bennett  and  Officers 
Doyle,  Thompson,  and  Rhodes  of  the  Twenty-seventh.  Doyle  knocked  down 
the  rioters'  standard-bearer,  and  Thompson  captured  the  National  flag  from  their 
hands. 

Carpenter,  after  the  Amity  Street  battle,  took  a  very  short  rest.  Shortly 
before  eight  o'clock  Sergeant  Copeland  organized  another  battalion  of  two 
hundred  men,  including  one  hundred  men  of  the  Brooklyn  Police — then  a  part 
of  the  Metropolitan  force — under  Inspector  John  S.  Folk  With  this  body. 
Inspector  Carpenter  started  to  the  relief  of  the  "Tribune"  building,  which  had 
been  threatened  all  day  and  was  finally  attacked  by  the  rioters,  whose  wrath  was 
especially  virulent  against  Horace  Greeley,  as  an  abolitionist  and  advocate  of  the 
war.  All  dav  a  dangerous  looking  crowd  loitered  about  Printing  House  Square. 
To  provide  against  emergencies,  all  the  newspaper  offices  were  supplied  with 


174 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


arms  from  the  Islands  l)y  the  Steamboat  Squad,  Patrolmen  Blackwell  seeing  "to 
the  safe  delivery  thereof  with  great  prudence  and  judgment.  All  day  Captain 
Thomas  W.  Thorne,  o,f  the  Twenty-sixth  Precinct,  or  City  Hall  Police,  kept  five 
of  his  men  in  citizen's  dress  in  the  crowd  to  watch  its  intentions.  Captain 
Bryan  of  the  Fourth,  with  his  Sergeants,  Rode  and  Williams,  and  only  half  his 
men,  had  had  his  hands  full  all  day  rescuing  colored  people  from  gangs  of 
ruffians,  and  protecting  their  property,  but  towards  evening  he  assigned  Sergeant 
Williams,  Roundsman  Webb,  and  four  Officers,  to  detective  duty  about  the 
newspaper  offices. 

About  seven  o'olock  there  was  a  good  deal  of  rioting  in  the  First  Ward,  and 
the  First  Precinct  Police  and  those  of  the  Twenty-sixth,  under  Captain  Warlow, 
started  to  quell  it.  Sergeant  Cherry  and  McCleary,  of  the  First,  ran  ahead  of 
the  main  body,  and,  falling  in  with  a  mob  in  New  Street,  were  severely  beaten. 
The  rioting  was  speedily  suppressed,  however,  when  the  main  force  came  up,  and 
the  Police  were  leisurely  returning  towards  the  City  Hall,  when,  in  front  of  the 
the  old  post-office  on  Nassau  Street,  they  were  informed  that  the  "  Tribune  " 
office  was  being  sacked.  They  approached  the  scene  on  a  run,  and  reached  it 
simultaneously  with  a  platoon  under  Captain  Bryan  from  the  Fourth.  Sergeant 
Snodgrass  of  the  Second  Precinct  had  also,  by  mingling  in  the  crowd,  learned  of 
the  premeditated  attack  in  time  to  join  the  other  Police  parties  with  the  reserve 
of  the  Second.  He  was  accompanied  by  Sergeants  Esterbrook  and  Cornwell,  Ser- 
geant Kelly  who  had  been  out  on  guard  all  day,  remaining  in  charge  of  the  station. 

The  several  bodies  of  Police  charged  the  rioters  together  from  different 
points.  Captain  Thorne,  of  the  Twenty-sixth,  was  knocked  down  with  a  blow  of 
a  club.  Officer  Cowen  brought  his  locust  down  6n  the  skull  of  the  man  who  struck 
the  blow.  The  rioters  fell  stunned  and  bleeding  on  all  sides.  Many  of  the 
Police  were  hurt  too,  Officer  Welling,  of  the  First,  receiving  a  bullet  in  the  shoul- 
der. The  fight  was  obstinate  to  Frankfort  Street.  Then  the  mob  took  to  flight  in 
all  directions.  The  portion  of  it  that  rushed  up  Centre  and  Chatham  Streets 
was  pursued  by  the  officers  who  had  dispersed  it,  and  dreadfully  punished;  but 
by  far  the  greater  section  fled  across  the  open  space  in  front  of  City  Hall. 
Theirs  was  a  terrible  fate.  Just  at  this  moment.  Inspector  Carpenter,  with 
his  two  hundred  men,  were  wheeling  into  the  square.  Grasping  the  situation  at  a 
glance,  the  Inspector  formed  his  men  full  company  front,  and  charging  the  fleeing 
rabble,  inflicted  such  chastisement  as  they  deserved,  scattering  and  driving  them 
in  all  directions,  few  escaping  without  grievous  bruises,  and  many  receiving  des- 
])erate  wounds. 

Quiet  being  restored.  Carpenter  took  up  his  headquarters  at  the  City  Hall.' 
A  fire,  which  the  rioters  had  started  in  the  "Tribune  "  building,  was  extinguished. 
A  handful  of  men  from  the  Twenty-sixth  had  already  cleared  the  building  of 
those  who  had  entered  it  to  sack  it,  Ofiicer  McWaters  having  a  desperate 
encounter  with  a  burly  ruffian  at  the  entrance.  Sergeant  Devoursney,  taking  com- 
mand about  the  building,  prevented  any  crowd  from  re-assembling  about  it. 

Several  members  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Precinct  deserve  especial  recognition 
for  their  conduct  in  this  engagement.  Sergeant  Devoursney,  alone  and  in  uni- 
form, confronted  the  entire  crowd,  and  delayed  its  attack  on  the  "Tribune" 


OUR  POIJCK  PKOTEC7VRS.  ,75 

building  a  considerable  time.  Ofticer  McCord,  being  in  plain  clothes,  was  struck 
by>i  comrade  in  mistake.  Officer  Ciardner  was  wounded  in  the  leg  with  a  brick. 
The  wounded  were  all  attended  by  Police  .Surgeon  Kennedy,  who  proved  emi- 
nently brave,  skillful  and  efficient  in  relieving  the  sufferers  in  the  cause  of  duty. 

No  sooner  was  quiet  secured  about  the  City  Hall,  than  Carpenter's  force 
was  weakened  by  the  withdrawal  of  Ins[)ector  Folk  and  his  men  to  IJrooklyn, 
where  the  aspect  of  affairs  was  considered  threatening.  No  actual  rioting,  how- 
ever, took  place  there,  thanks  to  Mr.  Folk's  energetic  and  judicious  arrangements. 
Carpenter  and  his  men,  however,  had  their  hands  full.  First  of  all,  a  rejjtjrt 
came  in  tiiat  negro  houses  were  being  burned  in  the  Sixth  Precinct,  and  the 


Negro  Hanged  by  the  Mob  and  Burned.     32d  St.,  bet.  oth  and  7th  Aves. 

inhabitants  ill-used.  Captain  John  Jourdan  was  sent  with  his  own  men  to  suj)- 
press  this  disturbance.  He  had  been  fighting  the  rioters  all  day.  With  Sergeants 
Walsh  and  McGiven,  he  dispersed  a  mob  at  No.  42  Baxter  Street  at  three  p.  m. 
Roundsman  Ryan  was  knocked  down  and  badly  hurt,  but  continued  to  fight 
vigorously.  At  six  p.  m.  six  hundred  rioters,  who  attacked  a  house  at  Baxter  and 
Leonard  Streets  tenanted  by  twenty  colored  families,  were  disjjersed  by  the 
Captain  and  Sergeants  Walsh,  Quinn,  and  Kennedy,  and  the  first  and  second 
platoons.  The  fight  was  very  bitter.  On  their  way  to  Headquarters,  at  six  o'clock, 
the  men  had  been  obliged  to  punish  another  mob  which  assailed  them.  Rounds- 
man Hopkin.s  was  here  badly  wounded  with  a  stone.    After  the  Printing  House 


176 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Square  affair,  Captain  Jourdan  and  his  command  suppressed  an  attempt  by  about 
a  thousand  men  to  sack  Nos.  104  and  105  Park  Street,  houses  occupied  by- 
colored  people. 

Captain  Jourdan  returned  to  City  Hall  in  time  to  participate  in  Inspector 
Carpenter's  tour  of  the  Fourth  Ward,  in  the  course  of  which  he  suppressed  four 
riotous  crowds  who  were  burning  negro  dwellings.  Fifty  men  were  left  to  pro- 
tect the  "Tribune"  building  ;  the  rest  of  his  force  accompanied  the  Inspector. 
Captain  Bryan  was  the  guide  throughout  this  expedition.  His  station  house 
had  been  attacked,  when  only  Sergeant  Rode  and  eight  men  were  in  it,  by  five 
hundred  rioters.  The  attack  had  been  successfully  resisted.  Sergeants  Rode 
and  Delaney,  too,  had  dispersed  a  marauding  crowd  in  front  of  a  negro  board- 
ing house.  Inspector  Carpenter  was  accompanied,  among  others,  by  Captain 
Green  and  Sergeants  Finney,  Robinson,  and  Webb  of  the  Third  ;  Captain 
Sebring  of  the  Ninth  ;  Captain  Davis  of  the  Tenth  ;  Captain  Steers  of  the 
Thirteenth;  Captain  Brower  of  the  Seventeenth  ;  Captain  Slott,  and  Sergeants 
Aldis,  Potter,  and  Murphy  of  the  Twenty-second  ;  Captain  Dickson  and  Ser- 
geant Groat  of  the  Twenty-eighth — Sergeant  O'Connor  had  been  so  badly 
wounded  in  the  fight  before  the  City  Hall  that  he  had  to  cease  doing  duty  ; 
Captain  Speight  of  the  Twenty-ninth  ;  and  Captain  B.  G.  Lord  and  the  men  of 
the  Sanitary  Corps.  Captain  John  J.  Mount  and  the  men  of  the  Eleventh  Precinct 
also  took  part — the  most  active  part — in  this  expedition.  They  were  detached  to 
protect  the  persons  and  property  of  the  colored  residents  of  Roosevelt  Street  and 
New  Bowery.  They  had  much  serious  fighting,  being  stoned  from  the  roofs,  and 
Officer  McMahon  was  badly  injured  with  a  brick.  An  incident  of  this  tour  will  serve 
to  show  the  ferocity  of  the  rioters.  Three  colored  men  took  refuge  on  the 
roof  of  a  house.  The  rioters  set  it  on  fire,  and  the  poor  fellows  were  obliged 
to  suspend  themselves  by  their  hands  from  the  copings  of  the  gable  walls.  1  he 
Police  searched  in  vain  for  ladders,  and  the  men  were  at  last  obliged  to  drop  to 
the  ground,  sustaining  shocking  injuries. 

After  this  effective  tour  of  the  Fourth  Ward,  Carpenter  and  his  men  had  one 
more  exploit  to  perform  that  busy  Monday.  At  eleven  p.  M.  word  was  received 
that  a  new  and  great  mob  was  marching  down  Broadway  to  raid  the  "Tribune" 
office.  Carpenter  at  once  massed  his  men  close  to  the  east  gate  of  the  Park, 
facing  three  companies  to  the  west,  whence  the  rioters  were  expected  to  come, 
and  the  balance  to  the  east.  The  Police  were  concealed  by  the  darkness,  and  the 
rioters  were  allowed  to  approach  within  a  hundred  yards,  before  Carpenter  gave 
the  word  "  Up  Guards,  and  at  them  !"  The  Police  went  in  with  a  rush.  Their^ 
opponents  were  five  to  one,  but  the  shock  was  irresistible,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the 
Park  was  for  the  second  time  strewn  with  wounded  men,  while  a  discomfitted 
remnant  fled  up  Broadway. 

At  midnight  Carpenter  and  his  brave  but  wearied  followers  were  relieved  by 
the  arrival  of  Inspector  James  Leonard  with  three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  Capt. 
Thorne  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Precinct  being  second  in  command,  and  the  bat- 
talion including  details  from  the  Fifth,  Seventh,  Eighth,  Fourteenth,  Sixteenth, 
Twentieth,  and  Twentv-ninth  Precincts.  Inspector  Leonard  remained  in  charge 
at  the  City  Hall  until  the  following  Friday,  when  the  riots  were  at  an  end.  To 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


'77 


his  energy  and  judgment  arc,  in  a  measure,  attril)Utal)le  the  suppression  of  Jll 
dib«rder  in  the  down-town  districts  of  the  rity.  He  had,  l)cfore  taking  charge 
at  tliis  point,  headed  a  trooj)  \vlu(  li  defeated  a  niol)  al)()Ut  nine  i*.  m.  on  Monday 
at  Broadway  and  l?ond  Street — only  a  hlock  or  two  distant  from  the  scene  of 
Carpenter's  first  victory. 

At  the  City  Hall  the  Inspector's  resources  were  taxed  to  the  utmost.  Before 
dayl)reak  on  Tuesday,  he  sent  a  platoon  to  protect  the  residences  of  negroes  at 
Leonard  and  York  Streets;  he  dispersed  a  mob  which  was  sacking  a  provision 
store  on  Greenwich  Street  near  Cortlandt;  he  sent  a  squad  to  ^uard  Brooks 
Brothers'  clothing  store  on  Catharine  Street,  and  others  to  protect  the  hotels  in 


Military  Encamping  in  Washington  Square. 


Fulton  and  Cortlandt  Streets.  Towards  morning  he  learned  that  a  mob  was 
proceeding  to  Fulton  Ferry  to  oppose  the  landing  of  marines  from  the  Brooklyn 
Navy  Yard,  and  incidentally  to  burn  Fulton  Market.  He  SL'nt  a  large  party  to 
meet  this  mob;  the  result  was  a  short,  sharp  fight,  ending  in  the  rout  of  the 
rioters.  So  many  i)arties  did  Inspector  Leonard  send  out  in  sundry  directions, 
that  by  nine  o'clock,  a.  m.  he  was  left  alone  at  City  Hall.  He  went  to  Head- 
(juarters  at  once  to  represent  in  ])crson  the  need  for  a  strong  force  about  Printing 
House  Square.  He  was  given  two  hundred  men,  with  whom  he  hastened  back 
to  his  j)ost.  He  found  an  excited  crowd  rapidly  growing  in  numbers.  Ever>' 
negro  who  came  in  sight  was  chased  and  beaten,  and  dire  threats  were  heard 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


179 


on  all  sides.  By  noon,  the  situation  was  such  that  Mr.  Leonard,  taking  a 
hundred  men,  cleared  the  Park  and  Printing  House  Square,  hastening  the  move- 
ments of  the  obstinate  by  argument  with  the  locust.  This  process  had  to  be 
repeated  a  number  of  times;  but  by  far  the  most  e.xciting  event  of  the  day  in 
this  vicinity  occurred  at  eight  p.  M.,  when  a  mob  beset  a  company  of  regular  troops 
at  Broadway  and  Chambers  Street,  and  by  threats  and  demonstrations  of  vio- 
lence attempted  to  prevent  the  men  from  proceeding.  Seeing  that  an  attack 
was  imminent.  Inspector  Leonard,  accompanied  only  by  Sergeant  Polly  of  the 
Eleventh  Precinct,  and  one  Patrolman,  forced  his  way  into  the  heart  of  the 
crowd,  and,  in  order  to  direct  attention  from  the  soldiers,  seized  two  of  the  lead- 
ers of  the  mob  and  began  dragging  them  towards  the  City  Hall.  The  officers' 
aim  was  gained;  but  they  nearly  forfeited  their  lives.  The  rioters  turned  their 
full  fury  against  the  throe  brave  men,  who,  each  holding  fast  to  a  prisoner,  faced 
the  enemy  with  uplifted  clubs. 

Shouts  of  "  Kill  them;  give  them  what  Kennedy  got!"  arose  on  all  sides; 
but,  happily,  the  officers'  determination  rendered  the  ruffians  rather  unwilling 
to  face  them.  At  last,  however,  a  rush  was  made.  Up  and  down  went  the 
clubs  with  terrific  regularity,  a  rioter  going  down  under  every  blow.  The  pris- 
oners were  placed  in  front,  and  were  shockingly  cut  and  bruised  by  the  missiles 
aimed  by  their  friends  at  the  Police.  At  last,  intelligence  of  the  fight  reached  the 
force  in  the  City  Hali.  Seventy-five  men  instantly  turned  out  to  rescue  their  brave 
commander.  In  a  few  seconds  they  were  by  his  side.  Then  the  prisoners,  badly 
beaten  men,  were  cast  aside,  and  Carpenter  headed  a  charge  on  the  mob  which 
sent  it  fleeing  in  all  directions,  while  heaps  of  injured  men  marked  the  track 
along  which  the  Police  had  moved.  This  defeat  seemed  to  break  down  the  riot 
in  this  part  of  the  city.  Captain  Mount  and  the  men  of  the  Eleventh  Precinct 
guarded  the  Cortlandt  Street  Hotels  all  Tuesday  night,  but  no  attack  was  made. 
The  Sixteenth's  force,  under  Captain  Hedden,  dispersed  mobs  during  the  eve- 
ning at  Thomas  Street  and  West  Broadway.  The  next  day  some  slight  encounters 
took  place,  and  great  vigilance  had  to  be  exercised;  but  this  was  the  last  of 
Inspector  Leonard's  pitched  battles. 

He,  however,  remained  on  duty  at  the  Hall  until  Friday,  when,  with  his 
officers  and  men,  he  was  recalled.  During  his  command  there,  as  is  recorded, 
he  had  rendered  invaluable  services  to  that  section  and  the  lower  portion  of  the 
city.  He  had  immense  interests  to  guard,  and  that  he  acted  the  part  of  a  brave 
and  zealous  officer  goes  without  saying. 

The  Colored  Orphan  Asylum  was  burned  down  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  Monday,  July  13.  A  mob  of  some  three  thousand  had  attacked  the 
asylum.  The  asylum  at  that  terrible  moment  held  within  its  walls  two  hundred 
colored  children,  besides  the  officers  and  matrons.  The  main  building  was  four 
stories,  with  wings  of  three  stories.  Superintendent  William  E.  Davis  hurriedly 
fastened  the  doors,  and,  while  the  mob  were  breaking  them  in,  the  children  were 
collected  and  taken  from  the  building  by  the  rear  door  before  the  mob  had  bat- 
tered down  the  barricaded  doors.  The  building  was  first  ransacked  and  pil- 
laged— everything  portal)le  was  carried  away — and  then  the  torch  of  the 
incendiary  was  applied.    Chief  Engineer  Decker,  upon  reaching  the  scene,  tried 


i8o 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


by  argument  to  draw  off  the  miserable  rabble.  He  forced  his  way  into  the 
building,  was  assaulted,  thrice  knocked  down,  and  finally  driven  out.  Having 
been  joined  by  ten  firemen,  he  determined  upon  making  another  effort  to  save 
the  asylum.  Assistant' Engineers  Lamb  and  Lewis  swelled  the  ranks  of  the  little 
band  of  heroic  firemen,  and  then  they  pushed  through  the  crowd  and  penetrated 
into  the  building.  The  work  of  demolition  had  progressed  on  all  sides.  The 
furniture  had  been  broken  and  piled  in  different  parts  of  the  house,  while  fires 
had  already  been  kindled  on  the  first  and  second  floors.  The  firemen  scattered 
and  extinguished  these  incipient  fires,  at  the  imminent  risk  of  their  lives,  the 
building  being  still  filled  with  rioters.  Meantime,  some  of  the  latter,  despite  the 
efforts  of  the  little  band  of  firemen,  had  succeeded  in  setting  fire  to  the  loft. 
To  save  the  structure  was  now  an  impossibility,  and  the  firemen  and  the  mob 
alike  were  driven  forth  by  the  rapidly-spreading  flames.  In  a  little  time  the 
asylum  was  wrapped  in  flames,  and  within  an  hour  or  so  only  a  small  portion  of 
the  walls  remained  standing. 

After  their  escape  from  the  building  the  j^oor  little  orphans  were  conducted 
to  the  Twentieth  Precinct,  where  they  were  taken  care  of  by  Captain  Walling, 
and  were  subsequently  removed  to  Blackwell's  Island.  The  loss  to  the  society 
was  estimated  at  eighty  thousand  dollars. 

There  were  ten  precincts  in  Brooklyn,  forming  a  portion  of  the  Metro- 
politan Police.  Its  movements  in  this  city  on  the  first  day  of  the  riots  are  re- 
corded as  follows: 

At  half-past  ten  o'clock  on  Monday,  Inspector  John  S.  Folk  received  a  dis- 
patch from  the  New  York  headquarters  directing  him  to  call  in  his  reserves,  and 
to  hold  them  in  immediate  readiness.  They  were  on  drill  at  Fort  Green  at  the 
time,  and  forthwith  he  ordered  them  to  their  respective  precincts. 

At  five  o'clock  p.  m.,  a  dispatch  was  received  from  Commissioner  Bergen  %o 
send  his  whole  force  to  New  York,  if,  in  the  Inspector's  opinion,  it  would  be  safe 
for  them  to  leave  Brooklyn.  Inspector  Folk  lost  no  time  in  reporting  himself  at 
the  Mulberry  Street  Headquarters  with  upwards  of  two  hundred  men.  They 
were  retained  at  Headquarters  for  action  in  case  of  emergency.  About  eight 
p.  M.  word  was  received  that  the  Tribune  building  was  being  threatened  by  the 
mob,  and  Inspector  Folk,  acting  upon  instructions,  joined  his  force  to  that  of  In- 
spector Carpenter.  On  reaching  the  Park,  the  mob  were  met  in  their  flight  from 
Printing  House  Square,  and  received  severe  handling  by  Carpenter  and  Folk. 
The  latter  and  his  men  were  on  the  left  of  the  M  ing,  and  he  completed  the  rout 
and  discomfiture  of  the  mob.  This  duty  over,  and  with  parting  cheers  from  In- 
spector Carpenter's  men.  Inspector  Folk,  under  instructions,  took  up  the  march 
to  Brooklyn.  Reaching  Fulton  Ferry,  he  learned  that  two  negroes  had  just  been 
murdered  on  the  stocks,  close  by.  After  manoeuvring  his  men  and  disjiersing 
some  evil-disposed  bodies  of  loungers,  he  returned  to  Brooklyn,  to  protect  his 
own  threatened  territory. 

So  well  had  Inspector  Folk  handled  his  forc  es,  tliat  tiie  riotiously-disposed 
were  met  whenever  they  showed  any  symptoms  of  disorder,  and  summarily  dis- 
persed before  they  had  time  to  organize  their  forces,  much  less  to  inflict 
injury. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  i8i 

On  Wednesday  evening  the  elevators  in  the  Basin  were  fired.  The  incen- 
diaries, who  were  a  gang  of  laborers,  mingled  with  the  crowd,  and  so  could  not 
be  singled  out  by  Inspector  Folk  and  his  command,  who  were  promi)tly  on  the 
spot. 

Inspector  Folk  was  a  faithful  and  gallant  officer,  and  to  his  constant  vigi- 
lance in  Brooklyn,  that  city  owed  its  immunity  from  the  horrors  which  had  con- 
vulsed New  York.  He  and  his  command  lent  the  most  valuable  aid  to  the  New 
York  Police  in  their  desperate  and  valiant  battle  witli  the  mob  during  a  week  of 
riot. 


1».2 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


'9 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Ji;i.V,  IJS63. 


SUPPRESSION  OF  THE   DRAFT  RIOTS. 


The  City  Saved  from  Pillage  and  Arson. — A  Defiant  and  Untekrified 
Mob. — Negroes  Hanged  from  Lamp-posts  and  their  Bodies  Burned. — 
Station  Houses  and  Private  Dwellings  Fired  and  Sacked. — Stones, 
Bricks,  and  other  Missiles  Showered  on  the  Heads  of  Policemen  from 
THE  Housetops. — Police  Retaliation. — Arrival  of  the  Military. — Col. 
O'Brien's  Frightful  Death. — The  Battle  on  Second  Avenue  and 
Twenty-first  Street. — The  Mob  Taught  Some  Severe  Lessons. — Erect- 
ing Barricades. — Fired  Upon  by  the  Troops. — The  Police  Ply  their 
Clubs  on  the  Heads  of  Rioters  with  Unbounded  Liberality. — Children 
from  the  Colored  Orphan  Asylum  Protected  by  the  Police. — Hard 
Hand-to-Hand  Fighting. — Backbone  of  the  Riot  Broken. — A  Rkign  of 
Mob  Law  Averted. — Valuable  Services  Performed  by  the  Detective 
Force  and  Telegraph  Bureau. — Suppression  of  the  Riot. — The  Board 
OF  Police  Issue  a  Congratulatory  Address  to  the  Force. — Governor 
Seymour  Bears  Willing  and  Appreciative  Testimony  to  the  Gallant 
Services  Performed  by  the  Police. — Arraign.ment  and  Conviction  of 
Rioters. 


UESDAY,  the  second  day  of  the  Riot,  was  no  less  a  busy  day  in  other  parts 


of  the  city.  At  two  a.  m.  Drill  Officer  Copeland,  with  a  hundred  men  of 
the  Fourth,  Ninth,  Nineteenth,  Twenty-third,  and  Twenty-eighth  Precincts, 
marched  from  Headquarters  to  recover  the  body  of  William  Jones,  a  negro,  whom 
the  mob  beat  terribly  and  hanged  from  a  lamp-post  in  Clarkson  Street.  The 
mob  lit  a  fire  under  the  body,  and  held  a  saturnalia  about  it  until  Copeland  and 
his  men  dispersed  them,  and  took  the  corpse  to  Headquarters.  This  duty  was 
performed  amid  a  terrific  thunder  and  rain  storm.  On  their  way  back  the 
members  of  the  Twenty-third  received  intelligence  that  their  station  house,' on 
East  Eighty-seventh  Street,  as  well  as  numerous  private  houses  in  the  vicinity, 
was  i)illaged  and  burned  by  rioters.  Doorman  Ebling  saved  the  telegraph  instru- 
ment, but  all  other  property,  public  and  personal,  was  lost. 

On  returning  from  the  Clarkson  Street  expedition,  the  force  of  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Precinct,  under  Captain  John  F.  Dickson,  kept  guard  at  a  fire  at  Houston 
and  Washington  Streets,  until  five  o'clock,  when  it  went  to  Leroy  Street  and  res- 
cued a  colored  man,  named  Williams,  who  was  attacked  by  a  crowd.  One  ruffian, 
who  had  fled  from  Williams  in  the  most  cowardly  way,  beat  him  after  he  was 


Their  Brave  Protector. 
(Drawn  by  C.  db  Grimm,  by  permission  of  Mr.  Jamks  Gordon  Bennett.) 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


overcome  by  the  crowd,  wiili  ;i  stone  weighing  twenty  pounds.  Captain  Dickson 
pkiccd  the  poor  fellow  in  a  wagon,  which  the  officers  drew  to  Hcachiiiartc  rs.  Wil- 
Hanis  died  of  liis  injuries  next  day. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  our  old  friend  Carpenter  rc-api)ears  on  the  scene, 
and,  as  usual,  his  appearance  brings  with  it  a  direful  combat,  in  which  he  gains  his 
customary  victory.  At  the  hour  named,  he  started  out  with  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  to  suppress  disorder  along  Second  Avenue.  He  and  his  force  entered  that 
thoroughfare  at  Twenty-first  Street,  and  found  it  crowded  with  people  who 
hissed  and  cursed  the  Police,  but  suffered  them  to  pass  unmolested  until  the 
block  between  Thirty-second  and  Thirty-third  Streets  was  reached.     Here  a 


General  Canby's  Headquarters 

sudden  shower  of  bricks,  paving  stones,  and  bullets,  from  the  windows  of  the 
houses,  brought  the  columns  to  a  halt.  Many  of  the  men  were  hurt,  a  few  were 
stunned.  Inspector  Carpenter  instantly  ordered  his  men  to  attack  tiie  houses, 
go  through  them  from  cellar  to  roof,  and  render  every  rioter  who  might  be  en- 
countered incapable  of  further  mischief.  The  scene  which  ensued  cannot  be 
adequately  described.  Barricaded  doors  were  smashed  in,  and  the  Police  began 
their  attack  with  irresistible  fury.  Their  opponents'  resistance  was  like  that  of 
so  many  pigmies.  Some  fled  to  the  roofs,  only  to  be  overtaken  and  terribly 
beaten  by  the  officers  ;  some  leaped  from  upper  windows  and  fell  shockingly 
maimed  on  the  flags  below  ;  men  were  hurled  down-stairs,  others  were  clubbed 


i84 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


into  insensibility.  The  few  who  gained  the  street  unhurt  or  nearly  so,  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  reserve  which  Carpenter  posted  there,  and  fared  no  better  than 
their  fellows.  The  gallantry  shown  by  individual  officers  was  great  ;  and  some 
of  them  paid  dearly  for  it.  Captain  AVarlow,  of  the  First  Precinct,  in  heading 
the  charge  of  his  men  had  two  toes  crushed  by  a  stone,  but  continued  on 
duty  though  badly  crippled.  Sergeant  Babcock,  though  on  leave,  returned  in 
time  to  take  part  in  this  fight.  Sergeant  Snodgrass  led  the  platoon  of  the  Second 
Precinct.  Officers  Watson  and  Cole  entered  into  a  rivalry  as  to  who  should  first 
reach  the  roof  of  a  house  from  which  a  galling  fire  had  been  kept  up  on  the 
Police.  Watson  won  the  contest,  and  was  attacked  by  a  scoundrel  armed  with 
an  iron  bar.  Watson  soon  quieted  the  fellow.  Cole  and  he  won  equal  distinc- 
tion in  the  melee  that  followed.  Sergeant  Robinson  headed  the  men  of  the 
Third  Precinct.  He  and  Sergeant  Finney,  Roundsman  Farrell,  and  others, 
forced  their  way  into  a  liquor  saloon,  and  rapidly  cleared  the  house.  The  full 
force  of  the  Tenth  Precinct  was  present  under  Captain  T.  C.  Davis.  Four  men 
were  badly  wounded,  including  Officers  Rothschild  and  Sandford.  Sergeant 
Wemyss  and  Roundsman  Hart  won  especial  praise.  Captain  Mount,  of  the 
Eleventh  Precinct,  led  the  entire  storming  party.  He  was  bravely  seconded  by 
his  men,  among  whom  Sergeants  Polly,  Ahearn,  and  Reed,  Roundsmen  Warm- 
sley  and  Donohue,  and  Patrolmen  Warren,  Beattie,  Gass,  Bogart,  McMahon, 
and  McCarty  were  singled  out  for  commendation  on  account  of  their  con- 
spicuous courage.  A  portion  of  the  contingent  of  the  Twenty-third,  under 
Captain  Henry  Hutchings,  took  part  in  the  attack  ;  the  rest  were  stationed  below 
to  deal  with  fugitives  from  the  houses,  and  keep  the  crowd  in  check.  The 
Twenty-fifth's  squad  attacked  the  liquor  store  at  Thirty-first  Street,  from  which 
the  rioters  were  firing  pistols  and  hurling  stones.  One  man,  who  had  been 
using  a  gun,  was  flung  out  of  a  window  and  killed. 

Captain  Speight,  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Precinct,  with  his  command,  had  been 
in  the  rear  of  the  battalion  as  it  marched  up  Second  Avenue,  and  therefore 
sustained  the  first  brunt  of  the  cowardly  attack.  The  officers  instantly  faced 
about.  Captain  Speight  led  the  charge  on  the  mob  ;  but  was  brought  to  the 
ground  by  the  blow  of  a  brick.  He  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  still  encouraged  his 
men  by  voice  and  example.  When  the  crowd  was  driven  off,  the  men  joined  in 
the  attack  on  the  houses  with  great  effect.  The  men  were  nearly  all  more  or 
less  hurt,  but  they  placed  thirty  rioters  hors  du  combat  in  the  houses  they  at- 
tacked. Sergeants  Van  Orden  and  Young  were  mentioned  for  bravery.  A 
detachment  from  the  Thirty-first  Precinct  was  also  present  in  this  affray  under 
Captain  James  Z.  Bogart.  Sergeant  Ten  Eyck,  and  Officers  Thompson,  Ste- 
venson and  Stoddard  distinguished  themselves  for  courage  and  energ)'. 

While  the  fight  was  still  in  progress.  Colonel  H.  J.  O'Brien,  of  the  Eleventh 
New  York  Volunteers,  arrived  on  the  scene  with  about  fifty  men  and  two  howit- 
zers. For  a  time  the  mob  was  overawed,  but  after  the  Police  had  marched  off, 
an  attack  was  begun  on  the  soldiers,  who  fired  a  volley  in  reply.  Several  people, 
including  a  woman,  were  wounded,  and  the  crowd  became  panic-stricken  and 
scattered.  O'Brien  and  his  men  marched  away.  An  hour  or  two  later  the  ill- 
starred  colonel  returned  to  the  spot  alone.    He  was  recognized,  and  set  upon  by 


oirR  ror.nr.  rROTEcroRs. 


the  rioters,  thirsting  for  vengeance.  Atrocities  too  terrible  for  description  were 
cojnmitted  upon  his  body.  It  was  the  awful  plaything  of  a  thousand  maddened 
wretches  for  several  hours.  It  is  related  that  the  wretched  man  lived  through  a 
long  series  of  horrors,  and  only  expired  when  subjected  to  the  fury  of  some  fren- 
zied women,  late  in  the  evening.  The  remains,  utterly  unrecognizable,  were  re- 
covered after  nightfall. 

When  he  had  defeated  the  rioters  at  Thirty-third  Street,  Inspector  Carpen- 
ter continued  his  march.  He  patrolled  all  the  disturbed  districts  in  the  uptown 
portions  of  the  east  side  of  the  city,  only  returning  to  Headquarters  at  one  p.  m. 


Brutal  Murder  of  Col.  O'Brien. 


Meanwhile,  stirring  scenes  had  been  in  progress  elsewhere.  With  two  hundred 
men,  including  his  own  precinct  force.  Captain  Petty,  of  the  Fifth,  had  gone  early 
in  the  morning  to  protect  a  soap  factory  on  Sixteenth  Street  between  Eighth  and 
Ninth  Avenues.  The  men  were  filled  with  contempt  when  the  rioters  fled  at  the 
mere  approach  of  the  Police.  This  body  marclicd  throueli  the  whole  region, 
breaking  up  all  gatherings,  and  got  back  to  Headquarters  just  in  time  to  be  trans- 
ferred for  the  most  part  to  the  command  of  Inspector  Dilks,  who,  with  a  portion 
of  them  and  other  precinct  details  —  in  all  two  liundred  men  —  marched  at  ten 
o'clock  A.  M.  to  the  protection  of  a  wire  factory  at  Second  Avenue  and  Twenty- 
first  Street,  where  four  thousand  carbines  were  stored.   The  march  to  the  factory 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


was  rapidly  made.  The  building  was  found  in  possession  of  the  rioters,  thou- 
sands of  whom  were  congregated  in  the  avenue.  The  arms  were  being  passed 
out  of  the  building  by  the  marauders  who  had  entered.  The  crowd  hailed  the 
Police  with  yells  of  defiance.  The  odds  were,  indeed,  fearful,  but  the  Inspector 
did  not  hesitate  a  moment.  He  and  his  brave  boys  rushed  on  the  mob.  This 
was  one  of  the  bitterest  fights  of  the  whole  riot  week.  The  mob  made  a  stub- 
born resistance.  The  causeway  was  literally  strewn  with  stunned  and  bleeding 
men.  At  last  discipline  prevailed.  The  great  crowd  wavered,  fled  and  dispersed. 
Then  the  factory  was  attacked.  It  was  a  repetition  of  the  scene  in  the  houses  at 
Thirty-fourth  Street.  The  building  was  recaptured  foot  by  foot,  and  the  wounded 
covered  the  floors.  The  punishment  of  the  rioters  was  fearful.  One  doctor  said 
that  after  that  fight  he  dressed  the  wounds  of  twenty-one  rioters  —  all  in  the 
head,  and  all  of  a  fatal  character.  When  the  fighting  was  over,  the  Police  gath- 
ered up  all  the  arms  they  could  find  and  marched  with  them  to  Headquarters, 
getting  there  only  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  In  the  fighting,  Sergeant 
Wright  and  Officer  Warner,  of  the  Sixteenth  Precinct,  received  injuries  from  which 
they  were  disabled.  Captain  A.  S.  Wilson,  of  the  Thirty-second,  and  Sergeants 
Huff,  Whiteman  and  Castle  took  leading  parts  in  the  fray.  Sergeant  Groat,  of 
the  Twenty-eighth,  had  a  desperate  man,  who,  though  one-armed,  proved  a  perfect 
Hercules.  Groat  at  last  put  him  to  flight,  and  pursuing  him,  stunned  him  with  a 
blow  from  his  club. 

But  the  mob,  though  checked,  was  not  yet  beaten.  The  Police  had  hardly  left 
the  neighborhood  of  the  factory  when  the  crowd  re-assembled.  The  building  was 
once  more  invaded,  and  a  quantity  of  arms  that  had  escaped  the  notice  of  Inspector 
Dilks'  parly  was  discovered.  But  before  the  rioters  had  time  to  effect  a  distribution 
of  the  weapons,  a  fresh  force  of  Police  assailed  them.  Caj)t.  John  C.  Helme,  of 
the  Twentv-seventh  Precinct,  had  been  sent  out  from  Headquarters  some  time  be- 
fore with  his  own  men  and  details  from  other  precincts,  to  disperse  a  crowd  that 
was  besieging  Mayor  Opdyke's  house  on  Fifth  Avenue.  This  work  was  speedily 
accomplished,  and  some  piles  of  building  material,  which  might  serve  as  ammu- 
nition for  the  rioters,  were  removed  to  places  of  safety.  Then  Captain  Helme, 
hearing  of  the  trouble  at  the  wire  factory,  marched  thither,  arriving  just  as  the  mob 
re-assembled — after  Inspector  Dilks'  departure — and  had  for  the  second  time 
spread  through  the  building.  The  Police  approached  from  Twenty-first  Street. 
They  waited  for  no  parley,  but  rushed  on  the  mob  as  they  wheeled  into  the  Avenue. 
For  the  second  time  the  rioters  fought  stubbornly,  but  were  driven  liack  after  a 
short  struggle.  Fifty  of  them  remained  disabled  on  the  pavement.  The  men  of 
the  Fourteenth,  under  Sergeant  Hughes,  were  among  the  most  active  in  this  fight;  ' 
several  of  them  were  severely  wounded.  Sergeant  Blaktlock,  of  the  Fifteenth, 
had  a  narrow  escape  from  a  bullet  which  grazed  his  cheek.  He  had  left  a  sick 
bed  to  take  part  in  the  fight.  Officer  Wetmore,  of  the  Twenty-seventh,  also 
showed  great  bravery. 

The  mob  being  dispersed,  Captain  Petty  with  ten  men  from  the  Fifth,  Cap- 
tain Sebring  with  a  detail  of  the  Thirteenth,  which  had  already  given  a  mob  a 
severe  lesson  at  Spring  and  Crosby  Streets,  Sergeants  Bumstead  and  Fulmcr  with 
a  platoon  of  the  Nineteenth,  and  a  detachment  from  the  Twenty-seventh  under 


OUR  POIJCF.  PROTECTORS. 


187 


Sergeant  Wilson,  entered  the  factory.  On  every  floor  the  rioters — unconscious 
ofjtlie  fight  in  the  street — were  ransacking  the  place  for  arms.  They  were  taken 
by  surprise,  pursued  to  the  very  roof,  and  beaten  in  detail.  It  is  said  tliat  not 
one  man  who  was  in  the  factory  escaped  punishment.  Officer  Follis,  of  the 
Twenty-seventh,  was  badly  wounded  in  the  attack  with  an  iron  bar.  When  all 
were  quieted,  Captain  Helme  despatched  Sergeant  Laflin  and  Officers  Seymour 
and  Osborn,  of  the  Thirteenth,  to  seize  a  cart,  which  was  laden  with  all  the  arms 
the  Police  could  find.  Escorting  it,  Captain  Helme's  battalion  started  for  Head- 
quarte.  s;  but  by  this  time  the  mob  was  reinforced  by  those  who  had  engaged  in 
the  butchery  of  Colonel  O'Brien,  and,  with  renewed  confidence,  it  crowded  around 


Cavalry  Patrolling  the  Streets. 

the  Police,  whose  position  became  very  critical.  Not  a  man  flinched,  but  it  is 
hard  to  tell  how  the  impending  contest  would  have  resulted  but  for  the  timely 
arrival  of  Inspector  Dilks  with  a  fresh  force  of  two  hundred  men,  with  whom  he 
had  started  for  the  scene  the  mome»t-  rumors  of  the  fresh  outbreak  of  the  mob 
reached  the  Central  Ofiice.  The  fight  which  followed  was  very  short.  The  mob 
had  received  two  fearful  lessons,  and  hardly  waited  for  a  third. 

The  united  forces  of  Inspector  Dilks  and  Captain  Helme  now  made  a  tour  cf 
the  neighborhood,  engaging  in  several  sharp  fights,  in  which  they  were  much  aided 
by  the  military.  The  battalion  turned  down  Twenty-second  Street  towards 
First  Avenue,  when  a  galling  fire  was  opened  on  tiiem  from  windows  and  roofs. 
The  soldiers  were  sent  to  the  front,  and,  by  a  well-directed  fire,  they  soon  cleared 


i88 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


away  the  riotous  sharpshooters.  As  the  Police  wheeled  into  First  Avenue  tTiey 
were  confronted  by  a  body  of  rioters,  who  hurled  a  tempest  of  missiles  upon  them. 
The  military  again  advanced,  and  silenced  the  rabble  with  several  sharp  volleys. 
The  rioters  retreated'  slowly,  however,  and  several  more  volleys  were  fired  at  them 
as  the  troops  and  Police  advanced.  At  Twenty-first  Street  the  mob  broke  and 
fled;  then  the  forces  returned  to  Twenty-second  Street,  and  through  it  to  Second 
Avenue.  Sergeant  Devoursney,  of  the  Twenty-sixth,  remained  too  far  behind, 
reconnoitering,  and  narrowly  escaped  a  bullet  aimed  at  his  head  from  a  window. 
At  Twenty-first  Street  and  Second  Avenue  the  mob  was  again  encountered,  and 
only  disjiersed  after  several  more  deadly  volleys.  During  the  fight  Inspector 
Dilks  and  Sergeant  Garland,  of  the  Seventh,  had  both  a  happy  escape  from  a 
rifle  ball  which  cut  off  the  branch  of  a  tree  just  by  the  Inspector's  head  while  the 
the  two  were  speaking  together.  Another  incident  of  the  fighting  at  Twenty- 
second  Street  and  Second  Avenue  calls  for  special  mention.  A  young  man  who 
had  led  the  rioters  with  great  courage,  staggering  under  a  blow  of  a  club,  fell 
upon  the  spike  of  an  area  railing  which  ran  under  his  chin  and  impaled  him  hor- 
ribly. When  his  corpse  was  taken  down,  it  was  found  that  he  was  a  youth 
of  refined  appearance,  and  under  greasy  overalls  he  wore  a  suit  of  fashionable 
clothing.  He  was  not  identified,  and  the  body  was  secretly  removed  with  those 
of  the  other  rioters.  After  the  battalion  had  withdrawn  the  mob  re-assembled  and 
repaired  to  the  Eighteenth  Precinct  Station  House  in  East  Twenty-second  Street. 
The  place  was  in  charge  of  Sergeant  Burden  and  three  men.  A  defence  was  out  of 
the  question.  So  the  building  was  barricaded,  and  the  officers  retreated  through 
a  rear  window.    The  rioters  speedily  broke  in  and  burned  the  building. 

Captain  George  W.  Walling,  of  the  Twentieth  Precinct,  had  a  day  of  great 
excitement  and  danger.  He  began  it  by  marching  early  in  the  morning  to  Pitt 
Street,  to  quell  a  disturbance.  He  arrived  too  late,  a  military  detachment  h.:.v- 
ing  already  done  the  work.  On  his  return  he  paraded  through  the  Bowery  and 
other  streets  with  his  men  for  the  purpose  of  intimidating  evil-doers.  Inspector 
Carpenter  made  a  similar  tour  a  little  later.  On  the  latter  expedition  a  section 
from  the  Twelfth  Precinct  formed  part  of  the  patrol.  A  man  named  Patrick 
Carle  was  seen  brandishing  a  sword  and  threatening  general  destruction.  Officer 
Banfield,  of  the  Twelfth,  seized  the  weapon,  and  dragging  its  possessor  into  the 
ranks,  marched  him  off  to  Headquarters. 

On  returning  from  his  first  expedition,  Captain  Walling  was  sent  with  a 
large  force  into  his  own  Precinct,  the  Twentieth,  where  the  rioters  were  making 
some  headway,  having  beaten  a  body  of  soldiers  and  taken  away  their  guns  at 
AUerton's  Hotel,  Eleventh  Avenue,  between  Fortieth  and  Forty-first  Streets.  ' 
When  he  arrived  in  the  neighborhood,  the  Captain  learned  that  marauders  were 
sacking  the  private  residences  on  Forty-seventh  Street.  Thither  he  hastened 
with  his  men.  A  band  had  just  broken  into  Dr.  Ward's  house,  and  parties  were 
bearing  away  valuables  from  other  houses.  As  the  Police  appeared  the  thieves 
took  to  their  heels-  The  Police  chased  in  parties  of  three  or  four.  Every  man 
armed  with  a  club  or  other  weapon  was  soundly  beaten  by  the  officers.  The 
only  purpose  of  this  mob  had  been  robbery,  and  this  whole  section  of  the  city 
was  terrorized  by  similar  bands. 


OCh'  POrjCE  PROTECTORS. 


189 


The  Police 
the  military  were 
rioters,  who  had 
Thirty-second  to 
bound  together 
avenue  at  Tliirty 
vening  streets, 
ferry  house.  At 
Police  at  the  st 
barricades. 


next  repaired  to  the  station  house  on  'i  hirty-fifth  Street,  and 
tekgrapiied  for  to  aid  in  overcoming  a  new  movement  of  tiie 
cut  down  the  telegraph  poles  all  along  Ninth  Avenue,  from 
Forty-third  Streets,  and  with  tliese.  and  carts,  and  wagons, 
with  the  telegraph  wire,  iiad  formed  barricades  across  the 
-si\enth  and  Forty-third  Streets,  and  across  all  the  inter- 
'i'hey  had  also  set  fire  to  and  burned  down  the  Weehawken 
s.x  p.  iM.  Captain  Wesson,  with  a  force  of  regulars,  joined  the 
ation  house,  and  both   bodies   sallied   forth  to  attack  the 


Destruction  of  the  Weehawken  Ferry  House. 
Captain  Slott,  of  the  Twenty-second  Precinct,  advanced  with  a  body  of 
Police  to  remove  the  barrier  at  Thirty-seventh  Street.  They  were  driven  off  by 
a  volley  of  stones  and  bullets.  The  military  advanced,  and  with  a  steady  fusil- 
lade, cleared  away  the  rioters.  Then  the  Police  returned  and  removed  the 
obstruction.  The  mob  rallied  and  attacked  them  a  second  time,  but  were  again 
beaten  off  ])y  the  fire  of  the  troops.  The  Police  then  advanced  again,  and,  one 
by  one,  all  the  barricades  were  demolished.  The  Police  at  length  returned  to 
their  station;  but  they  were  allowed  only  a  brief  rest.  At  nine  o'clock  a  roving 
gang  attacked  a  gun  and  hardware  store  on  Thirty-seventh  Street,  between  Eighth 
and  Ninth  Avenues.  Captain  Petty  speedily  appeared  on  the  scene  with  a 
sqtiad,  and  very  quickly  disi)erscd  the  roughs,  laying  many  of  thein  senseless  on 
the  pavement.    At-midnight  there  was  a .  new  alarm.   A  great  crowd  gathered  in 


190 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Thirtieth  Street,  between  Seventh  and  Eighth  Avenues,  vowing  the  destruction  of 
the  colored  church  there.  Captain  Walling  hastened  to  the  spot  with  his  entire 
force.  They  charged  on  the  mob  unexpectedly,  but  were  received  with  a  shower 
of  bullets  from  the  alleys  and  doorways  on  either  side.  The  fire  was  returned; 
then  t!ie  officers  rushed  in,  i:)lying  their  clubs  with  unbounded  liberality,  so  that 
in  a  few  minutes  only  prostrate  rioters  were  to  be  seen. 

This  practically  ended  the  riot  in  this  quarter  of  the  city.  The  state  of 
things  had,  at  one  time,  been  very  bad.  The  children  from  the  Colored  Orphan 
Asylum  in  Fifth  Avenue  had  been  taken  to  this  station  and  cared  for  until  sent  to 
the  Island.  Captain  Petty,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  station,  had,  at  times,  as 
many  as  four  hundred  refugees  to  provide  for.  He  had,  besides,  to  provide — by 
arming  and  barricading — for  the  possible  event  of  an  attack  on  the  station 
house. 

While  the  scenes  just  related  were  in  ])rogress  about  Thirty-fifth  Street, 
similar  ones  were  enacted  at  Twenty-ninth  Street  and  Eighth  A\  enue,  where  a 
mob,  which  was  pillaging  the  house  of  Mr.  J.  S.  Gibbons,  No.  19  Lamartine 
Place,  was  attacked  l)y  a  battalion  drawn  from  the  Broadway  Squad  and  Thirty- 
first  Precinct,  commanded  by  Cajjtain  James  Z.  Bogart.  As  the  officers,  accom- 
panied by  military,  passed  the  house  in  patrolling,  the  crowd  gathered  before  it 
retired  ;  but  when  the  force  passed  the  crowd  re-assembled,  broke  down  the 
doors,  and  began  the  work  of  robbery.  Meantime  Sergeant  Devoursney  and 
Officer  Gardner,  of  the  Twenty-sixth,  had  been  stoned  while  acting  as  scouts,  but 
had  learned  of  the  attack  on  the  house,  and  bore  the  news  to  Captain  Bogart. 
The  Police  returned  on  the  run,  and  the  crowd  in  the  street  ran  at  the  first 
shock.  The  house  was  full  of  rioters  and  robbers  ;  and  several  officers  entered 
to  drive  these  out,  while  the  main  body  remained  outside  to  give  them  a  warm 
reception.  As  they  came  rushing  to  the  street.  Sergeant  Burdick  of  the  Broad- 
way Squad  felled  to  the  ground  a  gigantic  fellow  laden  with  booty.  As  he  did 
so,  a  score  of  bullets  Avhistled  through  the  air,  two  of  which  struck  the  rioter, 
while  one  entered  Officer  Dipple's  thigh,  and  breaking  the  bone  passed  up 
through  the  marrow,  causing  inflammation,  from  which  this  excellent  officer  died 
in  a  few  days.  It  appears  that  the  military  arrived  suddenly  on  the  scene,  and 
noticing  the  rush  of  the  rioters  from  the  house,  had  fired  wildly,  and  without 
orders,  doing  more  injury  to  friends  than  foes.  Officer  Hodgson  received  in 
this  volley  a  ball  and  three  buckshot  in  the  arm  ;  Officer  Robinson  was  wounded 
in  the  thigh.  A  rioter,  as  he  rushed  out,  was  caught  and  clubbed  by  Officer  Hill 
of  the  Twenty-sixth  Precinct.  He  drew  a  jjistol  and  shot  the  officer  in  the 
thigh.  The  next  moment  he  fell  riddled  with  soldiers'  bullets.  Officer  Rice,  of 
the  Twenty-sixth,  was  shot  in  the  groin  and  thigh  ;  a  bullet  passed  through  Ser- 
geant Pell's  sleeve.  Officer  Hanifer  had  a  desperate  combat  with  an  immense 
fellow,  whom  he  drove  to  the  street.  Officer  Morris,  of  the  Broadway  Squad,  was 
the  first  man  to  enter  the  house  ;  Roundsman  Benson  Sherwood  and  Jerome  H. 
Ferris  were  especially  noticeable  for  bravery.  In  the  entire  affair  the  women 
gave  more  trouble  than  the  men.  Many  of  them  were  in  the  house  plundering, 
and  it  took  a  smart  application  of  the  locust  to  the  fleshiest  portions  of  their  per- 
sons to  make  many  of  them  relinquish  their  ill-gotten  treasures. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Tuesday  ni;;ht  closed  down  town  with  anotlicr  bloody  battle,  v.af^ed  about 
Bccoks  Brothers'  clothing  store  in  Catharine  Street.  There  had  been  a  pood  deal 
of  disorder  all  day.  Sergeant  Rode  and  a  squad  from  the  Fourth,  had  jtrotected 
Godfrey's  gun  store  from  a  mob.    At  dusk  the  crowd  began  to  gather  about 


Escaping  Rioters  Surprised  by  the  Police. 
Brooks  Brothers'  establishment.  Patrolmen  I'iatt,  Kennedy  and  Davis,  min- 
gled with  the  mob,  in  citizen's  clothes,  but  were  recognized  and  terribly  beaten. 
Then  the  whole  force  of  the  Fourth  Precinct,  with  twenty  men  from  the  First 
under  Sergeant  Matthew,  and  twenty-five  from  the  Third  under  Sergeant  Finney 
and  Roundsman  Farrell,  repaired  to  the  place  and  dispersed  the  mob.   They  had 


192 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


scarcely  reached  their  station  again  when  they  heard  of  further  rioting  in  Catha- 
rine Street  and  returned  there.  They  cleared  a  boot  and  shoe  store  after  a  sharp 
fight,  and  halted  while  Captain  Bryan  went  forward  to  ascertain,  personally,  the 
state  of  affairs  about  Brooks'.  The  store  had  been  entered  and  was  being  pil- 
laged. A  charge  was  ordered,  and  was  made  in  gallant  style.  The  mob  ga\'e  way, 
many  being  badly  beaten;  the  officers  entered  the  store,  and  after  a  fierce  combat 
from  floor  to  floor,  cleared  it,  beating  severely  some  hundreds  of  the  rioters.  In  the 
fight,  Sergeant  Finney,  of  the  Third,  was  shot  in  the  face.  Sergeant  Delaney  had 
his  hat  knocked  off  by  the  wadding  of  a  pistol  fired  at  him  by  a  rioter  only  a  few 
feet  away.  Officer  Van  Ranst,  of  the  First  Precinct,  received  a  bullet  in  his  hat, 
where  he  found  it  next  morning.  While  the  fight  was  still  in  progress.  Inspector 
Carpenter  arrived  with  a  detachment  from  Headquarters.  He  rushed  upon  the 
rioters  with  his  men,  and  contributed  in  no  small  measure  to  their  punishment. 
A  guard  was  kept  in  Brooks'  all  night.  Sergeant  Rode  and  Officer  Irvin,  of  the 
Fourth,  found  some  roughs  trying  to  break  into  Lord  &  Taylor's  store,  and  fired 
on  them  from  their  revolvers;  the  fellows  ran.  After  this  night  quiet  reigned  in 
the  neighborhood.  The  next  day  the  officers  of  the  First  and  Fourth  Precincts 
began  a  search  of  the  low  rookeries,  and  recovered  over  five  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  goods  stolen  from  the  Brooks'  and  other  stores.  After  the  dispersion 
of  the  mob  on  Tuesday  night.  Inspector  Carpenter  and  his  command  made  a  tour 
of  the  down-town  districts,  meeting  and  scattering  parties  of  rioters  at  several 
points.  Patrolman  Regan,  of  the  Fourteenth,  being  separated  from  his  comrades, 
was  badly  beaten,  and  narrowly  escaped  with  his  life.  Later  in  the  night, 
Captain  C.  W.  Caffry,  Roundsman  Thacher,  and  six  officers  of  the  Fifteenth, 
patrolled  Broadway,  and  arrested  three  highwaymen.  During  this  night,  Sergeant 
Slott,  of  the  Seventeenth,  and  ten  men,  were  ordered  to  duty  as  guides  to  the 
military.  Sergeant  Robinson,  and  fifteen  men  of  the  Third,  defeated  a  mob 
which  approached  Printing  House  Square,  where  he  was  on  guard,  singing, 
"We'll  Hang  old  Greeley  on  a  Sour  Apple  Tree."  After  the  affair  in  Catharine 
Street,  the  men  of  the  Thirteenth  returned  to  their  Precinct,  where  their  station 
house,  though  courageously  defended  by  Sergeant  Woodward,  was  threatened 
with  destruction.  All  gatherings  in  the  Precinct  were  at  once  broken  up,  the 
colored  ])opulation  were  quieted,  and  by  noon  next  day  the  men  had  begun  the 
work  of  recovering  stolen  property.  Among  other  incidents  of  Tuesday  was  an 
attempt  by  a  mob  to  burn  the  Fifth  Precinct  Station  House,  No.  49  Leonard 
Street,  in  which  four  hundred  colored  persons  were  sheltered.  Sergeant  Huggins 
and  Doorman  Pallister  armed  the  refugees,  and  all  was  ready  for  a  desperate 
defence,  when  the  arrival  of  Inspector  Carpenter  on  one  of  his  patrols,  rendered 
the  preparations  needless.  Officer  Field,  of  this  precinct,  earned  great  praise  by 
performing  valuable  detective  work  among  the  rioters,  though  he  was  well  known 
to  manv  of  them.  On  Tuesday  evening  Officer  Hector  Moore,  of  the  Fifteenth, 
saw  two  men  garotting  a  returned  soldier  in  City  Hall  Park.  He  pluckily  arrested 
both.  Sergeant  Roe,  of  this  precinct,  had  the  tip  of  one  of  his  fingers  carried 
off  by  a  bullet.    He  and  Sergeant  Dilks  were  highly  praised  for  their  energy. 

The  backbone  of  the  riot  was  broken  on  Tuesday,  yet  there  was  some  very 
lively  fighting  on  IkVednesday,  the  13th.     In  the  "wee  sma'  hours"  of  that 


OUR  rorjcE  protectors. 


193 


morning,  Captain  S.  Browcr,  of  the  Seventeenth  Precinct,  patrolled  the  Eleventh, 
Ttkirteenth,  and  Seventeenth  Precincts  with  a  hundred  and  fifty  men,  suppressing 
all  tendency  to  disorder.  At  nine  a.  m.  he  went  with  a  considerable  force  to 
Thirty-second  Street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh  Avenues,  where  outrages  had 
been  perpetrated  on  negroes,  and  one  had  been  hanged.  The  body  was  recov- 
ered and  taken  to  Headquarters.  The  rioters  were  dispersed  and  punished. 
The  hottest  fight  of  the  day  was  about  Jackson's  Iron  Foundry  at  Twenty-ninth 
Street  and  Second  Avenue.  There  being  a  rumor  abroad  that  the  rioters  meant 
to  destroy  it,  a  regiment  of  soldiers  was  sent  to  guard  it,  vender  the  guidance  of 
Officers  Sutton,  Rile_\',  Dubnar,  and  Cannon  of  the  Fourteenth  Precinc  t.  A  mob 
was  encountered  ;  tlie  soldiers  fired  several  volleys,  and  killed  and  wounded  many 
men.  Wlicn  the  party  was  safely  intrenched  in  the  foundry,  a  committee  approached 
to  ask  the  commanding  officer  for  the  surrender  of  the  Policemen.  It  is  need- 
less to  add  that  the  deputation  got  short  notice  to  j)ut  themselves  out  of  rifle 
range. 

In  the  morning  Drill  Officer  Copeland,  with  Cajjtain  Sebring  and  a  large 
squad  from  the  Fourteenth,  visited  the  disaffected  portions  of  Second  and  Third 
Avenues  to  overawe  the  rioters.  In  the  evening  the  Fourteenth  aided  in  pro- 
tecting a  block  of  dwellings  known  as  "The  Arch,"  on  Sullivan  Street,  and 
occupied  by  colored  persons.  At  eleven  o'clock  Wednesday  forenoon.  Captain 
Jourdan,  of  the  Sixth,  with  Sergeants  Quinn  and  Kennedy,  encountered  and 
routed  a  mob  in  Centre  Street  near  Worth,  which  had  been  ill-using  colored 
people.  Sergeant  Quinn,  with  one  platoon,  despite  a  bold  resistance,  beat  off  a 
mob  that  was  endeavoring  to  sack  a  building  at  Mott  and  Centre  Streets.  In 
this  fight  Patrolman  Charles  McDonnell  was  knocked  down  and  terribly  cut 
about  the  face,  but,  nevertheless,  rejoined  his  comrades  and  repaid  the  rioters  in 
their  own  coin.  Among  the  officers  of  this  precinct  especially  commended  by 
the  Cajjtain  were  Roundsmen  Ryan  and  Hopkins.  The  Sixteenth  Precinct  mert 
dispersed  several  down-town  mobs  during  Wednesday,  particularly  one  which 
attacked  the  bonded  warehouses  on  Greenwich  Street.  Sergeant  Wright  and  ten 
men  were  made  guardians  of  the  United  States  Marshal's  office. 

In  another  fight,  on  First  Avenue,  the  military  met  with  a  reverse  on 
Wednesday  night.  They  were,  at  the  time,  under  guidance  of  Patrolmen 
McCort  and  McVay,  who  fought  gallantly  in  the  melee.  All  Wednesday  and 
Thursday  were  days  of  terror  in  the  Twenty-first  Precinct,  and  on  the  latter 
day  Officer  Chandler  was  so  badly  beaten  that  he  had  to  be  taken  to  the  hospi- 
tal. Sergeant  Brackett  was  i)laced  in  command,  Cai)tain  A.  M.  Palmer  being 
seriously  sick.  His  admirable  arrangements  prevented  a  fresh  outbreak  of  the 
riot.  On  Friday.  Sergeant  Brackett,  Sergeant  Hastings,  and  thirty-five  men, 
visited  the  block  bounded  by  First  and  Second  Avenues,  Thirty-ninth  and 
Fortieth  Streets.  The  Seventh  Regiment  attended  to  protect  them.  The  spot 
was  then  one  of  the  worst  in  the  city.  Every  comer  of  every  shanty  was 
searched,  and  quantities  of  stolen  goods  recovered.  Sergeant  Vaughan  and 
Roundsman  Moore,  with  small  parties,  discovered  cpiantities  of  goods  in  other 
parts  of  the  precinct. 

The  force  of  the  Nineteenth  returned  to  its  precinct  on  Thursday.  Ser- 


194 


OUR  POLrCK  PROTECTORS. 


geant  Decker  had  taken  care  of  the  station  house  alone.  The  last  service  cf 
the  men  in  the  field  was  the  defeat  of  a  mob  at  Bleecker  and  Thompson  Streets, 
at  noon  on  Wednesday.  Sergeant  Bumstead  headed  the  men  on  this  occasion. 
Sergeants  Fuhner  and  Holmes  of  this  precinct  did  excellent  ser\-ice. 

On  Wednesday  the  Twenty-second  closed  its  riot  serv  ice  brilliantly.  Cap- 
tain Slott  dispersed  a  mob  at  Forty-second  Street  and  Tenth  Avenue,  and  Ser- 
geant Aldis  another  at  Twenty-seventh  Street  and  Seventh  Avenue.  The  latter 
then  accompanied  a  party  of  military  to  Forty-Second  Street  and  Tenth  Avenue, 
where  the  crowd  had  re-assembled  and  were  al)Out  to  burn  th  >  residence  of  a 


Burning  of  the  Grain  Elevator,  Atlantic  Dock,  Brooklyn. 


Mr.  Campbell.  General  Sandford,  who  was  in  command,  tried  to  persuade, 
the  mob  to  disperse.  The  reply  was  a  volley  and  a  chorus  of  yells.  Then  the 
soldiers  opened  fire  with  deadly  effect,  and  the  rioters  scattered  instantly.  The 
men  of  the  Twenty-tliird  Precinct  returned  thither  just  in  time  to  put  an  end 
to  a  reign  of  mob  law.  No  excesses  were  attempted  after  their  return.  The 
arrival  of  the  Twenty-seventh's  men  had  the  same  effect.  They  recovered  a 
quantity  of  stolen  goods  in  the  following  day  or  two.  On  Thursday  Officers 
Hey,  McClusker  and  Darrow  rescued  a  colored  man  from  under  a  North  River 
pier,  where  he  had  taken  refuge  from  rioters  who  had  beaten  him.  The  fellow 
was  half  insane  from  fear. 


OUR  Por.icF.  rRO/Fx  roRs. 


'95 


During  the  riot  week  all  tlie  station  houses  were  left  inadequately  guarded, 
an<l  great  courage  and  judgment  were  shown  in  their  preservation.  Sergeants 
Loudon  and  McConnell  successively  took  charge  of  the  Seventh  Precinct  station 
house,  No.  247  Madison  Street.  Sergeant  Miller  was  guardian  of  the  ICighth, 
No.  127  Wooster,  where  seven  hundred  and  fifty-one  refugees  were  cared  for  during 
the  week.  Tlie  house  of  tlie  Tenth  Precinct,  Essex  Market,  was  attacked  on 
Monday  evening.  The  moh  was  driven  off  hy  Officers  AVood  and  McCloud, 
and  Ofhcer  King  of  tlie  Third  District  Court,  aided  by  many  citizens  and  Sur- 
geon Wells  and  Sergeant  Garland  of  the  Seventh  Precinct,  who  was  stationed  at 
the  Tenth  as  telcgra[)h  operator.  Sergeant  Upham  was  left  in  care  of  the 
Eleventli  Precinct  station.  Union  Market.  Captain  Relay  and  Sergeant  Sand- 
ford  were  reinforced  by  special  C'onstables  at  tlie  Twelfth's  station  house, 
Harlem.  Sergeant  Wares  and  Officer  Bertholf  were  very  active,  especially  in 
collecting  information  as  to  riotous  plots.  Sergeant  M.  B.  Wilson  guarded  the 
Twenty-seventh's  station.  No.  117  Cedar  Street.  Officer  Carroll  was  twice 
knocked  down  while  reconnoitering.  Sergeant  Flandreau,  Patrolman  Crosby  and 
Doorman  Malone,  not  only  ])rotccted  the  station  of  the  Thirty-second  Precinct, 
but  also,  by  their  firm  attitude,  prevented  a  riot,  keejjing  the  disaffected 
unaware  of  the  lack  of  Police  protection  wliile  the  main  force  was  doing  dutv 
down  town. 

It  may  have  been  remarked  tiiat  the  Thirtieth  Precinct,  of  Manhattanville, 
has  not  been  mentioned.  The  force  was  only  acti\  ely  employed  for  a  few  hours; 
but  to  the  excellence  of  the  arrangements  made  by  Captain  J.  Hartl,  aided  by 
Sergeant  Blake  and  other  officers,  the  continued  peace  of  the  district  may  be 
attributed.  Captain  N.  R.  Mills,  of  the  Broadway  Squad,  was  in  Oneida  County 
when  the  riots  began.  He  returned  to  the  city  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  them,  re- 
j)orting  for  duty  at  Headtpiarters  on  Thursday  evening. 

On  Sunday,  the  eighteenth,  a  large  body  of  Police  under  Captain  Dickson, 
of  the  Twenty-eighth,  started  for  a  tour  of  the  small  towns  along  the  Hudson. 
They  were  accompanied  by  a  body  of  trooj^s.  They  remained  away  three  days, 
and  completely  subdued  all  tendencies  to  revolt  that  might  have  existed  among 
the  rural  population.  The  day  after  their  return,  a  visit  to  Staten  Island — where 
there  had  been  rioting — was  made,  and  on  the  next  da\"  Flushing,  L.  I.,  was 
visited. 

It  would  be  unfair  to  close  the  record  of  this  troublous  week  without  a 
word  regarding  the  services  of  some  other  attaches  of  the  Police  system.  The 
detective  force  did  most  valuable  service  in  discovering  the  plans  of  rioters,  and 
at  opportune  moments  arresting  the  most  dangerous  ringleaders.  Those  who 
thus  distinguished  themselves,  besides  Chief  Young,  were  Messr.s.  Bennett, 
McCord,  Farley,  Roach,  Radford,  Smith,  Slowey,  Dusenbury,  Macdougal,  Elder, 
Eustace,  Wilson,  Kelso,  Lieman,  and  Keefe.  Mr.  Slowey  was  recognized  by 
rioters  and  severely  beaten. 

The  telegraph  operators  also  did  excellent  work,  abo\e  ail  in  re])airing  lines 
broken  by  the  rioters.  In  this  they  ran  desperate  risks,  often  ha\  ing  to  personate 
rioters  in  order  to  save  life  and  limb.  They  were  Superintendent  Crowley, 
and  Messrs.  Eldred  Polhamus,  Charles  L.  Chapin,  John  A.  K.  Duvall,  and  James 


196 


OUR  POLTCR  PROTECTORS. 


A;  Lucas.  Captain  Lord  and  Officers  Johns,  Van  Orden  and  McTaggart,  of 
the  Sanitary  Police,  were  singled  out  for  commendation;  also  Officer  Wells,  of 
the  Broadway  Squqd,  for  his  humanity  in  protecting  negroes  near  the  Astor 
House,  on  Monday.  Honorable  mention  was  also  made  of  Clerks  Daniel  V>. 
Hasbrouck,  George  Hopcroft,  and  Horace  A.  151iss,  and  Headquarter's  Messenger 
Alexander  Stewart. 


Nursing  Wounded  Policemen. 


The  number  of  persons  known  to  liave  1)een  killed  by  the  rioters  was 
eighteen,  eleven  of  whom  were  colored  :  Officer  Dibble  was  accidentally  killed  by 
the  soldiers.  It  is  estimated  that  the  number  of  rioters  killed,  or  who  died  from  the 
effect  of  their  wounds,  was  al)out  twelve  hundred.  Probably  seven  or  eight 
thousand  i)ersons  altogether  were  more  or  less  injured.  Over  fifty  buildings 
were  burned,  including  the  Colored  Orphan  Asylum,  two  Police  stations,  and 
three  Provost  Marshal's  offices.  A  great  number  of  stores  and  dwellings  were 
sacked.  The  whole  history  of  the  week  was  disastrous  in  a  degree  that,  it  is  to 
"be  hoiJ^d,  New  York  will  never  know  again. 


OUR  POLICE  J'ROTECTORS. 


197 


During  the  week  following  the  riot  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  issued 
an  iitldress  to  the  force,  which  contained  tiie  following  : 

"  Of  the  Inspectors,  Captains,  and  Sergeants  of  Police  who  led  parties  in 
the  fearful  contest,  we  are  proud  to  say  that  none  faltered  or  failed.  Each 
was  eijual  to  the  hour  and  the  emergency.  Not  one  failed  to  overcome  the 
danger,  however  imminent,  or  to  defeat  the  enemy,  however  numerous.  Especial 
commendation  is  due  to  Drill  Sergeant  Copeland  for  his  most  valuable  aid  in 
commanding  the  movements  of  larger  detachments  of  the  Police.  The  Patrol- 
men who  were  on  duty  fought  through  the  numerous  and  fierce  conflicts  with 
the  steady  courage  of  veteran  soldiers,  and  have  won,  as  they  deserve,  the  high- 
est commendations  from  the  i)uhlic  and  from  this  Board.  In  their  ranks  there 
was  neither  faltering  nor  struggling.  Devotion  to  duty  and  courage  in  the  per- 
formance of  it  were  universal.  The  public  and  the  department  owe  a  debt  of 
gratitude  to  the  citizens  who  voluntarily  became  Special  Patrolmen,  some  three 
thousand  of  whom,  for  several  days  and  nights,  did  regular  Patrolmen's  duty 
with  great  effect.  In  the  name  of  the  public,  and  of  the  department  in  which 
they  were  volunteers,  we  thank  them. 

"  Mr.  Crowley,  the  Superintendent  of  the  Police  telegraph,  and  the  attaches 
of  his  department,  by  untiring  and  sleepless  vigilance  in  transmitting  informa- 
tion by  telegraph  unceasingly  through  more  than  ten  days  and  nights,  have  more 
than  sustained  the  high  reputation  they  have  always  jjossessed. 

"  Through  all  these  bloody  contests,  through  all  the  wearing  fatigue  and  wast- 
ing labor,  you  have  demeaned  yourselves  like  worthy  members  of  the  Metropoli- 
tan Police.  The  public  judgment  will  commend  and  reward  you.  A  kind  Provi- 
dence has  permitted  you  to  escape  with  less  casualties  than  could  have  been 
expected.  *  *  It  is  hoped  that  the  severe  but  just  chastisement  which  has  been 
inflicted  upon  those  guilty  of  riot,  pillage,  arson  and  murder  will  deter  further 
attempts  of  that  character.  *  *  Sergeant  Young,  of  the  Detective  force,  aided 
by  Mr.  Newcomb  and  other  Special  Patrolmen,  rendered  most  effective  serv  ice  in 
arranging  the  commissary  supplies  for  the  large  numbers  of  Police,  military. 
Special  Patrolmen,  and  destitute  colored  refugees,  whose  subsistence  was  thrown 
unexpectedly  on  the  department.  The  duty  was  arduous  and  responsible,  and 
was  performed  with  vigor  and  fidelity.  All  the  clerks  of  the  department,  each  in 
his  sphere,  jjerformed  a  manly  share  of  the  heavy  duties  growing  out  of  these 
extraordinary  circumstances." 

Ex-Governor  Seymour,  who  occupied  the  Gubernatorial  chair  at  the  time  of 
the  riots,  and  who  also  was  in  the  city  in  his  official  capacity  assisting  in  restoring 
order,  bears  this  willing  and  appreciative  testimony  to  the  valuable  services  ren- 
dered by  the  New  York  Police  force  during  the  terrible  days  of  the  draft  riots  : 

"The  draft  riots  of  1863  were  put  down  mainly  by  the  energy,  boldness  and 
skill  of  the  Police  Department.  In  saying  this  I  am  certainly  not  influenced  by 
l)rejudice,  for  the  force  was  politically,  and  in  some  degree  personally,  unfriendly 
to  myself.  Indeed,  in  their  reports  they  have  not  seen  fit  to  make  mention  of 
any  co-operation  on  my  part  with  their  efforts.  But  they  did  their  duty  bravely 
and  efficiently.  They  proved  that  the  city  of  New  York  could,  by  its  Police 
alone,  in  the  absence  of  its  military  organizations,  cope  with  the  most  formidable 
disorders.  I  do  not  know  of  any  instance  in  history  where  so  many  des[)erate 
men  were  shot  down  mainly  by  the  Police  of  a  city.  More  than  a  thousand  of 
the  rioters  were  killed  or  wounded  to  death.  Yet  so  little  justice  has  been  done 
the  city  of  New  York  that  many  think  it  was  protected  by  the  forces  of  the 
United  States.  In  fact,  the  Navy  Yard,  the  vast  amounts  of  military  stores 
of  the  general  Government,  and  its  money  in  the  Sub-Treasury,  were  mainly  pro- 
tected by  the  civil  officers.    So  protected  while  the  military  organizations  of  the 


198 


OUR  POIJCE  PROTECTORS. 


State  were  absent  in  Pennsylvania,  in  answer  to  an  appeal  frum  the  Government 
of  the  United  States  to  help  it  against  an  invasion  of  General  Lee.  Even  Gen- 
eral Grant,  in  one  of  his  papers,  spoke  of  the  riots  in  New  York  as  an  occasion 
when  the  general  Government  had  helped  State  or  local  authorities  to  maintain 
peace  and  order.  I  wrote  to  him  correcting  this  error,  and  it  gives  me  pleasure 
to  say  that  he  received  my  communication  in  a  spirit  of  courtesv  and  fairness 
which  ever  marks  the  character  of  an  honorable  man.  It  is  now  time  that  justice 
should  be  done  the  city  of  New  York  in  this  matter,  and  in  the  hope  that  such 
justice  may  be  done,  I  repeat  these  facts." 

General  Harvey  Brown,  in  relinquishing  his  command,  said  : 

Having,  during  the  riots,  been  in  immediate  and  constant  co-operation 
with  the  Police  Department  of  this  city,  he  desires  the  privilege  of  expressing 
his  unbounded  admiration  of  it.  Never  in  our  civil  or  military  life  has  he  ever 
seen  such  untiring  devotion  and  such  efficient  service.  To  President  Acton  and 
Commissioner  Bergen  he  offers  his  thanks  for  their  courtesy  to  him,  and  their 
kindness  to  his  command.  "The  only  merit  I  can  claim,"  concludes  General 
Brown,  "in  the  performance  of  the  duty  which  has  given  me  the  high  distinc- 
tion of  your  approbation,  is  that  of  an  honest  singleness  of  purpose  in  recording 
the  very  able  and  energetic  efforts  of  the  President  of  the  Metropolitan  Police, 
Mr.  Acton,  to  whom,  in  my  opinion,  more  than  to  any  other  one  man,  is  due  the 
credit  of  the  early  suppression  of  the  riot." 

Governor  Seymour,  in  his  annual  message,  in  referring  to  the  riots,  says, 
among  other  things,  that  a  dispatch  was  sent  to  him  from  Mayor  Opdyke,  inform- 
ing him  of  the  outbreak  that  had  taken  place  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  July,  the 
first  day  of  the  riots.  The  Governor  reached  the  city  the  following  morning, 
and  found  it  agitated  with  wild  excitement  and  riotous  violence.  The  militia 
were  ordered  to  return  immediately  from  Pennsylvania,  and  a  proclamation  was 
issued  "To  the  people  of  the  City  of  New  York."  "Riotous  proceedings,"  the 
Governor's  proclamation  read,  "  must  and  shall  be  put  down.  The  laws  of  the 
State  must  be  enforced,  its  peace  and  order  maintained,  and  the  lives  and  prop- 
erty of  all  its  citizens  protected  at  any  and  every  hazard.  *  *  *  -^11 
citizens  stand  firmly  by  the  constituted  authorities,  sustaining  law  and  order  in 
the  city,  and  ready  to  answer  any  such  demands  as  circumstances  may  render 
necessary  for  me  to  make  upon  their  services,  and  they  may  rely  upon  a  rigid 
enforcement  of  the  laws  of  this  State  against  all  who  violate  them." 

The  city  was  declared  in  a  state  of  insurrection.  It  was  divided  into 
districts,  which  were  placed  under  the  control  of  persons  of  influence  or  militar)'^ 
experience,  who  were  directed  to  organize  the  citizens.  Three  thousand  stand 
of  arms  were  issued  to  these  and  other  organizations.  The  Governor  likewise 
obtained  from  the  Collector  of  tlie  Port  the  service  of  an  armed  vessel  to  trav- 
erse the  rivers  and  bays  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  and  authorized  the 
Police  Commissioners  to  charter  another  steamer,  which  could  be  used  to  carry 
Policemen  and  soldiers  to  any  point  on  the  shores  of  the  islands  where  disturb- 
ances were  threatened.  "  In  the  sad  and  humiliating  histor)-  of  this  event,"  to 
quote  from  Clovernor  Seymour's  annual  message,  "  it  is  gratifying  that  the 
citizens  of  New  York,  without  important  aid  from  the  State  or  Nation,  were  able 
of  themselves  to  put  down  this  dangerous  insurrection.  I  do  not  underrate  the 
value  of  the  services  rendered  by  the  military  or  naval  officers  of  the  general 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


199 


Government  who  were  stationed  in  that  city,  or  those  of  General  Sandford  ;  for 
the  ])iiblic  are  under  great  obligations  to  them  for  their  courage  and  prudent 
counsels.  But  they  had  at  their  command  only  a  handful  of  troops,  who,  alone, 
were  entirely  unecjual  to  the  duty  of  defending  the  vast  amount  of  |)ublic 
property  which  was  endangered.  The  rioters  were  subdued  by  the  exertion  of 
the  city  officials,  civic  and  military,  the  people,  the  Police,  the  firemen,  and  a 
small  body  of  twelve  hundred  men,  composed  equally  of  the  State  and  National 
forces." 

In  his  report  to  Governor  Seymour,  General  Wool  said  : 

'"The  city  Police  force  from  the  beginning,  under  the  able  Chief  Commis- 
sioner, Superintendent,  and  other  officers  of  its  organization,  displayed  throughout 
the  whole  riot  not  only  a  willingness,  but  very  great  efficiency,  in  their  noble 
exertions  to  quell  the  riot.  For  this  and  their  harmonious  co-operation  with  the 
troops  engaged  in  the  same  cause,  they  deserve  the  warmest  thanks  of  every 
lover  of  law  and  order,  and  my  high  commendations  for  their  whole  conduct  on 
this  trying  occasion." 

The  loss  in  the  city,  in  property,  was  not  much  short  of  three  million 
dollars.  Probably  fifteen  hundred  rioters  were  killed  or  died  in  consequence  of 
injuries  received. 

At  the  Court  of  General  Sessions,  twenty  of  the  rioters  were  indicted,  of 
whom  nineteen  were  convicted.  The  aggregate  term  of  their  imprisonment  was 
about  one  hundred  years.  From  records  and  reliable  sources,  it  appears  that 
three  Policemen  lost  their  lives.  A  large  but  unknown  number  of  citizens  and 
officers  were  wounded  ;  twelve  negroes  were  hanged,  and  many  others 
disappeared. 

A  week  of  terror  and  dismay,  a  week  of  horrors  unparalleled  in  the  history 
of  New  York,  was  drawing  to  a  close.  A  great  city  was  for  a  time  in  the  grasp 
of  robbers  and  cut-throats,  and  the  very  existence  of  the  Republic  imperiled. 
But  the  battle  had  been  valiantly  waged  and  won.  The  Police  had  saved  our 
city;  the  mob  was  vanquished  and  dispersed.  Had  the  rioters  succeeded  in 
overpowering  the  Police  and  military,  and  gained  possession  of  the  city  but  for 
one  hour,  there  is  no  calculating  what  irreparable  calamities  might  have,  as  a  con- 
sequence, befallen  the  city  and  the  Nation.  It  is  safe  to  assume  that  similar 
riotous  proceedings  would  take  place  in  other  leading  cities  of  the  North,  and 
thus  the  drafting  be  brought  to  an  end,  with  the  enemy  almost  within  sight 
of  the  Seat  of  Government.  But  happily  all  this  was  averted.  Had  it  not 
been  so,  who  can  say  how  the  war  would  have  terminated  ? 

The  following  proclamation  was  issued  by  Mayor  Opdyke  : 

"The  riotous  assemblages  have  been  dispersed.  Business  is  running  in  its 
usual  channels.  The  various  lines  of  omnibuses,  railway,  and  telegraph  have 
resumed  their  ordinary  operations.  Few  symptoms  of  disorder  remain,  except 
in  a  small  district  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  comprising  a  part  of  the 
Eighteenth  and  Twenty-first  Wards.  The  Police  is  everywhere  alert.  A  suffi- 
cient military  force  is  now  here  to  suppress  any  illegal  movement,  however 
formidable. 

Let  me  exhort  you,  therefore,  to  pursue  your  ordinary  l)usiness.  .-Xvoid 
especially  all  crowds.  Remain  (piietly  at  your  homes,  except  when  engnged  in 
business,  or  assisting  the  authorities  in  sojme  organized  force.    When  ihe  military 


200 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


appear  in  the  street,  do  not  gather  about  it,  being  sure  that  it  is  doing  its 
duty  in  obedience  to  orders  from  superior  authority.  Your  homes  and  your 
places  of  business  you  have  a  right  to  defend,  and  it  is  your  duty  to  defend  them 
at  all  hazards.  Yield  to  no  intimidation,  and  to  no  demand  for  money  as  the 
price  of  your  safety.  If  any  person  warns  you  to  desist  from  your  accustomed 
business,  give  no  heed  to  the  warning,  but  arrest  him  and  bring  him  to  the 
nearest  station  house  as  a  conspirator.  Be  assured  that  the  public  authorities 
have  the  ability  and  the  will  to  protect  you  from  those  who  have  conspired  alike 
against  your  peace,  against  the  Government  of  your  choice,  and  against  the  laws 
which  yuur  representatives  have  enacted. 

"George  Opdvke,  Mayor." 

Thus  ends  the  record  of  the  draft  riots.  They  leave  a  great  lesson  to  the 
people  as  to  the  utter  futility  of  mob  violence  ;  they  carry  a  lesson  to  the  Police 
and  the  civic  authorities  as  to  the  value  of  a  well-organized,  we'.l-disciplined 
band  of  public  guardians. 

The  Police  Force  was  apportioned  as  follows  : 

First  Precinct. — 29  Broad  Street;  Captain,  Jacob  B.  Warlow;  four  Sergeants, 
sixty-three  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Second  Precinct. — -Station  House,  49  Beekman  Street;  Captain,  Nathaniel 
R.  Mills;  four  Sergeants,  sixty  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Third  Precinct. — Station  House,  No.  160  Chambers  Street;  Captain,  James 
Greer;  three  Sergeants,  sixty-four  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Fourth  Precinct. — Station  House,  9  Oak  Street;  Captain,  James  Bryan;  four 
Sergeants,  seventy  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Fifth  Precinct. — Station  House,  49  Leonard  Street;  Captain,  Jeremiah  Petty; 
four  Sergeants,  sixty-one  Patrolmen,  t\fro  Doormen. 

Sixth  Precinct. — Station  House,  9  Franklin  Street;  Captain,  John  Jourdan; 
four  Sergeants,  sixty-three  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Seventh  Precinct. — Station  House,  No.  247  Madison  Street;  Captain,  William 
Jamieson;  four  Sergeants,  fifty-seven  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Eighth  Precinct. — Station  House,  No.  126  A\'ooster  Street;  Captain,  Morris 
DeCamp;  four  Sergeants,  fifty-two  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Ninth  Precinct. — Station  House,  No.  94  Charles  Street;  Captain,  Jacob  L. 
Sebring;  four  Sergeants,  fifty-one  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Tenth  Precinct. — Station  House,  Essex  Market;  Captain,  Thaddeus  C. 
Davis;  four  Sergeants,  sixty-two  Patrolmen,  Two  Doormen. 

Eleventh  Precinct. — Station  House,  Union  Market;  Captain,  John  I.  Mount; 
four  Sergeants,  fifty-six  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Twelfth  Precinct. — Station  House,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Street, 
near  Third  Avenue;  Captain,  Theron  R.  Bennett;  five  Sergeants,  forty-one 
Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Thirteenth  Precinct. —  Station  House,  Attorney  Street,  corner  Delancey 
Street;  Captain,  Thomas  Steers;  four  Sergeants,  fifty-three  Patrolmen,  two 
Doormen. 

Fourteenth  Precinct. — Station  House,  No.  53  Spring  Street;  Captain,  John 
J.  Williamson;  four  Sergeants,  fifty-eight  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 


OUR  ror.fCE  protectors.  20. 

Fifteenth  Precinct. — Station  House,  No.  220  Mercer  Street;  Captain,  Charles 
VV.  Caffrey;  four  Sergeants,  sixty-nine  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

.Sixteenth  Precinct. — Station  House,  No.  156  West  Twentieth  Street;  Caj)- 
tain,  Henry  Hedden;  four  Sergeants,  fifty  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Seventeenth  Precinct. — Station  House,  First  Avenue,  corner  Fifth  Street; 
Captain,  Samuel  Brower;  four  Sergeants,  fifty-six  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Eighteenth  Precinct. — Station  House,  Twenty-second  Street,  near  Second 
Avenue;  Captain,  John  Cameron;  four  Sergeants,  seventy-four  Patrolmen,  two 
Doormen. 

Nineteenth  Precinct. — Station  House,  Fifty-ninth  Street,  near  Third  Ave- 
nue; Captain,  (ialen  T.  Porter;  four  Sergeants,  forty-nine  Patrolmen,  two  Door- 
men. 

Twentieth  Precinct. — Station  House,  No.  212  West  Thirty-fifth  Street; 
Captain,  (ieorge  W.  Walling;  four  Sergeants,  fifty-nine  I'atrolmen,  two  Door- 
men. 

Twenty-first  Precinct. — Station  House,  120  P2ast  Thirty-first  Street;  Cap> 
tain,  Cornelius  Jiurdick,  four  Sergeants,  fifty-one  Patrolman,  two  Doormen. 

Twenty-second  Precinct. — Station  House,  Forty-seventh  Street,  Ijetween 
Eighth  and  Ninth  Avenues;  Captain,  Johannes  C.  Slott;  four  Sergeants,  fifty- 
four  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Twenty-third  Precinct. ^ — Station  House,  Eighty-sixth  Street,  near  Fourth 
Avenue;  Captain,  Henry  Hutchings;  four  Sergeants,  forty-two  Patrolmen,  two 
Doormen. 

Twenty-fourth  Precinct. — Headquarters  on  board  of  the  Police  Steamboat, 
No.  i;  Captain,  James  Todd;  two  Sergeants,  twenty  Patrolmen. 

Twenty-fifth  Precinct  (Broadway  Squad). — Headquarters,  300  Mulberry 
Street;  Captain  Theron  T.  Cojicland;  one  Sergeant,  thirty-eight  Patrolmen,  two 
Doormen. 

Twenty-sixth  Precinct. — Station  House,  City  Hall;  Captain,  Thomas  W. 
Thorne;  four  Sergeants,  sixty-six  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Twenty-seventh  Precinct. — Station  House,  No.  117  Cedar  Street;  Captain, 
John  C.  Helme;  four  Sergeants,  fifty-two  Patrolmen,  three  Doormen. 

Twenty-eighth  Precinct. — Station  House,  No.  550  Greenwich  Street;  Cap- 
tain, John  F.  Dickson;  four  Sergeants,  forty-eight  Patrolmen,  two  Doormen. 

Twenty-ninth  Precinct. — Station  House,  Twenty-ninth  Street,  near  Fourth 
Avenue;  Captain,  Francis  C.  Speight;  four  Sergeants,  eighty-two  Patrolmen, 
three  Doormen. 

Tliirtieth  l^recinct. — Station  House,  One  Hundred  and  Tliirty-first  Street, 
Manhattanville;  Captain,  Jedediah  Hart;  three  Sergeants,  seventeen  Patrolmen, 
two  Doormen. 

Thirty-first  Precinct. — Station  House,  Eighty-sixth  Street  and  Blooniingdale 
Road;  Captain,  James  Z.  Bogart;  two  Sergeants,  nineteen  Patrolmen,  two  Door- 
men. 

Thirty-second  Precinct  (Mounted  Police). — Station  House,  Tenth  Avenue 
and  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Street;  Captain,  Alanson  S.  Wilson;  four, 
Sergpant§,  thirty-five  Patrolmen,  .two  Doormen.   .j        .  ;  ■•    ..  :  ..;  :  •  i 


202 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  METROPOLITAN  POLICE  DISTRICT. 
IS64— 1S66. 

Organizers  of  Police  Victory.— Acton,   Bergen,   Hawley,  Carpenter, 

Leonard,  etc. — The  Law  of  1864. — Establishment  of  the  House  of 
Detention. — Boundaries  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  District. — Divi- 
sion Commands. — Uniform  of  the  Metropolitan  Police. — .Appropriations 
FOR  the  Building  and  Repairing  of  Station  Houses. — A  Marked  Ten- 
dency TO  Crimes  of  Violence  towards  the  Person. — List  of  Policemen 
who  were  Killed  or  Wounded  at  the  hands  of  Desperate  Ruffians. — 
President  Acton  favors  the  Passage  of  a  Law  rendering  it  a  Cri.me  to 
CARRY  Concealed  Weapons. — Lost  Time. — Tables  of  Arrests. — An  .A.ct  to 
Regulate  and  Increase  Police  Salaries. — The  Jurisdiction  of  the 
Board  extended  over  the  Rural  Districts  of  Yonkers,  West  Farms, 
AND  Richmond  County. — An  Act  to  Regulate  the  Sale  of  Intoxicating 
Liquors. — Increased  Duties  of  the  Police  Board. 

T  N  the  rapid  movement  of  the  exciting  events  just  narrated,  the  achievements 
which  make  the  names  of  Police  commandants  famous  in  the  historv  of  the 
department  could  receive  but  passing  mention  in  a  sketch  so  brief  and  incom- 
plete as  the  one  written.  But  the  names  of  --Acton,  Carpenter,  Leonard,  Bergen, 
Walling,  McCredie,  Thorne,  Devoursney,  Dilks,  Leonard,  and  manv  others 
spoken  of  in  connection  with  the  draft  riots,  are  too  well  known  to  call  for  anv 
special  commendation  or  eulogy.  Where  all  were  brave,  it  is  no  mean  praise 
that  the  deeds  of  the  officers  in  command  should  be  considered  worthy  of  es- 
pecial mention  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services.  Something  in  addition 
may  be  said  of  a  few  of  the  most  prominent  Police  officials,  by  whose  courage 
and  sagacity  the  city  was  saved  from  a  frenzied  rabble.    First  among  these  is 

Thomas  C.  Acton. — It  will,  it  is  safe  to  assume,  excite  neither  envy  nor 
jealousy  in  the  breasts  of  the  survivors  of  those  notable  events,  to  give  -the 
post  of  honor  to  Mr.  Acton.  He  was  the  Commander  of  the  Police,  with  his 
office  at  Police  Headquarters,  and  he  issued  instructions  when  and  where  the 
Police  were  to  meet  the  rioters.  His  also  was  the  brain  that  conceived  the  plan 
of  Police  operations,  and  his  orders  which  caused  their  execution,  by  which  the 
rioters  were  routed  and  the  good  name  of  the  city  vindicated. 

The  legal  organization  of  the  Board  invested  the  Superintendent  with  the 
command  of  the  force,  the  Commissioners  acting  in  an  administrative  capacity. 
In  the  absence  of  Superintendent  Kennedy,  the  very  first  day  of  the  draft 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


203 


riots,  the  command  was  assigned  to  the  President  of  the  Board,  and  thus  the 
duties  of  Mr.  Kennedy,  who  was  early  disabled  by  the  rioters,  were  assumed  by 
Commissioner  Acton.  The  labor  thus  imposed  was  immense,  and  some  esti- 
mate of  it  may  be  formed  by  the  fact  that,  in  the  telegraph  department  alone, 
there  were  upward  of  four  thousand  dispatches  received  and  orders  sent,  all  of 
which,  with  but  few  exceptions,  required  his  personal  supervision.  There  were 
upward  of  two  thousand  men  under  his  control.  To  Commissioner  Acton,  it 
is  generally  conceded,  the  community  is  indebted  to  a  large  degree  for  the 
prompt  and  successful  suppression  of  the  rioters. 

Mr.  Acton  was  born  in  this  city  in  1823.  He  is  of  medium  height,  is 
slenderly  but  compactly  built,  and  is  still  erect  and  active.  He  is  at  present 
Assistant  United  States  Treasurer,  having  his  oftice  in  the  Treasury  Building  at 
Wall  and  Broad  Streets. 

After  receiving  an  academical  education,  Mr.  Acton  studied  law,  but  did 
not  practice  the  profession.  J, aw  led  him  naturally  into  city  politics,  and  he 
has  been  a  politician  from  his  youth.  When  he  was  twenty-seven  years  of  age, 
in  1850,  he  accepted  his  first  office,  that  of  Deputy  Assistant  County  Clerk.  At 
the  close  of  his  term  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Registrar,  and  served  six  years 
in  this  capacity.  Then,  in  i860.  Governor  Morgan  appointed  him  Police  Com- 
missioner. Two  years  later  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Board,  and  alto- 
gether he  was  in  office  as  Commissioner  for  nine  years,  during  which  he  was 
])ractically  the  ruler  of  New  York  City.  The  period  during  which  Mr. 
Acton  had  charge  of  the  Police  included  that  of  our  civil  war,  and  he  was,  in 
fact,  a  general  in  command  of  a  military  force,  as  well  as  a  Commissioner  ap- 
pointed to  keep  the  peace. 

Before  the  war,  Commissioner  Acton  had  already  shown  his  ability  by  the 
reorganization  of  the  Police  and  the  enforcement  of  the  excise  laws.  During 
the  war  he  was  subjected  to  a  crucial  test  by  the  sudden  breaking  out  of  the 
draft  riots.  All  through  the  disturbances  Mr.  Acton  had  the  personal  direction 
of  the  entire  Police  force.  At  first  the  rioters  had  the  sympathy  of  the  majority 
of  our  citizens  in  their  resistance  to  the  conscription  ;  but  it  soon  became  evi- 
dent that  thieves  and  ruffians  had  assumed  command  of  the  rioters  and  that  the 
chief  purpose  of  the  mob  was  pillage.  Business  was  suspended  ;  the  streets 
were  comparatively  deserted.  Here  and  there,  from  trees  and  lamp-posts,  hung 
the  bodies  of  murdered  negroes.  The  Colored  Orphan  Asylum  blazed  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  city,  and  the  houses  of  prominent  abolitionists  were  sacked. 
Nobody  knew  at  what  moment  the  mob  might  knock  at  the  door  to  demand 
the  surrender  of  a  negro  servant  and  rob  the  house.  The  principal  thorough- 
fares were  l)arricaded,  and  artillery  was  used  during  the  street  fights  both  by  the 
rioters  and  the  military.  Portions  of  the  city  were  literally  in  a  state  of  seige. 
The  people  were  divided  against  themselves. 

It  is  easy  to  understand  how  responsible  was  the  position  of  President  Acton 
during  these  dangerous  days  and  nights;  but  he  proved  himself  equal  to  the  re- 
sponsibility. His  vigilance  and  activity  were  wonderful.  He  seemed  to  require 
no  sleep  and  to  be  everywhere  simultaneously.  The  Police,  whom  the  rioters 
had  hoped  to  demoralize,  stood  firm  under  Mr.  Acton's  leadership.    The  force 


204 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


was  promptly  and  largely  recruited  by  men  who  distinguished  themselv.es  by 
special  acts  of  bravery. 

The  Police  force  then  numbered  about  two  thousand  men,  not  enough  to 
adequately  protect' the  public  ofifices,  the  banks,  the  telegraph  lines  and  the  fer- 
ries; but  President  Acton  increased  its  efficiency  by  such  recruits,  and  inspired 
its  members  with  his  own  untiring  vigilance  and  vigor.  The  station  houses  were 
made  places  of  refuge  for  the  poor  negroes,  and  not  one  of  these  stations  was 
captured  by  the  mob.  Mr.  Acton  held  the  rioters  in  check  everywhere  until  the 
military^ arrived  to  rout  them;  but  he  sacrificed  his  health  in  the  struggle.  In 
1869  he  was  compelled  to  resign  his  position  as  too  onerous  for  his  invalided 
faculties,  and  the  general  regret  was  the  highest  compliment  which  could  have 
been  paid  him.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  by  President  Grant,  who  fully  appre- 
ciated his  patriotic  and  political  services,  to  be  Superintendent  of  the  United 
States  Assay  Office,  in  which  position  he  remained  for  twelve  years,  and  was  then 
promoted  to  the  Assistant  Treasurership. 

While  Mr.  Acton  was  Commissioner  of  Police  he  accomplished  two  muni- 
cipal marvels:  the  reduction  of  the  debt  and  taxes  and  the  increase  of  the  income 
of  the  city.  To  him  is  mainly  due  the  creation  of  the  Board  of  Health  and  the 
institution  of  the  paid  Fire  Department. 

Mr.  Acton  was  one  of  the  original  founders  of  the  Union  League  Club,  of 
which  he  is  still  a  prominent  member.  Under  its  auspices  the  first  colored  regi- 
ment was  sent  to  the  front;  the  greatest  sanitary  fair  was  held;  it  organized  the 
mass  meetings  which  encouraged  the  people  during  the  darkest  days  of  the  Re- 
bellion, and  appropriately  celebrated  the  victories  of  the  Union.  At  the  dinner 
of  the  original  members  of  the  Club,  in  1880,  Dr.  Bellows  thus  referred  to  Mr. 
Acton,  who  was  present:  "  Our  noble  Police — whose  honored  memories  have  been 
invoked  to-night,  and  whose  welcome  presence  is  represented  here  in  the  waving 
white  hair  of  my  friend  Acton — dispersed  the  miserable  mob  who  would  have 
made  the  city  of  New  York  a  battle  ground;  they  sustained  the  Union  League, 
and  the  Union  League  sustained  them,  in  a  manner  which  will  never  be  forgot- 
ten." It  is  not  forgotten,  nor  Mr.  Acton's  share  in  it,  and  the  popularity  thus 
worthily  won  will  be  as  lasting  as  the  metropolis. 

John  G.  Bergen  ably  and  faithfully  maintained  his  colleague  of  the  Board. 
During  the  tremor  and  excitement  of  that  period  he  was  almost  constantly  at 
Police  Headquarters,  and,  by  his  prompt  conclusions  and  steady  perseverance, 
did  much  in  an  executive  and  administrative  capacity  in  strengthening  the  hands 
of  the  force  to  suppress  riotous  demonstrations.  The  principal  responsibihty, 
however,  resting  upon  Mr.  Bergen,  was  that  of  the  care  of  Brooklyn.  How  well 
he  discharged  this  duty  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that,  though  there  were  many 
indications  of  serious  disturbances  there,  yet  the  Police  in  that  section,  acting 
under  his  orders,  were  successful  in  all,  except  one  single  instance,  in  suppressing 
them. 

'  Seth  C.  Hawlev,  late  chief  clerk,  also  achieved  an  enviable  prominence  as 
:a.  br3^v.e  and  zealous  pffioial.  .  tjis  well  known  integrity,  and  devotion  to  duty  gave 


OUR  POLICE  rA'OTF.CTORS. 


205 


him  an  influence  In  the  councils  of  the  Board  such  as  to  cam  for  him  the  title  of 
"  the  fifth  Commissioner." 

"^p  to  the  time  that  he  connected  himself  with  the  Police  Department,  Mr. 
Hawley  had  been  engaged  as  a  railroad  contractor.  The  financial  crash  of  1857 
crippled  the  corporation  with  which  he  was  connected,  and  also  considerably 
impaired  his  own  private  fortune.  Abandoning  that  line  of  business,  he  became 
connected  with  the  removal  of  the  Quarantine. 

Mr.  Hawley,  who  had  the  supervision  of  the  Clerks  and  Special  Patrolmen, 
the  providing  and  issuing  of  arms,  the  execution  of  orders  from  the  Commis- 
sioners, seeing  to  the  wounded,  providing  for  the  refugees,  and  disposing  of  the 
prisoners,  had,  it  need  hardly  be  said,  his  hands  full.  But  Mr.  Hawley  took 
pride  in  hard  work  of  that  kind,  and,  his  energy  being  untiring,  he  acted 
besides  as  Commissary  for  over  four  thousand  Police,  military  and  special,  as- 
sembled at  Police  Headquarters.  He  performed  an  amount  of  work,  satisfac- 
torily and  thoroughly,  that  well  might  have  staggered  a  man  of  less  capacity  and 
energy. 

"At  the  reorganization  of  the  Police  Department  in  i860,"  said  Mr. 
Hawley,  in  an  interview  shortly  before  his  death  witli  tlu-  writer,  "General  Bowen 
sent  for  me  and  asked  me  if  I'd  be  willing  to  take  the  place  of  Chief  Clerk,  and 
I  consented,  thinking  that  the  appointment  would  be  but  temporary,  but  in  that 
I  was  mistaken,  for,  as  the  result  proved,  I  had  come  to  stay." 

Coming  down  to  the  time  of  the  draft  riots,  Mr.  Hawley  continued  :  "  I 
was  acting  in  that  capacity  (of  Chief  Clerk)  when  the  riot  occurred.  General 
Bowen,  who  was  President  of  the  Board,  had  raised  three  regiments  of  volun- 
teers to  go  to  the  war,  and  was  appointed  Brigadier-General,  and  went  to  New 
Orleans.  So  that  we  had  only  two  Commissioners,  Bergen  and  Acton,  but  two 
better  men  for  the  place  could  not  well  have  been  found. 

"  The  authorities  in  Washington  had  ordered  that  the  drafting  should  begin 
on  a  Saturday.  That  was  a  great  mistake,  as  the  dangerous  element  had  all  day 
Sunday  to  concoct  their  plans  to  foment  trouble.  The  Government  didn't  know 
at  the  time  what  a  hornet's  nest  they  were  stirring  up  in  this  city.  There  were 
more  Secessionists  in  New  York  than  in  any  other  three  Northern  States.  The 
names  that  were  drafted  were  published,  and  that  helped  to  intensify  the  bad 
blood.  All  day  Sunday  I  noticed  knots  of  excited  men  talking  around  the  cor- 
ners in  the  upper  part  of  the  city,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  my  house.  Curious  to 
know  what  was  in  the  wind,  I  went  out,  and  heard  the  talk  that  was  going  the 
rounds.  In  every  instance  the  Government  was  denounced  for  ordering  the 
enforcement  of  recruits  by  drafting.  The  measure  was  characterized  as  outrageous 
and  infamous.  The  speakers  were  bitter  and  defiant  in  their  denunciations.  The 
stinging  part  of  their  grievance  was  what  they  called  the  wicked  injustice  of 
taking  poor  men  away  from  their  families.  I  saw  the  storm  approaching,  and 
so  was  prepared,  in  a  measure,  for  tlie  scenes  I  witnessed  on  the  following  day. 
Early  in  the  morning  a  gang  of  rough-looking  men  gathered  right  in  front  of  my 
door.  They  had  just  forced  a  gang  of  men  who  were  building  a  block  of 
houses,  at  P'ifty-eighth  Street  and  Sixth  Avenue,  to  knock  off  work,  and  join  the 
rioters.    The  original  rioters  had  come  from  the  shanties  on  the  rocks,  near 


2o6 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Central  Park.  They  had  a  leader,  and  he  carried  a  bar  of  iron  in  his  hand. 
Those  who  refused  to  join  his  party,  he  threatened  and  commanded  until  he 
compelled  compliance  with  his  order.  Nearly  all  the  workmen  in  the  vicinity 
were  coerced  into  joinmg  his  party.  They  marched  directly  to  the  First  Provost 
Marshal's  office  to  sack  it,  and  I  hurried  down-town  to  the  office. 

"  Before  I  had  got  more  than  half  way  the  Marshal's  office  was  in  flames,  and 
that  swelled  the  ranks  of  the  mob.  By  the  time  I  had  reached  the  office  the  mob 
was  in  great  force,  and  ripe  for  any  sort  of  deviltry.  I  lost  no  time  in  informing 
the  Commissioners  of  what  I  had  seen  and  heard,  and  they  were  very  much 


startled  at  what  I  told  them.  They  ordered  me  to  draw  up  an  order  concentrat- 
ing all  the  Police  force  of  this  city  and  Brooklyn  at  the  office  of  Police  Head- 
quarters in  this  city.  That  was  the  first  Police  order  issued  in  connection  with 
the  riots.  I  was  next  instructed  to  draft  an  order  calling  out  the  militia.  That 
required  the  concurrence  of  Governor  Seymour,  who  hapjiened  to  be  at  that  very 
moment  at  the  City  Hall.  That  Monday  morning  he  had  addressed  the  mob  from 
the  City  Hall,  and  I  went  to  see  him  by  direction  of  the  Commissioners,  to  tell 
him  of  the  critical  state  of  affairs.  I  found  him  in  the  Governor's  room  sur- 
rounded by  friends.    I  had  served  in  the  legislature  with  him,  and  was  well 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


207 


acquainted  with  him.  When  he  saw  me  enter  he  left  his  friends  and  came  to  me. 
I  told  him  the  whole  story,  and  said  also  that  it  was  important  he  should  be  near 
enough  to  Police  Headcjuartcrs  to  be  in  constant  communication  with  the  Com- 
missioners. He  told  me  he  would  go  immediately  to  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel, 
and  that  he  would  be  glad  if  the  Commissioners  would  make  me  the  medium  of 
communication  l)etween  him  and  them.    They  did  so. 

'*  Major  General  Sandford  commanded  the  militia  which  was  called  out. 
Their  arsenal  was  on  Seventh  Avenue.  The  Seventh  Regiment  had  gone  South, 
expecting  to  be  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburgh,  and  some  other  city  regiments  had 
gone  too,  and  only  the  remnants  of  other  regiments  were  left.  The  militia  staid 
in  their  arsenal  during  the  whole  term  of  the  riots,  without  lending  a  hand  to 
(juell  disturbance  or  disperse  the  mob,  or  of  being  of  the  slightest  service  towards 
the  security  of  the  city  and  the  safety  of  life  and  property.  On  the  contrary, 
they  required  to  be  protected,  rather  than  to  be  the  protectors.  The  Police  had 
no  aid  whatever  from  that  military  force. 

"The  Police  Commissioners  then  communicated  with  Brigadier-General 
Brown,  of  the  regular  army,  who  commanded  the  Federal  forces  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  he  ordered  three  companies — two  of  infantry  and  one  of  artillery — that 
were  in  the  city  on  their  way  home,  to  be  mustered  out  at  the  end  of  their  term 
of  service,  to  co-operate  with  the  Police  in  dispersing  the  rioters.  He  himself 
took  up  his  quarters  in  Superintendent  Kennedy's  room,  where  messages  were  being 
constantly  received  by  telegraph.  This  was  the  only  place  in  the  city  where  offi- 
cial and  reliable  information  could  be  obtained.  These  three  companies  were  of 
great  service.  They  accompanied  the  Police  in  their  raids  on  the  rioters.  But 
they  were  not  on  hand  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  first  day's  great  battles.  The 
Police  had  fought  their  own  battles,  and  had  practically  quelled  the  rioters  be- 
fore the  military  took  hand  or  part  in  the  affray. 

"The  mob  moved  from  ui)-town  down  towards  the  heart  of  the  city.  One  of 
the  clerks  I  had  sent  to  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  on  his  return,  told  me  that  the 
mob  had  burned  the  Colored  Half  Orphan  Asylum.  The  late  E.  D.  Morgan  was 
present  when  this  information  was  received,  and  he  expressed  his  incredulity  at 
the  news  brought  by  my  clerk.    *  It  cannot  be,'  was  the  remark  he  made. 

"  Meantime  the  Police  were  gathering  gradually,  in  response  to  the  order  they 
had  received  to  report  at  Headquarters.  When  the  mob,  which  had  increased 
to  thousands,  had  got  down  to  Union  Square,  they  halted.  They  had  broken 
into  stores  and  saloons  on  their  way  down  town,  and  made  themselves  drunk  on 
stolen  licjuor.  They  were  preparing  for  a  big  row.  There  was  no  organization 
among  them.    One  big  fellow  carried  a  flag  on  a  pole,  and  walked  in  the  front. 

"  A  messenger  brought  the  tidings  that  the  mob  had  reached  Fourteenth  Street. 
Up  to  this  time  they  had  met  with  no  opposition.  They  had  everything  their  own  way. 

"The  Commissioners  then  concluded  it  was  time  for  the  Police  to  act. 

"  Two  hundred  or  two  himdred  and  fifty  Police  were  drawn  up  in  line  in  front 
of  Police  Headquarters.  The  greater  part  of  them  had  the  light,  fancy  stick 
they  carry  when  they  are  on  dress  parade. 

"The  Commissioners  said  to  me:  'Now,  that  this  force  of  Policemen  must 
go  out  and  face  that  mob,  who  shall  lead  them  ? ' 


20S 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


"  Previous  to  this,  and  after  the  mob  had  burned  the  Colored  Half  Orphan 
Asylum,  John  A.  Kennedj',  the  then  Superintendent,  not  being  posted,  walked 
out — with  his  little  gold-headed  cane — to  see  what  was  the  matter.  The  mob 
recognized  him,  and  he  barely  escaped  with  his  life.  He  was  subsequently  taken 
to  Headquarters  in  a  wagon,  so  terribly  cut  and  bruised  from  the  usage  he  had 
received  as  to  be  almost  unrecognizable.  He  was  taken  away  and  concealed 
until  he  recovered  from  his  injuries,  which  was  long  after  the  city  had  become 
tranquil  again. 

"  So  I  said,  in  answer  to  the  Commissioner's  query  as  to  who  should  lead  the 
men  against  the  mob,  'Carpenter  is  the  senior  Inspector,  and  it  is  his  place,  in 
the  absence  of  the  Superintendent,  to  take  command.'  Commissioner  Acton 
said,  'Will  he  do  it  ? '  '  He  must  do  it:  he  will  not  refuse;  he's  a  gallant  man,' 
I  replied.  *  Go  to  him  then,  and  say  to  him  that  it  is  our  wish  that  he  assume  the 
command.'  Never  will  I  forget  the  words  and  action  of  Carpenter  when  I  con- 
veyed to  him  this  message.  Raising  his  clinched  right  hand  he  brought  it  down 
with  a  loud  thump  on  the  desk,  and  exclaimed,  '  I'll  go,  and  I  won't  come  back 
unless  I  come  back  victorious.' 

"  I  returned  to  Commissioner  Acton  and  told  him  what  Carpenter  had  said. 
Acton  then  saw  Carpenter  and  told  him  to  bring  the  men  up  Broadway  and 
whip  the  mob  at  all  hazards.    He  was  to  take  no  prisoners. 

"  Carpenter  went  and  did  as  he  was  told. 

"The  Police  captured  the  colors  carried  by  the  big  man,  broke  the  big  man's 
thick  head,  and  littered  Broadway,  from  Bond  Street  to  Union  Square,  with 
disabled  rioters. 

"  It  would  be  in  vain  for  me  to  try  to  recall  the  number  of  Police  expedi- 
tions sent  out  to  face  the  mob.  There  was  no  time  to  make  records. 
Up  to  Wednesday  at  midnight  there  was  no  cessation  of  fighting  all  over  the 
town. 

"  The  Commissary  Department  was  the  great  difficulty  we  had  to  contend 
with.  We  had  to  feed  the  whole  Police  force  and  military,  besides  seven  hun- 
dred negroes  who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  upper  story  of  Police  Headquarters. 
Stores  were  all  closed,  and  provisions  were  hard  to  get. 

"  But  we  did  it." 

"  It  was  not  safe  for  any  one  known  to  be  connected  with  Police  Head- 
quarters to  be  found  abroad  unprotected.  I  had  left  my  family  alone,  the  only 
stranger  in  the  house  being  a  colored  woman — a  serv  ant — which  was  anything  but 
a  comforting  guarantee  of  their  security.  At  one  o'clock  Tuesday  morning 
I  started  over  to  Sixth  Avenue,  and,  at  the  junction  of  Carmine  Street,  I  saw  a 
motley  crowd  of  men,  women  and  children  dancing  around  a  fire  in  the  street, 
in  the  vicinity  of  which  a  strangled  negro  was  dangling  from  a  tree. 

"  The  second  day  some  of  the  military  made  an  independent  movement 
against  the  rioters  in  Mackerelville. 

"  We  didn't  know  where  this  section  of  men  were,  or  what  they  were  doing. 
The  mob  was  too  strong  for  them,  and  the  men  were  chased  all  the  way  down 
to  the  Seventh  Regiment's  arsenal  and  stoned,  followed  by  a  great  crowd.  One 
of  the  men  was  wounded  and  thrown  from  his  horse,  and  left  in  the  street. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


209 


Hearing  of  the  affray,  I  was  deputed  to  report  the  matter  to  the  Governor  and 
Genjjral  Brown,  both  of  whom  were  at  the  time  at  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel.  The 
officer,  who  was  wounded,  was  a  Major.  A  young  Lieutenant,  who  was  with  tlic 
party  of  routed  soldiers,  and  who  escaped  by  making  good  use  of  liis  legs,  had 
first  reported  the  wounding  of  the  Major  and  his  being  left  disabled  in  the 
street  at  the  mercy  of  the  mob.  General  Brown  heard  the  young  Lieutenant's 
story  to  the  end,  and  then,  turning  on  him,  said  : 

"'You  state  here,  and  in  my  presence,  tliat  you  ran  away,  and  left  llie 
Major  wounded  in  the  hands  of  the  mob.'  'Be  jjatient,  General,'  said  (Gen- 
eral Wool,  "  and  be  charitable  enough  to  reflect  that  the  Lieutenant  is  a  very 
young  man.' 

"The  result  of  it  was  that  General  Wool  directed  General  Brown  to  send  out 
a  force,  and  bring  in  the  ALijor.  The  Major  was  not  seriously  hurt,  anil  he  was 
found  and  taken  to  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel. 

"  If  the  Police  hadn't  acted  with  a  vigor  and  earnestness  that  couldn't  be 
excelled,  the  city  would  have  been  sacked.  The  mob  would  have  been  in  Wall 
Street  and  everywhere  else  where  they  could  find  plunder. 

"The  Police  took  from  the  rioters  eleven  thousand  stand  of  arms,  and  we 
have  got  them  in  the  building  yet.    We  can't  find  any  one  to  claim  them. 

"  It  is  jiroper  to  say  that  the  Police  force  was  at  that  time  at  the  perfection 
of  discijjline,  and  the  esprit  du  corps  was  extraordinary. 

"  One  would  require  to  think  it  over  very  carefully  to  realize  how  it  would 
be  if  there  was  no  judicial  or  Police  authority  in  a  city  like  New  York.  Dur- 
ing these  exciting  events  we  hadn't  a  Magistrate  before  whom  to  arraign  a 
prisoner,  or  a  box  or  a  jail  to  lock  a  prisoner  in. 

"All  branches  of  the  Police  service  did  their  duty  so  thoroughly  as  to  render 
it  difficult  to  make  any  mention  of  special  meritorious  performance  of  duty. 

"  Regarding  the  number  of  rioters  killed  it  is  impossible  to  state  with  any 
degree  of  accuracy.  The  nearest  approximation  that  can  be  made  to  it  is  by 
comparing  the  mortality  for  that  month  with  the  corresponding  month  of  the 
previous  year.  By  this  we  learn  that  there  were  one  thousand  one  hundred 
deaths  during  the  month  of  the  riots  in  excess  of  the  deaths  in  the 
corresponding  month  of  the  preceding  year.  I  should  regard  this  as  a  pretty 
fair  estimate  of  the  number  ot  people  who  lost  their  lives  by  participating 
in  the  riots. 

"It  was  an  awful  lesson,  and  one  not  to  be  forgotton. 

"  One  other  lesson  was  learned  by  the  Police,  and  that  is,  that  in  close  contact 
with  a  mob  there  is  not  any  weapon  so  effective  as  the  club.  It  was  then  also 
found  out  that  nothing  would  stand  the  strain  for  this  kind  of  work  like  locust. 
In  the  early  stages  of  the  riot  the  men  carried  their  rosewood  sticks,  and  these 
splintered  and  broke  as  fast  as  the  heads  they  were  used  on.  Rosewood  is 
heavy  and  seems  solid,  but  it  lacks  toughness  and  elasticity.  Now,  locust,  besides 
being  light,  possesses  these  equalities.  It  does  not  split,  is  sonorous,  and  gives  out  a 
sound  like  a  bell.  It  is  very  rarely  that  I  have  seen  a  locust  club  broken.  Since 
then  locust  has  entirely  come  into  use  in  the  department." 


2TO 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Inspector  Daniel  Carpenter,  under  the  supervision  of  Commissioner 
Acton,  assumed  and  discharged  the  duties  of  Superintendent,  after  Mr.  Kennedy 
was  incapacitated  by  reason  of  his  injuries.  The  riot  had  quickly  gj,ined  in  pro- 
portions, and  now  assumed  such  a  formidable  shape  that  the  entire  force  of  the 
Police  had  to  be  called  into  requisition.  Word  having  been  received  that  the 
mob  were  marching  to  attack  Mayor  Opdyke's  house,  on  Fifth  Avenue,  Inspector 
Carpenter,  in  person,  took  command  of  a  force  of  two  hundred  men.  Before 
starting  from  Police  Headquarters  he  spoke  to  the  men,  telling  them  that  "  They 
had  to  meet  and  put  down  a  mob;  to  take  no  prisoners;  to  strike  quick  and 
hard  "  — orders  which  were  literally  obeyed.  It  was  a  day  of  hard  fighting,  and 
Inspector  Carpenter,  with  his  command,  was  ever  at  the  post  of  duty,  which  was 
the  post  of  danger.  That  he  acted  gallantly  and  performed  his  whole  duty  goes 
without  saying.  His  was  a  task  of  unceasing  labor,  constant  peril,  and  great  re- 
sponsibility; but  he  did  not  return  until  he  had  "put  down  the  mob,"  even  if  he 
had  "  to  strike  quick  and  strike  hard  "  to  do  it. 

Inspector  James  Leonard. — As  a  gallant,  faithful  and  zealous  officer, 
Inspector  Leonard's  record  stands  second  to  none  in  the  department.  It  has 
been  commented  on  as  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  officers,  without  a  single  ex- 
ception, who  personally  led  their  commands  against  the  rioters,  not  only  dis- 
played great  bravery,  but  a  practical  knowledge  of  strategy  and  tactics  that  won 
the  day  against  overwhelming  odds.  After  Inspector  Carpenter  had  left  Police 
Headquarters  with  his  command,  shortly  after  Superintendent  Kennedy's  ar- 
rival, maimed  and  insensible.  Inspector  Leonard,  under  orders  from  Commis- 
sioner Acton,  was  constantly  employed  massing  and  organizing  such  of  the  force 
at  Headquarters  as  was  not  in  actual  conflict  with  the  mob.  Throughout  Monday 
Inspector  Leonard  had  several  brushes  with  the  enemy.  On  Tuesday  he  was 
mainly  engaged  in  the  neighborhood  of  Printing  House  Square  in  repeated  hand- 
to-hand  encounters  with  the  rioters.  Wherever  (he  fight  was  the  hottest,  there 
was  Inspector  Leonard  and  his  intrepid  force  of  blue-coats.  Truly  Superinten- 
dent Matsell's  famous  encomium  "the  finest  Police  force  in  the  world,"  is  not 
an  overstrained  estimate  of  the  officers  and  men  who  took  part  in  those  fierce 
and  deadly  street  encounters.  In  one  of  the  several  emutcs  that  took  place  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  City  Hall,  the  Inspector,  as  usual,  took  a  leading  part.  Says  one 
who  had  personal  knowledge  of  the  facts:  "A  hand-to-hand  fight  ensued,  heads 
were  broken,  men  prostrated  and  laid  in  heaps,  and,  in  less  time  than  it  is  re- 
corded, those  who  a  few  minutes  before  were  eager  for  and  intent  upon  the 
lives  of  the  three  daring  officers  (Inspector  Leonard  and  two  of  his  men)  were 
scattered  like  sheep  before  the  gallant  charge  of  the  Police,  or  lay  as  slaughtered. 
Inspector  Leonard  was  boldly  in  the  fray,  his  stalwart  form  being  conspicuous, 
his  rapid,  earnestly-meant  and  muscular  blows  falling  with  telling  effect." 

And  again  :  "He  had  immense  interests  to  guard:  himself  a  host,  his 
officers  and  men  true  as  steel,  they  saved  the  districts  committed  to  their  care 
from  the  consummation  of  well-concocted  plans  of  violence  and  pillc^e.  Of 
active  intelligence  and  proved  courage.  Inspector  Leonard's  name  shines  brightly 
on  the  record  of  honor." 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


21  I 


An  Act  passed  April  25,  1864,  entitled  an  Act  to  amend  an  Act  passed  April 
15,  J857,  and  an  Act  passed  April  10,  i860,  provided  that  the  unexplained  ab- 
sence, without  leave,  of  any  member  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  who  for  five 
days  should  absent  himself  without  leave,  should  be  deemed  and  held  to  be  a 
resignation  by  such  member  and  be  accepted  as  such.  The  Act  also  established 
the  following  officers:  A  Treasurer's  Bookkeeper,  a  Secretary  to  the  President, 
a  Chief  Clerk,  a  First  Deputy  Clerk,  and  Deputy  Clerks  not  exceeding  ten, 
Surgeons  not  exceeding  ten,  and  a  Drill  Captain.  The  Superintendent  and 
each  Captain,  the  law  declared,  should  possess  powers  of  general  Police  super- 
vision and  inspection  over  all  licensed  or  unlicensed  pawnbrokers,  venders, 
junk-shops,  junk-boatmen,  cartmen,  dealers  in  second-hand  merchandise,  intel- 
ligence offices,  keepers  and  auctioneers  within  the  district.  In  like  manner  the 
following  places  were  brought  under  the  ban  of  the  Police  :  Gaming  houses, 
playing  for  wagers  of  money  at  any  game  of  chance,  selling  lottery  tickets  or 


Sixty-ninth  Regiment  Armory. 

policies,  etc.  The  Superintendent  could  authorize  any  member  of  the  force  to 
enter  the  same  and  arrest  all  persons  found  offending  against  the  law,  seize  all 
implements  and  carry  the  person  so  arrested  before  a  Magistrate;  the  articles  so 
seized  to  be  deposited  with  the  Property  Clerk.  The  selling  of  liquor  on  the 
Sabbath,  or  on  election  day,  was  also  prohibited,  under  a  penalty  of  fifty  dollars 
for  each  offence.  It  was  made  a  misdemeanor,  punishable  by  imprisonment  not 
less  than  one  year  nor  exceeding  two  years,  or  a  fine  not  less  than  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars,  to  use  personal  violence  upon  any  elector  on  election  day.  The 
Board  of  Police  were  empowered  to  appoint  all  Poll  Clerks.  The  Sanitary  Com- 
pany, as  a  part  of  their  duties,  were  to  visit  all  ferry  boats,  manufactories, 
slaughter  houses,  tenement  houses,  hotels  and  boarding  houses  deemed  unsafe, 
and  report  thereon;  complaints  to  be  made  under  oath,  before  any  Magistrate 
who  issued  a  warrant  for  the  apprehension  of  the  offending  party.    If  the 


212 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Magistrate  was  satisfied  that  the  charges  preferred  were  well  founded,  he  could,  in 
writing,  command  a  ferry  boat  to  cease  running,  and  such  other  nuisances  com- 
plained of  to  cease  or  be  closed. 

The  Metropolitan  Police  District  comprised  the  counties  of  New  York, 
Kings,  Westchester,  and  Richmond,  and  the  towns  of  Newtown,  Flushing,  and 
Jamaica,  in  the  county  of  Queens,  as  provided  by  Chapter  403  of  the  Laws  of 
1864. 

The  county  of  New  York  comprised  the  whole  of  the  Island  of  Manhattan, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Hudson  River,  north  by  Spuyten  Duyvel  Creek 
and  Harlem  River,  and  on  the  east  and  south  by  the  East  River.  Westchester 
County  lies  adjacent  and  to  the  north  of  New  York  County,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  west  by  the  Hudson  River,  east  by  the  East  River,  Long  Island  Sound,  and 
the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  on  the  north  by  Putnam  County.  Kings  County 
comprises  the  southwest  portion  of  Long  Island,  being  bounded  on  the  north-east 
by  Queens  County,  and  for  the  rest  by  the  waters  of  the  ocean.  East  River  and 
New  York  Bay.  Richmond  County  embraces  the  whole  of  Staten  Island.  The 
towns  of  Flushing,  Newtown,  and  Jamaica,  are  in  Queens  County,  Long  Island, 
adjoining  Kings  County,  on  the  north-east. 

That  portion  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  District  consisting  of  the  cities  of  New 
York  and  Brooklyn,  were  divided  into  two  Inspection  Districts,  Surgeons  Districts, 
and  Precincts;  the  Precincts  were  divided  into  Patrolmen's  beats  or  posts. 

The  Police  force  was  divided  into  four  divisions,  and  an  Inspector  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  a  division,  and  in  case  of  riot  or  any  other  cause,  when  the 
force  was  called  out  in  a  body,  he  had  command  over  the  division  to  which  he 
was  assigned. 

The  First  Division  was  under  the  command  of  Inspector  Folk,  and  com- 
prised the  whole  force  of  Brooklyn,  including  the  Sanitary  Squad  and  Atlantic 
Dock  Police. 

The  Second  Division  was  under  the  command  of  Inspector  Leonard,  and 
comprised  the  First,  Second,  Third,  Fifth,  Eighth,  Ninth,  Fifteenth,  Twenty- 
sixth,  Twenty-seventh  and  Twenty-eighth  Precincts  of  New  York  City,  and 
Second  Police  Court  Squad. 

The  Third  Division  was  under  the  command  of  Inspector  Carpenter,  and 
comprised  the  Fourth,  Sixth,  Seventh,  Tenth,  Eleventh,  Thirteenth,  Fourteenth, 
Seventeenth  and  Twenty-fifth  Precincts  of  New  York  City,  the  First  and  Third 
Police  Court  Squads,  and  the  Sanitary  Company. 

The  Fourth  Division  was  under  the  command  of  Inspector  Dilks,  and  com- 
prised the  Twelfth,  Sixteenth,  Eighteenth,  Nineteenth,  Twentieth,  Twenty-first, 
Twenty-second,  Twenty-third,  Twenty-ninth,  Thirtieth.  Thirty-first,  Thirty- 
second,  Thirty-second  (Sub.),  and  Thirty-third  Precincts  of  New  York  City,  and 
the  Fourth  Police  Court  Squad. 

The  Police  force  was  divided  into  companies,  one  company  being  allotted  to 
each  precinct;  together  with  the  addition  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  Sanitary 
Company,  and  such  squads  as  were  ordered  by  the  Board  of  Police. 

The  full  dress  of  the  members  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  force,  excepting 
the  Surgeons,  was  of  navy  blue  cloth,  indigo-dyed,  and  all  wool. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  dress  for  the  Superintendent  was  a  doul)lc-breasted  frock  coat,  the 
waist  extending  to  the  top  of  the  liij),  and  the  skirt  to  within  one  inch  of  the 
bend'of  the  knee;  two  rows  of  Police  buttons  on  the  breast,  eight  in  each  row, 
placed  in  jjairs,  the  distance  between  each  row  being  five  and  one-half  inches  at 
the  top  and  three  and  one-half  inches  at  the  bottom;  stand-up  collar,  to  rise  no 
higher  than  to  permit  the  chin  to  turn  freely  over  it,  to  hook  in  front  at  the  bot- 
tom; cuffs  three  and  one-half  inches  deep,  and  buttoning  with  three  small 
buttons  at  the  under  seam ;  two  buttons  on  the  hips,  one  button  on  the  bottom 
of  each  skirt-pocket  welt,  and  two  l)uttons  intermediate,  so  that  there  would  be 
six  buttons  on  the  back;  skirt,  collars,  and  cuffs,  of  dark  blue  velvet;  lining  of 
the  coat  black.  The  trousers  plain.  Black  neckcloth.  The  vest  single- 
breasted,  with  eight  buttons  placed  at  equal  distances.  The  cap  of  navy  blue 
cloth,  and  of  the  form  of  the  pattern  in  the  office  of  Superintendent,  having  a 
band  of  dark  blue  velvet,  with  a  gold-embroideied  wreath  in  front,  encircling  a 
a  silver  star. 

The  Patrolmen  detailed  as  Roundsmen,  in  addition,  had  the  word  "  Rounds- 
man "  in  white  metal  letters,  in  lieu  of  the  wreath. 

The  dress  for  Harbor  Patrolmen  was  a  sailor's  jacket,  rolling  collar,  to  come 
down  half-way  between  the  hip-joint  and  the  knee,  five  buttons  on  each  side  of 
the  breast,  two  buttons  on  the  under  seam  of  the  cuff,  pockets  inside;  vest,  single- 
breasted,  nine  buttons;  trousers,  j)lain;  shirt  of  blue  flannel;  cap,  same  as  other 
Patrolmen,  with  wreath  and  number  the  same  as  in  the  office  of  the  Superinten- 
dent; pea  jacket,  overcoat  three  inches  above  the  knee,  five  buttons  on  each 
side,  side  pockets  with  flaps. 

The  dress  for  Doormen  was  a  double-breasted  round  jacket  extending  two 
inches  below  the  hip,  with  five  Police  buttons  on  each  l)reast  and  one  on  the 
inside  seam  of  each  cuff;  pantaloons  of  cadet  mixed  cloth,  plain;  cap,  the  same 
as  Patrolmen,  without  wreath,  but  with  the  word  "  Doorman  "  in  white  metal 
letters  placed  in  front. 

The  dress  for  Inspectors  the  same  as  Superintendent,  except  that  there 
were  seven  buttons  on  each  row  on  the  breast  of  the  coat,  placed  at  equal  dis- 
tances, and  the  gold  wreath  on  the  cap  enclosed  the  word  "  Inspector,"  in 
silver. 

The  dress  for  Captains  and  Sergeants  was  the  same  as  for  the  Superinten- 
dent, except  that  there  were  eight  buttons  in  each  row  on  the  breast  of  the  coat, 
placed  at  equal  distances;  the  collar  rolling,  the  collar  and  cuffs  of  the  same 
color  and  material  as  the  coat;  the  band  of  the  same  color  and  material  as  the 
coat;  the  band  of  the  same  color  and  material  as  the  body  of  the  cap,  welted 
at  the  edges,  and  the  wreath  inclosing  the  word  "Captain"  or  "Sergeant," 
with  the  number  of  the  precinct  to  which  the  officer  was  attached,  in  gold. 
The  Captain  of  the  Harbor  Police  had  a  gold  anchor,  and  the  Sergeants  silver 
anchors,  enclosed  in  the  wreath  in  lieu  of  the  number  of  the  precinct. 

The  dress  for  Patrolmen  was  a  single-breasted  frock  coat,  with  rolling  collar, 
the  waist  extending  to  the  top  of  the  hip,  and  the  skirt  to  within  one  inch^of  the 
bend  of  the  knee;  nine  buttons  on  the  breast,  two  buttons  on  the  hips,  two 
buttons  on  the  bottom  of  each  pocket,  and  three  small  buttons  on  the  under 


214 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


seam  of  the  cuffs.  Trousers  had  a  white  welt  in  the  outer  seam.  'Black 
neck-cloth.  Vest,  single-breasted,  with  nine  buttons  placed  at  equal  distances. 
The  cap  of  navy  blue  cloth,  corresponding  with  the  sample  in  the  office  of  the 
Superintendent,  with  wreath  surrounding  the  appropriate  number  in  white 
metal. 

The  summer  uniform  consisted  of  blue  flannel  sack  coat  and  blue  flannel 
trousers.  The  coat  of  Patrolmen  was  a  single-breasted  sack  with  short  turn- 
over color,  buttoning  close  up  to  the  chin,  and  reaching  to  half-way  between  the 
articulation  of  the  hip  joint  and  the  knee,  with  four  buttons  on  the  front,  no 
pockets  to  show  on  the  outside,  and  the  trousers  made  same  as  those  worn  in 
winter. 

Flannel  sack  coat  and  flannel  trousers,  made  like  the  above,  and  Sennet 
hat,  was  the  uniform  of  the  Harbor  Police. 

Coats  for  Captains  were  double-breasted,  and  buttoned  close  up  to  the  chin, 
with  short  rolling  collar,  with  two  rows  of  buttons  of  five  each  on  the  front,  the 
coat  reaching  to  a  point  half  way  between  the  articulation  of  the  hip  joint  and 
the  knee;  trousers  without  welts  in  the  seams. 

For  Sergeants  same  as  Captains,  except  that  there  were  two  rows  of  buttons 
of  four  each. 

The  officers  were  permitted  to  wear  (in  the  station  house)  while  in  the  dis- 
charge of  desk  duty,  an  undress  coat,  the  same  as  the  summer  uniform. 

The  Superintendent  of  Police  was  the  chief  executive  officer  of  the  Metro- 
politan Police  force,  subject  to  the  orders,  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Board  of 
Metropolitan  Police. 

An  Inspector  was  designated  by  the  Board  of  Police  to  perform  office  duty 
at  the  general  office  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  an  Inspector  was  designated  in 
like  manner  to  perform  office  duty  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn.  They  were  'railed 
Office  Inspectors. 

District  Inspectors  reported  in  person,  daily,  at  the  office  of  the  Superintend- 
ent, and  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  every  month  they  submitted  reports,  in  writing, 
to  the  Superintendent,  setting  forth  the  condition  of  each  station  house  in  their 
respective  districts,  with  such  suggestions  in  regard  to  them  as  might  conduce  to 
the  comfort  of  the  officers  and  men,  and  insure  a  thorough  performance  of 
duty. 

The  Commissioners  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  and  the  Comptrollers  of  the 
cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn  convened  as  a  Board  of  Estimate  and  Appor- 
tionment, annually,  on  or  before  July  i,  and  made  up  a  financial  estimate  of  the 
sums  required  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  estimate  was  then  submitted  to  a  committee  of  revision,  composed  of 
the  Presidents  respectively  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  counties  of  New 
York,  Kings,  Westchester  and  Richmond,  and  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  of 
Brooklyn  and  the  respective  towns  of  Newtown,  Flushing,  and  Jamaica  in  the 
county  of  Queens.  If  objection  to  the  estimate  was  made,  it  became  the  duty 
of  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  to  consider  and  revise  the  same, 
such  action  being  final. 

This  Act  established  the  House  of  Detention  of  Witnesses. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


2'5 


Following  are  the  animal  salaries  paid  to  the  persons  named  ; 


•*   President  of  the  Board  $4,000 

Treasurer   4,000 

Other  Commissioners   3,500 

Superintendent   5, 000 

Inspectors   2,500 

Surgeons   1,800 

Captains   1,500 

Sergeants   1,200 

Patrolmen   1,000 

Doormen   800 


No  member  of  the  force  was  permitted  to  accept  for  his  own  benefit,  or 
share  in^  any  present,  gift,  reward,  etc.  The  Board,  however,  could  permit  any 
member  to  accept  such  gift  or  present  for  any  extraordinary  service  rendered. 

The  sum  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  was  provided  by  the  legislature 
for  purchasing  and  fitting  up  a  station  house  for  the  Twenty-seventh  Precinct  ; 
but  this  amount  was  found  to  be  inadequate,  an  addition  of  fifteen  thousand 
dollars  being  required  to  secure  suilable  premises.  The  sum  of  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Comptroller,  applicable  to 
rebuilding  the  station  house  of  the  Eighteenth  Precinct,  which  was  fired  and 
destroyed  by  the  mob  in  the  draft  riots.  It  was  found  that  there  was  press- 
ing need  for  a  station  house  in  the  Twenty-ninth  Precinct,  the  old  premises 
being  inconvenient  and  insufficient.  The  station  house  of  the  Twenty-third 
Precinct  had  also  been  fired  and  destroyed  by  the  mob,  and  provisions  were 
made  for  the  accommodation  of  the  precinct  by  fitting  up  suitable  premises 
and  leasing  them  for  five  years. 

The  Thirty-second  Precinct  consisted  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  city,  and 
as  the  needs  were  great  and  pressing  for  a  station  house,  two  lots  were  bought  on 
the  corner  of  Tenth  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Street,  in 
Carmansville,  each  25x100  feet,  and  a  station  house  erected  thereon,  25  x6o 
feet,  three  stories  high,  and  a  stable  for  horses  20x50  feet,  at  a  total  cost  of 
twelve  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  There  being  no  jirison  or  lodging  rooms 
for  vagrants  and  disorderly  persons,  all  persons  arrested  and  requiring  to  be 
retained,  were  from  necessity  taken  to  the  adjoining  precinct. 

Patrolmen  in  the  regular  routine  of  duty,  passed  over  every  portion  of  the 
graded  streets  of  the  city  each  hour  of  the  day  and  night,  and  in  the  thickly 
settled  streets  much  more  fre([ucntly.  It  was  their  duty  to  become  ac([uainted 
with  every  tenement  on  their  respective  beats,  and  to  familiarize  themselves  with 
the  habits,  business,  and  characters  of  the  permanent  inhabitants. 

Then,  as  now,  robbery,  burglary,  and  larceny  were  jiursued  by  a  large  class 
of  remarkably  acute  persons.  The  impossibility  of  wholly  suppressing  such 
offences  against  the  law,  did  not  then,  no  more  than  at  present,  prevent  the 
Police  from  making  honest  and  earnest  efforts  to  make  those  operations  neither 
safe  nor  profitable.  The  professional  thief  seems  to  have  preserved  the  same 
traits  through  all  ages.  He  is  not  restrained  by  the  disrepute  attached  to  his 
calling,  nor  does  the  law  possess  sufficient  terrors  to  exert  a  restraining  influence, 
so  long  as  detection  is  difficult  and  conviction  uncertain. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


It  was  observed  that  during  the  war  there  was  a  marked  tendency  to  crimes 
of  violence  towards  persons,  and  other  crimes  of  a  still  graver  character,  while 
petty  offences  had  not  increased  in  proportion.  There  were  arrested  by  the  Met- 
ropolitan Police,  for  crimes  of  violence  of  a  serious  character  in  1863  and 
1864,  respectively  : 


Assault  on  Policemen . 


Maiming  .  .  . . 
Manslaughter. 
Rape  


186 -J 

1864. 

343 

462 

19 

35 

23 

29 

33 

88 

79 

48 

6 

6 

I 

10 

2 1 

34 

1 2 

30 

537 

742 

A  small  portion  of  this  mass  of  high  crime  received  the  punishment  pro- 
vided by  the  law.  The  fault,  if  any  existed,  was  somewhere  beyond  the  power 
of  the  Police.  During  the  year  ending  the  thirtieth  of  November,  five  members 
of  the  Police  force  had  met  their  deaths  by  violence  from  the  hands  of  desper- 
ate ruffians,  great  numbers  of  whom  infested  the  city.  The  names  of  the 
Policemen  killed  were  George  W.  Duryea,  John  O'Brien,  Joseph  Nulet,  Charles 
Curren,  and  Austen  Esterbrook.  Thirteen  had  been  seriously  injured  and 
wounded  by  collision  with  the  same  violent  class.  The  names  of  the  wounded 
were  James  Kiernan,  William  Delamater,  Ellsworth  F.  Hoagland,  James  Leary, 
John  H.  Polly,  Robert  Thompson,  John  H.  Arnoux,  William  P.  Teller,  Thomas 
Hawkins,  James  McGowan,  James  Gannon,  Thomas  Sweeney,  and  Stephen  Shea  ; 
a  much  larger  number,  not  reported,  received  injuries  of  a  less  serious 
character. 

This,  too,  occurred  during  a  year  which  had  not  been  marked  by  any  serious 
riot  or  mob.  Concert  and  energy  on  the  part  of  all  good  citizens  and  honest 
officials,  to  resist  and  subdue  these  elements  of  violence  and  crime,  were  urgently 
demanded  by  the  Board  of  Police.  It  was  claimed  by  President  Acton  that  it 
would  greatly  conduce  to  the  good  order  of  society,  and  to  the  personal  safety 
of  the  citizen,  if  a  law  were  passed  rendering  it  a  crime  to  carry  concealed 
deadly  weapons. 

The  amount  of  time  lost  by  sickness  by  Patrolmen 
and  Doormen,  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  during  the 
year  ending  Nov.  i,  1863  24,672  days. 

For  the  year  ending  Nov.  i,  1864  24,311  " 

Decrease   361  " 

The  amount  of  time  lost  in  1863  was  increased  by  the  unusual  number 
wounded  in  the  riots  of  that  year.  During  the  succeeding  year  there  was  no  riot 
and  no  epidemic,  yet  the  amount  of  sick  time  was  not  largely  reduced. 

The  total  lost  time  was  equal  to  sixty-seven  years,  or  sixty-seven  men 
disabled  so  as  to  perform  no  duty. 


0(rh'  rorjcE  PROTF.c'roRs.  217 

The  force  for  the  \ car  ending  October  31,  1864,  comprised  the  following: 


Captains   33 

■*  Sergeants   126 

Patrolmen  ',789 

Doormen   66 


Total  2,014 


By  Section  i  of  an  Act  of  April  13,  1865,  (Laws  Ch.  400)  all  laws  relating 
to  the  election  of  Constables  in  the  city  of  New  York  were  repealed;  "  and,  here- 
after, the  Marshals  of  the  city  of  New  York  shall  be  ajjpointed  by  the  Mayor  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  by,  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  the  County  of  New  York;  and  such  Marshals  shall  not  exceed  thirty." 

Arrests  for  offences  of  all  grades,  had,  during  the  year  1865,  reached  the 
number  of  eighty-eight  thousand  three  hundred  and  lifty-five,  against  sixty-nine 


First  New  York  Colored  Regiment  Leaving  for  the  Seat  of  War. 

thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty-one  for  the  preceding  year;  making  an  in- 
crease of  eighteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-four.  Crimes  of  violence 
against  the  person  had  increased  in  even  a  greater  ratio,  as  will  appear  from  the 
following  comparative  statement: 

1864  1865 


Felonious  assault  462  798 

Assault  on  Policemen  25  36 

I            Rape  34  38 

Attempt  at  rape  29  40 

Manslaughter  and  murder  58  — 

Homicide  of  all  degrees  —  69 

Mayhem  6  14 

Total  624  995 


2l8 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  cost  of  lost  time  paid  for  during  the  year  was  forty-eight  thousand  three 
hundred  and  twenty-two  dollars  and  sixty-four  cents.  The  loss  of  time  by  sick- 
ness was  more  than  equal  to  the  full  time  of  eighty-three  men,  or  almost  four  per 
cent,  of  the  whole  force.  The  cost  in  money  was  more  than  the  full  pay  of  forty- 
eight  men. 

The  force  consisted  of  thirty-three  Captains,  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
Sergeants,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-two  Patrolmen,  and  sixty- 
three  Doormen,  making  a  total  of  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  ninety-seven. 


Arrests: 

Offences  against  property   14,962 

Offences  against  the  person   53,9ii 

Total  number  of  arrests   68,873 


The  leyslature,  on  February  28,  1866,  passed  an  Act  to  amend  an  Act  passed 
April  25,  1864,  to  amend  an  Act  passed  April  15,  1857,  and  an  Act  passed  April 
10,  i860,  to  the  following  effect:  To  the  County  of  Richmond  there  were  ap- 
portioned one  Captain,  two  Sergeants,  and  twenty-five  men.  Any  part  of  any  town 
adjoining  the  city  of  Brooklyn  might  be  set  apart  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of 
the  county  of  Kings  for  the  purpose  of  having  a  Patrol  force.  The  expenses  at- 
tending this  Police  force  were  levied  and  collected  in  the  annual  taxes  of  said 
district. 

The  Board  of  Police  were  authorized  to  appoint  an  Inspector  of  Boats,  the 
salary  not  to  exceed  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.    (Act  April  10,  1866.) 

Commissioner  McMurray's  term  of  office  expired  March  i,  1866,  and  the 
legislature  elected  Benjamin  F.  Manierre  to  fill  the  place. 

An  Act  to  regulate  and  increase  the  salaries  of  certain  members  of  the 
Metropolitan  Police  was  passed  April  30,  1866,  with  the  following  results: 


President  ^5,500 

Treasurer   5,5°° 

Other  Commissioners   5»ooo 

Superintendent   7,500 

Inspectors  '   3,5°° 

Surgeons   2,250 

Captains   2,000 

Sergeants   1,600 

Patrolmen   1,200 

Doormen     900 


The  above  was  subject  to  the  proviso  that  whenever  the  currency  of  the 
United  States  had  attained  a  par  value  in  gold,  the  foregoing  salaries  should  be 
reduced  twenty  per  cent.,  excepting  Captains,  whose  salaries  should  be  eighteen 
hundred  dollars,  and  Sergeants  fourteen  hundred  dollars. 

The  amount  of  lost  time  by  sickness  and  injuries  during  the  year  exceeded 
the  amount  of  the  preceding  year  by  three  hundred  and  eleven  days. 

This  question  of  pay  for  lost  time  was  one  that  was  a  constant  source  of 
solicitude  to  the  Board  of  Commissioners.  Policemen  are  but  human,  and  so 
they,  like  the  rest  of  us,  were  subject  to  those  physical  infirmities  that  flesh  is 
heir  to.  No  doubt  much  of  those  sporadic  diseases  were  the  result  of  natural 
causes  and  not  to  be  avoided,  while  others  were  malingering,  without  a  doubt.  But 
how  to  find  a  remedy  for  the  evil  was  another  question. 


OUR  Por.rcK  protectors. 


The  number  of  arrests  tor  otfences  in  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Hrooklyn 
from  the  year  i860  to  1866,  both  inchisive,  were 

1860   81,143 

1861   87,582 

1862   101,469 

•J:'63   77,212 

1864     69,57 1 

'865   88,355 

1866   97,587 

Aggregate  in  seven  years  603,019 

The  average  number  for  the  seven  years  was  eighty-six  tliousand  one  liun- 
dred  and  forty-five.  The  increase  of  offences  which  subject  persons  to  arrest 
may  be  attributed  in  ])art  to  tlie  increase  of  tlie  population  of  the  two  cities, 
which  was  \  ery  great  during  the  period  imdcr  consideration;  and  in  no  small  de- 
gree to  the  demoralizing  effect  of  a  state  of  war,  and  the  disbanding  of  the  im- 
mense armies.  It  might  reasonably  have  been  exj)ected  that  the  influences  above 
alluded  to  would  have  exliibited  themselves  in  an  increase  in  the  number  of 
offences  of  high  grade,  such  as  are  accompanied  by  violence  to  the  i)ers()n.  In 
examining  the  records  of  arrests  for  the  seven  years  —  assault  with  intent  to  kill, 
felonious  assaults,  murder,  threatening  life,  rape,  attempt  at  rajje,  maiming,  hcjmi- 
cide,  robbery  in  the  first  degree,  highway  robbery,  burglary,  and  attempts  at 
burglary  —  it  appears  that  the  number  of  arrests  for  offences  enumerated  have 
been 

1860   1,541 

1861   1,663 

1862   1,310 

1863   1,467 

1864   1,372 

1865   2,062 

1866   1,917 

Total  in  seven  years  ",332 

It  thus  appears  that  while  the  incr^iase  in  the  total  number  of  arxests  for  seven 
years  was  twenty  per  cent.,  the  increase  during  the  same  period  in  arrests  for  the 
offences  of  high  grade  was  thirty  per  cent. 

It  was  felt  to  be  worthy  of  consideration,  especially  to  the  population  of 
rural  districts,  how  far  the  efforts  of  the  Police  of  the  cities  to  protect  the  peo- 
ple against  the  criminal  classes  tended  to  drive  the  persons  composing  those 
classes  to  new  and  more  secure  fields  of  criminal  enterprise  in  the  country  adja- 
cent to  the  cities.  That  such  was  the  tendency  in  some  degree,  there  was  no 
question,  and  it  here  became  a  matter  of  common  remark  that  life  and  prop- 
erty were  more  safe  in  cities  under  the  guardianship  of  the  Police  than  in  the 
adjacent  rural  districts. 

This  was  a  growing  opinion,  and  as  a  result  of  it  the  towns  of  Yonkers  and 
West  Farms,  in  Westchester  County,  proceeding  under  the  Police  Act,  Chapter 
403  of  the  Laws  of  1864,  had,  by  a  vote  of  town  meetings,  respectively  author- 
ized a  permanent  Police,  and  made  the  required  fiscal  arrangements  therefor. 


220 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Yonkers  authorized  a  force  of  fourteen,  and  West  Farms  a  force  of  six  men-.  In 
each  town  a  portion  of  the  Police  did  duty  as  horse  patrol,  which  greatly  in- 
creased their  efficiency. 

The  legislature,  at  its  previous  session,  passed  two  Acts  designated  as  Chap- 
ters 84  and  590  of  the  Laws  of  1866.  These  Acts  authorized  the  appointment, 
by  the  Board  of  Metropolitan  Police,  of  a  Captain,  two  Sergeants  and  twenty- 
five  Patrolmen  for  the  county  of  Richmond,  and  authorized  and  required  the 
Supervisors  of  that  county  to  make  the  needful  fiscal  provision  for  their  main- 
tenance. 

In  pursuance  of  these  proceedings  in  Yonkers  and  West  Farms,  and  of  the 
acts  concerning  Richmond  County,  the  Board  of  Police  appointed  and  organ- 
ized the  Police  called  for  by  proceedings  and  statutes  al)ove  referred  to. 


Drilling  a  Squad  of  Policemen. 


The  force  in  West  Farms  entered  upon  their  duties  on  the  thirteenth  day  of 
January  of  this  year;  in  Richmond  County  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  June;  and 
in  Yonkers  on  the  tenth  day  of  August  following. 

The  town  of  West  Farms  constituted  a  sub-station  of  the  Thirty-second 
Precinct,  with  a  Sergeant  in  command.  The  station  house  at  Tremont,  Rich- 
mond County,  was  constituted  a  precinct  designated  as  the  Fifty-first  Precinct. 
The  station  house  was  at  the  village  of  Stapleton.  The  town  of  Yonkers 
was  constituted  a  sub-station  of  the  Thirty-second  Precinct,  designated  as 
Yonkers  sub-station,  with  a  station  house  at  the  village  of  Yonkers.  The 
Tremont  and  Yonkers  sub-stations  were  under  the  command  of  the  Captain  of 
the  Thirty-second  Precinct. 


1 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


221 


Thus,  during  the  year,  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Board  of  Metropolitan 
Police  was  potentially  extended  over  the  rural  districts  above  named. 

■These  proceedings,  as  is  usual  and  natural  in  the  beginning,  met  with  con- 
siderable opposition  from  a  portion  of  the  population. 

Other  towns  in  the  vicinity  of  the  metropolis  were  so  infested  with  bad 
characters,  and  so  dcprodated  upon  by  robberies  and  thieving,  that  they  began 
to  consider  how  to  defend  themselves  and  re-establish  the  (juiet  and  safety 
which  they  had  been  accustomed  to  enjoy  in  former  years. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  April,  1866,  the  legislature  passed  "an  Act  to  regu- 
late the  sale  of  intoxicating  liciuors  within  the  Metropolitan  Police  District," 
being  Chapter  578  of  the  Laws  of  that  session.  This  Act,  in  effect,  constituted 
'*  the  Metropolitan  Police  District,  excepting  and  excluding  the  county  of  West- 
chester," into  an  excise  district,  and  ])rovided  that  the  Commissioners  of  the 
Board  of  Health  be  a  Board  of  Excise  for  such  district.  By  the  law  creating 
a  Metropolitan  Sanitary  District  and  a  Board  of  Health  therein,  the  Commis- 
sioners of  Metropolitan  Police  were  made  members  of  the  Board  of  Health, 
and  were  therefore  members  of  the  Board  of  Excise  above  referred  to. 

The  Board  of  Excise,  constituted  in  the  manner  above  mentioned,  organ- 
ized in  pursuance  of  the  Act  on  the  first  day  of  May,  and  immediately  entered 
upon  their  duties.  The  duty  of  investigating  the  character  and  antecedents  of 
the  applicants  for  licenses  necessarily  devolved  upon  the  Commissioners  of 
Metropolitan  Police. 

At  the  date  of  entering  upon  their  duties  there  were,  in  the  cities  of  New 
York  and  Brooklyn,  over  nine  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  places  where 
intoxicating  licpiors  were  publicly  sold.  Of  this  vast  number,  but  seven  hun- 
dred and  fifty-four  pretended  to  have  licenses,  leaving  about  eight  thousand 
five  hundred  open  and  admitted  violators  of  the  law.  The  statutes  of  the 
State,  as  they  had  existed  for  many  years,  prohibited  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
liquors  on  the  Sabbath. 

Prior  to  the  enactment  of  this  law  there  had  existed  for  a  number  of 
years  u  Board  of  Excise,  charged  with  the  power  and  duty  of  granting  excise 
licenses. 

Under  the  auspices  of  that  Board,  in  i860,  the  revenue  contributed  to  the 
treasury  of  Nesv  York  City  by  license  fees  amounted  to  fifty-four  thousand 
five  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars,  which  was  about  equal  to  the  proceeds 
of  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  nineteen  licenses  at  thirty  dollars  each,  which 
was  the  maximum  rate  ;  while  in  1864,  the  revenues  had  dwindled  down  to 
twelve  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  equal  to  the  proceeds  of  four 
hundred  and  fifteen  licenses,  at  the  same  rate"  Whot  v,as  the  actual  number 
issued  and  rates  charged  in  these  years  is  not  known  to  the  Police  Department. 

The  total  number  of  licenses  issued  and  delivered  under  the  new  law  was 
five  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-seven.  Of  this  number,  three  thousand  five 
hundred  and  ninety-six  were  of  the  first  class,  paying  two  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars each;  two  thousand  and  ninety-eight  were  of  the  second  class,  paying  one 
hundred  dollars  each. 

The  total  amount  of  revenue  arising  from  license  fees  was  one  million  one 


222 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


hundred  and  eight  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-four  dollars  and  ninety- 
eight  cents,  and  was  contributed  as  follows: 

County  of  New  York  $846,275.98 

County  of  Kings   246,  ijo.oo 

County  of  Queens   11,850.00 

The  old  City  Armory  or  Arsenal  is  situated  at  the  junction  of  Elm  and 
White  Streets,  extending  eighty-four  feet  on  Elm  Street,  and  thirty-one  feet  on 
White  Street.  The  style  of  the  architecture  is  a  kind  of  Gothic,  with  castellated 
towers. 

The  population  of  the  city  had  greatly  increased  during  the  past  five  years, 
and  its  trade  and  wealth  had  increased  in  greater  ratio  than  the  population.  The 
tendency  of  vicious  classes  to  resort  to  the  metropolis,  not  only  from  our  own  but 


Arsenal,  Elm  Street. 

from  other  countries,  the  increase  of  crimes  of  grave  character,  with  other  con- 
sideration?, indicated  the  propriety  of  a  moderate  increase  of  the  force  in  the  city 
of  New  York. 

Brooklyn,  in  this  year  (1866)  had  but  three  hundred  and  seven  Patrolmen, 
which  was  less  than  one  to  one  thousand  two  hundred  of  population;  its  territory 
rccpiiring  Police  surveilance  was  equal  to  New  York.  This  great  extent  of  terri- 
tory was  divided  into  ten  precincts,  each  of  large  extent.  The  extremes  of  the 
precinct  were  so  remote  from  the  respective  station  houses  as  to  consume  a  large 
j)ortion  of  the  time  of  the  Patrolmen  in  going  to  and  returning  from  their  tours  of 
duty.  The  law,  the  Commissioners  contended,  should  be  amended  so  as  to 
allow  the  division  of  the  territory  of  Brooklyn  into  a  larger  number  of  precincts^ 


oirR  rorjcE  rRorr.cTORs. 


223 


and  that  the  welfare  of  the  city  demanded  a  considerable  increase  in  the  numl)er 
of  Patrolmen. 

J,  The  location  of  station  houses  in  New  York  City  was  : 

1.  — 54  New  Street. 

2.  — 49  Beekman  Street. 

3.  — 160  Chambers  Street. 

4.  — 9  Oak  Street. 

5.  — 49  Leonard  Street. 

6.  — 9  Franklin  Street. 

7.  — 247  Madison  Street. 

8.  — 126  AVooster  Street. 

9.  -94  Charles  Street. 
10. — Kssex  Market. 
It. — Union  Market. 

12.  — One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Street,  near  Third  Avenue, 

13.  — Attorney  Street,  corner  of  Delancey. 
14—53  Spring  Street. 

15.  — 221  Mercer  Street. 

16.  — 1 56  West  Twentieth  Street. 

17.  — 75  First  Avenue,  corner  Fifth  Street. 

18.  — 163  East  Twenty-second  Street. 

19.  — 118  P^ifty-ninth  Street,  between  Second  and  'I'hird  .\venues. 

20.  — 352  West  Thirty-fifth  Street. 

21.  — 120  East  Thirty-fifth  Street. 

22.  — 545  and  547  West  Forty-seventli  Street,  between  Eighth  and  Nintli 
Avenues. 

23.  — East  Eighty-sixth  Street,  corner  Fourth  .\  venue. 

24.  — Police  Steamboat,  No.  i. 

25.  — 300  Mulberry  Street. 

26.  — City  Hall. 

27.  — 99  Liberty  Street. 

28.  — 550  Greenwich  Street. 

29.  — 34  East  Twenty-ninth  Street. 

30.  — !Manhattanville,  corner  of  Bloomingdale  Road  and  Lawrence  Street. 

31.  — Broadway,  near  West  Eighty-sixth  Street  (Bloomingdale). 

32.  — One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Street,  corner  Tenth  Avenue  (Carmans- 
ville). 

32.  — (Sub.)  Tremont. 

33.  — Central  Park  Arsenal. 

The  laws  creating  the  Board  of  Health,  the  Board  of  Ey.cise,  the  registry 
and  election  law,  and  the  law  for  licensing  boats,  had  greatly  increased  the 
labors,  duties  and  responsibilities  of  the  Police  force,  and  especially  of  the  officers 
of  the  force.  These  new  and  additional  duties  had  been  performed  without 
neglecting  any  of  the  customary  duties  of  Police. 

As  early  as  the  fifteenth  of  June,  1866,  the  work  was  begun  of  selecting  two 
thousand  one  hundred  persons,  who  would  be  recognized  by  all  good  citizens  as 


224 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


proper  men  in  all  respects  to  discharge  the  responsible  duties  of  inspectors  of 
registry  and  election,  canvassers  and  poll  clerks  ;  the  Board  taking  care  to 
divide  the  selections  equally  between  the  two  political  parties.  Not  a  few  pro- 
minent citizens  who  <vere  duly  notified  of  their  selection,  resjjonded  in  terms  like 
the  following  : 

"  I  have  neither  time  nor  inclination  for  anything  l)Ut  attention  to  my  own 
business." 

Many  gentlemen  whom  the  Board  would  have  taken  pleasure  in  appointing, 
excused  themselves,  and  thus  the  labor  of  making  selections  correspondingly 
increased. 

The  amount  obtained  by  requisition  on  the  Comptroller  for  expenses  of 
registry  and  elections  was  as  follows  : 

For  the  general  election  and  registry  prior  thereto  $52,169  00 

For  the  charter  election  and  registry  prior  thereto   39,807  00 


Of  this  sum  nearly  seventy  thousand  dollars  was  required  to  pay  the 
inspectors,  canvassers,  poll  clerks  and  lessors  of  polling  places,  the  com- 
pensation being  fixed  by  ordinance.  In  the  remaining  expenditures  a  saving  of 
nearly  nine  thousand  dollars  was  effected,  as  shown  by  comparison  with  the 
report  of  the  Department  of  Finance  for  1865. 


Total 


$92,016  00 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


225 


CHAPTER  XT. 


AN  ERA  OF  ORGANIZATION  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 


lS66-ISrO. 


New  Station  Houses  Erected  and  old  ones  Renovated. — Improvement  in 
THE  Discipline  and  Efficiency  of  the  Force. — Establishment  of  a  Cen- 
tral Police  Office  in  New  York. — Death  of  John  G.  Bergen. — Appoint- 
ment OF  a  Metropolitan  Fire  Marshal  and  Assistant. — House  of  Deten- 
tion for  Witnesses. — Table  of  Arrests  for  a  Series  of  Years. — Time 
Lost  by  Sickness. — Re-organization  of  the  Board  of  Metropolitan 
Police. — Resignation  of  Commissioner  Acton. — Average  Length  of 
Posts. — Amounts  Paid  for  Sick  Time. — Value  of  1>ost  or  Stolen  Prop- 
erty Recovered. — The  Sanitary  Company. — Lost  Children. — Buildings 
FOUND  Open  and  Secured. — Tables  of  Arrests. — Salaries. — I-ocation  of 
Station  Houses. — An  Era  of  Organization  and  Devfi.opment. — "The 
Tweed  Charter." — Death  of  Superintendent  Jourdan. 

''r*HE  discipline  and  efficiency  of  the  force  had  of  recent  years  been  fully 


maintained,  and  there  was  an  obvious  improvement  in  the  character  of  the 
men  who  presented  themselves  as  applicants  for  appointment. 

An  appropriation  was  made  in  the  tax  levy  of  the  sum  of  ten  thousand 
dollars,  to  rebuild  in  part  and  repair  the  station  house  and  prison  of  the 
Sixth  Precinct,  which  had  become  unsafe,  dilapidated  and  unhealthy.  The 
work  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  about  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  There  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  Comptroller  the  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  applicable  to 
the  purchase  of  premises  for  a  station  house  for  the  Tenth  Precinct,  but  this 
sum  had  proved  insufficient,  an  additional  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars being  required  to  accomplish  the  desired  object.  The  apartment  occu- 
pied by  the  force  in  this  precinct  was  over  the  Essex  Market,  and  was  unsuit- 
able in  every  respect.  The  premises  devoted  to  the  force  of  the  Eleventh 
Precinct  were  over  the  Union  Market,  and,  like  those  of  the  Tenth,  were  unsuit- 
able. No  funds  were  appropriated  for  the  building  of  new  quarters  in  this  pre- 
cinct. Provision  was  made  in  the  tax  levy  of  1866  and  former  years,  to  the 
amount  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars,  to  procure  a  permanent  station  house  for 
the  Twenty-first  Precinct.  In  the  tax  levy  of  1865  there  was  an  appropriation 
of  forty  thousand  dollars  to  build  a  station  house  and  prison  for  the  Twenty-ninth 
Precinct.  The  place  at  first  designed  for  this  station  house  was  in  a  triangular 
plot  of  unoccupied  public  ground,  bounded  by  the  lines  of  Sixth  Avenue,  Broad- 
way, and  Forty-second  Street.    The  site  named  met  with  great  opposition  from  the 


226  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

owners  of  property  on  the  adjoining  streets.  The  lease  of  the  j)remises  occupfed 
by  the  Thirtieth  Precinct  having  expired,  the  lease  of  the  building  at  the  corner 
of  Bloomingdale  Road  and  Lawrence  Street  was  secured  for  a  term  of  five  years, 
at  a  rental  of  eight  hundred  dollars  for  the  first  year,  and  seven  hundred  dollars 
per  year  for  the  residue  of  the  term.    The  house  was  fitted  up  and  a  prison  built. 

During  the  year  1867  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  twelve  candidates  for 
api)ointment  on  the  force  presented  themselves  for  medical  examination;  of  which 
number  five  hundred  and  three  were  accepted  as  being  sound  of  body  and  limb, 
and  possessing  robust  constitutions;  and  of  which  six  hundred  and  nine  were 
rejected. 

The  whole  number  of  days  lost  by  members  of  the  force  through  sickness 
and  injuries  amounted  to  twenty-five  thousand  and  twenty-seven  days,  this  being 
five  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty  days  less  than  the  ])revious  year. 

The  whole  number  of  cases  of  sickness  during  the  year  amounted  to  two 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  seventy-one,  which  made  the  average  time  lost  by  each 
sick  man  about  eight  days  and  a  halt. 

Twenty-four  members  of  the  force  died  during  the  year.  It  is  not  a  little 
remarkable  that  this  is  the  precise  number  of  deaths  each  year  for  three  years  in 
succession.  This  number  makes  one  death  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-three 
cases  of  sickness.  The  death  ratio  for  the  year  was  less  than  ten  in  a  thousand, 
less  than  one  per  cent. — the  precise  rate  being  '9797.  When  the  nature  of  the 
duties,  and  the  necessary  exposure  consequent  thereupon  are  taken  into  con- 
sideration, this  low  death  rate  is  remarkable,  and  vindicates  the  rigid  method 
pursued  in  the  physical  examination  of  candidates  for  appointment. 

The  Act  of  April  25,  1867  (Chapter  806)  established  a  central  office  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  to  be  known  as  "  the  Central  Department  of  the  Metropolitan 
Police,"  and  in  Brooklyn  to  be  known  as  "the  office  of  Inspector  of  Metropolitan 
Police."  The  Board  of  Police  were  likewise  authorized  to  apply  any  surplus 
moneys  which  might  remain  from  the  funds  contributed  by  the  county  of  New 
York,  to  the  Metropolitan  Police  Fund,  towards  procuring  such  Central  Depart- 
ment of  Metropolitan  Police  in  the  city  of  New'  York,  the  same  course  being 
adopted  as  regards  Brooklyn. 

The  ([uota  of  Policemen  for  the  County  of  New  York  was  placed  at  one 
thousand  eight  hundred,  and  such  additional  number  as  the  Board  of  Police,  from 
time  to  time,  should  determine,  noc,  however,  to  exceed  in  the  aggregate  two 
thousand  men,  such  increase  to  be  made  by  unanimous  vote  of  the  Board.  The 
Board  might  procure  and  use  and  employ  such  rowboats  and  steamboats  as 
should  be  deemed  necessary  and  proper.  In  rural  districts  they  might  employ 
horses  and  equipments.  The  Board  had  official  supervision  over  theatres  and 
other  places  of  amusement,  keepers  of  boarding  houses,  pawnbrokers,  junk  deal- 
ers, venders,  hawkers  and  peddlers,  keepers  of  intelligence  offices,  auctioneers, 
hackney  coaches,  cabs,  public  porters,  etc.  All  license  fees,  all  fines  imposed  as 
above,  were  paid  into  the  sinking  fund  of  the  city  of  New  York.  The  Board 
was  authorized  to  spend  not  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  out  of  ex- 
cise moneys  received  during  the  year  1866,  for  rebuilding  and  repairing  station 
houses. 


OUR  Poi.icF.  PRorrx-roRs. 


227 


The  Board  of  Police  was  required  to  keep  a  book  of  record,  wherein  were 
registered  the  name,  number  and  description  of  all  boats  and  vessels  for  which 
licenses  were  issued.  The  license  fee  to  attend  ship[)ing  and  carr)-ing  passengers 
was  ten  dollars,  and  for  gathering  junk  ten  dolhsrs.  In  lieu  of  any  fee  hitherto 
paid  to  the  municipal  authorities,  for  any  business  not  specified  in  the  Act,  a 
license  fee  of  three  dollars  was  imposed.  The  fee  for  boats  t;)  hire,  oyster  and  fish- 
ing boats,  ])leasure  boats  or  yachts,  was  one  dollar  cadi.  The  penalty  for  failing 
to  comply  with  these  regulations  was,  on  conviction,  one  hundred  dollars,  or  six 
months  imprisonment,  or  both. 

John  G.  Bkrgen,  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  Metropolitan  Police,  died 
on  the  eighteenth  of  July,  1867.  His  death  was  a  serious  loss  to  his  associates 
and  to  the  jjublic  service.  The  sentiments  of  liis  associates,  in  relation  to  his 
excellent  <  haracter,  and  his  worth  as  a 
public  officer  and  citizen,  are  expressed 
in  tlie  proceedings  of  the  Board,  on  tlie 
twentieth  of  Jul)',  1867,  on  whicii  occa- 
sion, on  tile  report  of  Commissioner 
Boswortii,  a  preanil)lc  and  resolution 
were  inianimously  adopted,  as  follows  ; 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Divine  Provi- 
dence to  remove  from  the  scenes  of 
this  world,  on  the  eighteenth  of  July, 
1867,  the  Hon.  John  G.  Bergen,  who 
held,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the  office 
of  Police  Commissioner  of  the  Metro- 
politan Police  District  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  as  the  surviving  mem- 
bers of  the  Police  Board,  his  intimate 
official  associates,  desire  to  express  their 
views  of  his  virtues  as  a  man,  a  citizen 
and  public  officer,  as  well  as  their  grief 
for  his  loss  ;  therefore  they  make  the 
following  brief  record,  and  adopt  the 
following  resolutions  : 

The  deceased  was  born  on  the  fourth  of  December,  18 14,  and  has  passed 
his  life  and  died  near  the  place  of  his  birth.  His  parents  were  emintntlv  worthy 
and  respectable,  and  tlieir  virtues  have  been  honored  by  the  creditable  and 
useful  life  of  the  deceased. 

The  deceased  was  an  honest  man,  of  sound  judgment  and  jjractical,  dis- 
criminating intelligence.  He  took  an  earnest  interest  in  an  uj^right,  economical 
and  efficient  management  of  public  affairs.  He  kept  these  objects  steadily  in 
view  in  ])erforming  the  duties  of  the  various  offices  which  he  has  been  selected 
to  fill,  whether  acting  as  Sui)ervisor  in  his  native  county,  or  as  one  of  its  repre- 
sentatives in  the  legislature  of  this  State,  or  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion of  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  or  as  a  member  of  the  Police  Board,  or  of  the 
Board  of  Health,  or  of  the  Excise  Board  of  this  district,  his  efforts  were  alike 
directed  to  just  results,  and  to  efficiency  and  economy  in  producing  them. 

For  a  little  more  than  the  last  seven  years  of  his  life,  he  was  a  Police 
Commissioner  ;  and  during  all  that  period  was  treasurer  of  the  Police  Board, 
except  two  years,  when  that  office  was  worthily  filled  by  the  Hon.  Wm. 
McMurray.    Whatever   his  confidence  in  the  able  assistants  who  kept  the 


Metropolitan  Police  Shield. 


228 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Treasurer's  books,  he  always  had  a  vigilant  oversight  of  the  details  of  that  office, 
and  saw  that  everything  was  accurate. 

The  deceased  was  one  of  the  three  Commissioners  by  whom  the  building 
known  as  the  "Central  Department  of  Metropolitan  Police"  was  designed, 
erected  and  completed.  Its  adaptation  to  the  wants  of  the  department,  its 
materials  and  workmanship,  and  its  moderate  cost  to  the  public,  render  it  a 
continuing  proof  of  the  value  of  the  public  services  of  the  deceased,  and  of 
those  then  officially  associated  with  him. 

As  a  Police  Commissioner  the  deceased  endeavored  to  continually  elevate 
and  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  Police  force.  In  appointing  members  of  the 
force  to  office,  it  was  his  aim  to  reward  merit,  and  to  make  this  fact  so  apparent 
that  it  should  operate  at  all  times  as  an  incentive  to  duty,  upon  all  the  members 
of  the  force. 

In  determining  the  punishment  to  be  inflicted  on  Policemen  who  had  violated 
the  rules  of  the  department,  or  had  failed  in  some  duty,  he  did  not  forget  that 
they  were  men,  and  whenever  satisfied  that  the  error  was  an  unintentional 
failure,  he  was  lenient. 

In  his  personal  and  official  intercourse  with  the  other  members  of  the  Board 
he  was  frank  and  free,  but  courteous  in  expressing  his  opinions.  He  gave  to 
opposing  views  the  consideration  to  which  he  thought  them  entitled.  When, 
upon  fuir  reflection,  and  in  light  of  all  the  information  brought  to  bear  upon  any 
subject,  he  had  formed  clear  convictions  of  what  was  right,  he  adhered  to  his 
convictions  with  unyielding  tenacity.  *  *  ^ 

His  relations  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  man  were,  in  all  respect;  highlv  creditable, 
and  he  <.njoyed  and  deserved  the  confidence  of  all  classes  an.'  interests  in  the 
community. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Hon.  John  G.  Bcrgsr.,  this  Board,  the  Police 
Department,  and  the  public,  have  lo£t  a  valuable  and  efficient  pubHc  officer,  and 
the  experience  and  tried  abilities  of  a  capable  and  honest  man. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  various  public  offices  which  he  has  held,  as  well  as  in 
those  he  filled  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  has  displayed  uniformly  a  high  sense 
of  justice  and  regard  for  what  was  right,  and  a  concientiousness  and  practical 
discretion  in  the  performance  of  duty,  well  worthy  of  imitation,  which  endeared 
him  to  those  who  knew  him  most  intimately,  and  which  will  command  the  respect 
and  homage  of  all  who  shall  hereafter  become  familiar  with  his  useful  though 
unostentatious  career. 

Resolved,  That  the  surviving  members  of  this  Board  sympathize  with  the 
widow,  children  and  relatives  of  the  deceased  in  their  great  bereavement,  and  with 
them,  appreciate  the  many  virtues  of  the  deceased  which  have  contributed 
largely  to  the  happiness  of  the  family  circle,  and  the  memory  of  which  will 
soften  the  anguish  of  mourning  hearts. 

Resolved,  That  this  record  and  these  resolutions  be  entered  at  length  on  the 
minutes  of  the  Board,  and  that  an  engrossed  copy,  signed  by  the  surviving  mem- 
bers, be  transmitted  by  the  President  of  the  Board,  to  the  widow  and  family  of' 
the  deceased. 

The  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  John  G.  Bergen  was  filled  by  the 
legislature,  February  12,  1868,  by  the  election  of  Matthew  T.  Brennan.  The 
Board  then  consisted  of  the  following  members  : 

Thomas  C.  Acton,  Josei)h  S.  Bosworth,  Benjamin  F.  Manierre,  and  Matthew 
T.  Brennan. 

The  Act  of  May  4,  1868,  empowered  the  Board  of  Police  to  appoint  a 
Metropolitan  Fire  Marshal  and  Assistant,  to  inquire  into  the  causes  of  fire,  to 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  229 

take  testimony  in  such  cases,  and  to  report  the  same  to  the  Board  of  Police. 
The  Marshal  or  his  Deputy  could  arrest  persons  in  cases  of  suspected  arson, 
and  compel  witnesses  to  a])pear.  It  was  a  part  of  the  duty  of  the  Marshal  to 
enter  and  examine  buildings. 

Table  showing  the  number  of  persons  detained  in  the  House  of  Detention 
for  Witnesses,  for  a  series  of  years  : 

Years.  No.  Persons.  No.  Day>. 

1863  269  4,035 

1864  282  4.230 

1865  229  3.435 

1866  410  6,150 

1867  262  4, '39 

1868  264  3,852 

Total,  1,716  25,841 

Equal  to  seventy  years,  nine  months,  and  twenty-one  days. 

Table  of  Arrests  for  a  series  of  years  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn  : 

Year.  Total             '  Average 

both.  Patrolmen,  per  ofticer. 

New  York   i860  65809    14 14 

Brooklyn   i860  ^5334         81 143  198  50 

New  York   1861  7' 130    1806 

Brookl  yn   1861  16552         87682  199  44 

New  York   1862  82072    1783 

Brooklyn   1862  '9397  101469  213  51 

New  York   1863  61888    i7i"i 

Brooklyn   1863  15324         77212  207  40 

New  York   1864  5475'    1805 

Brooklyn   1864  14820         69571  227  34 

New  York   1865  68873    1806 

Brooklyn   1865  19482  88355  3^3  42 

New  York   1866  75630    1789 

Brooklyn   1866  21957  97587  309  40 

New  York   1867  80532    1848 

Brooklyn   1867  21078    336 

New  York   1868  78451    1921 

Brooklyn   1868  18700    368 

The  total  number  of  arrests  for  nine  years,  from  i860  to  1868,  both  inclu- 
sive, is  eight  hundred  and  five  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-nine,  being  an 
average  per  year  of  eighty-nine  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty-one. 

This  year,  1868,  the  station  house  and  prison  accommodations  for  the  use  of 
the  force  were  considerably  improved.  In  the  Tenth  Precinct,  the  new  station 
house  and  prison,  Nos.  87  and  89  Eldridge  Street,  were  completed  and  occupied. 

In  the  Eighth,  Twenty-first  and  Thirty-second  Precincts,  the  buildings  were 
completed  and  occupied.  The  station  house  in  the  Fifth  Precinct,  Nos.  19  and 
2 1  Leonard  Street,  was  in  course  of  construction.  A  contract  had  been  made  to 
enlarge  and  repair  the  station  house  and  prison  of  the  Third  Precinct.  The 
Seventh  Precinct  had  been  renovated  and  made  comfortable  and  commodious. 
The  Twentieth  Pr  jcinct  Station  House  had  contracted  for  the  erection  of  a  prison 
and  lodgers'  rooms  in  a  separate  building  in  the  rear  of  the  station  house.  A 


23° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


plot  of  ground  50x100  feet  had  been  purchased  on  the  south  side  of  One  Hun- 
dredth Street,  between  Ninth  and  Tenth  Avenues,  for  a  station  house  and  prison 
for  the  Thirty-first  Precinct.  The  Nineteenth  Precinct  had  undergone  extensive 
and  thorough  repairs  and  improvements.  The  First  Precinct  Station  House 
consisted  of  two  warehouses  situated  on  New  Street.  The  premises  were  leased  in 
1865,  on  a  ten  years'  lease,  at  a  rental  of  three  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

The  total  time  lost  by  sickness  in  the  whole  force  for  the  year  1868,  was 
twenty-six  thousand  six  lumdred  and  sixty-one  days,  of  which  fifteen  thousand 


Inspector  Speight. 


four  hundred  and  ninety-eight  were  paid,  and  eleven  thousand  one  hundred  and 
sixty-three  unpaid,  being  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty-four  days  more 
than  for  the  preceding  year.  The  amount  paid  for  lost  sick  time  was  fifty- 
one  thousand  and  seventy-six  dollars  and  thirty-five  cents.  The  time  lost  by 
sickness  during  the  year  was  equivalent  to  the  loss  of  one  year's  time  for  seventy- 
three  men.  The  number  of  deaths  was  thirty-three,  in  a  force  numbering  two 
thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-eight,  which  is  inclusive  of  Brooklyn,  Richmond 
County  and  Westchester  County. 

The  aggregate  force  of  the  Metropolitan  Police,  lor  the  year  ending  Novem- 
ber I,  1868,  was  two  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine,  inclusive  of  thirty-four 


OlIR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


231 


Captains,  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  Sergeants,  and  seventy-three  Doornicn. 
Thtttie  were  apportioned  among  thirty-two  precincts,  Court,  Sanitary  and  Detec- 
tive Squads,  Special  Detailed,  and  House  of  Detention. 

Uy  Act  of  the  legislature,  April  27,  1869,  the  term  of  eacli  Cjjmmissioner  of 
J  the  Metropolitan  Police  was  made  to  consist  of  eight  years. 

By  Act  of  May  12,  1869,  the  Police  Commissioners  of  the  Metrtjpolilan  Dis- 
trict were  entitled  to  receive  a  salary  of  three  thousand  dollars  in  addition  to 
their  regular  salary. 

The  Board  of  Metropolitan  Police  was  re-organized  in  1S69.  .Mr.  Tliomas 
C.  Acton,  after  nine  years  of  honorable  service,  resigned,  and  on  the  same  day, 
April  29th,  Mr.  Henry  Smith  was  duly  elected  in  his  place.  At  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Commissioners,  held  on  tiie  ninetecntli  day  of  May,  1869,  Joseph  S. 
Bosworth  was  selected  to  act  as  President  of  the  Board.  Commissioner  Brennan 
tendered  his  resignation  as  Treasurer,  whii:ii  was  accepted,  to  take  effect  on  the 
fiftli  day  of  June  following;  whereupon  Henry  Smith  was  selected  to  be  Treas- 
urer of  Police,  on  and  after  the  date  of  Mr.  Brennan's  resignation. 

During  this  year  (1869)  the  Third  Precinct  Station  House  was  put  in  thorough 
repair  and  enlarged;  the  Fiftii  Precinct  was  completed;  a  prison  and  lodging 
rooms  had  been  added  to  the  premises  of  tiie  Twentieth  Precinct  Station  House  ; 
new  first-class  buildings  were  erected  for  station  houses  and  prisons  for  the 
Twenty-ninth  Precinct  (Nos.  137  and  139  West  Thirtieth  Street)  and  for  the 
Thirty-first  Precinct  (West  One  Hundredth  Street,  between  Ninth  and  Tenth 
Avenues).  The  new  station  houses  of  the  Fifth,  Twenty-ninth,  and  Thirty-first 
Precincts,  in  dimensions  and  arrangenrent.s,  were  a  decided  improvement  upon 
those  hitherto  built.  They  were  designed  to  meet  the  future  as  well  as  the  pres- 
ent wants  of  the  precincts,  and  were  planned  with  a  view  to  afford  to  the  Police 
force  comfortable  quarters,  special  regard  having  been  paid  to  sanitary  conditions. 
In  the  Eleventh,  Fourteenth,  Twenty-third,  and  Twenty-eighth  Precincts,  the  sta- 
tion house  accommodations  remained  in  the  same  condition  as  previously,  not- 
withstanding tiie  fact  that  better  accommodations  were  much  needed  in  those 
precincts.  Objection  was  made  to  the  rooms  occupied  as  a  station  house  by  the 
force  of  the  Eleventh  Precinct,  that  they  were  situated  over  a  public  market. 
The  station  hoiisc'of  the  Fmirteenth  was  old  and  dilapidated  and-<iuite  too-small; 
the  Twenty-third  and  Twenty-eighth  were  on  leased  premises.  The  lease  of  the 
former  expired  on  the  first  of  May,  1870,  and  the  latter  on  the  first  of  May,  1871. 
None  of  these  station  houses  furnished  sufficient  or  appropriate  accommodations. 
They  were  poorly  ventilated,  imperfectly  drained,  badly  arranged,  and  insuffi- 
cient for  the  business  of  the  precincts.  In  the  following  precincts,  the  property 
occupied  as  station  houses  and  prisons  l)elonged  to  the  city:  The  Second,  Third, 
Fourth,  Fifth,  Si.xth,  Seventh,  Eighth,  Ninth,  Tenth,  Eleventh,  Twelfth,  Thir- 
teenth, Fourteenth,  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  Seventeenth,  Eighteenth,  Nineteenth, 
Twentieth,  Twenty-first,  Twenty-second,  Twenty-sixth,  Twenty-seventh,  Twenty- 
ninth,  Thirty-first  and  Thirty-second.  In  the  following  jjrecincts,  the  station 
houses  were  leased:  First,  Twenty-third,  Twenty-lifth,  Twenty-eighth,  and 
Thirtieth. 

The  Patrolmen  numbered  (in  New  York)  two  thousand,  or  one  Patrolman 


232 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


to  five  hundred  inhabitants;  while  in  Brooklyn  the  number  of  Patrolmen  was 
three  hundred  and  sixty-eight,  or  about  one  Patrolman  to  one  thousand 
inhabitants. 

The  length  (5f  open  streets  and  piers  in  New  York  demanding  patrol  service 
was  over  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and  in  Brooklyn  at  least  three  hundred 
and  fifty  miles.  In  New  York,  the  average  length  of  night  posts  was  sixty-three  one- 
hundredths  of  a  mile,  and  day  tours  over  a  mile  and  a  quarter;  while  in  Brooklyn 
the  average  length  of  night  posts  was  two  and  fifty-four  one-hundredth  miles,  and 
day  posts  five  and  eight  one-hundredth  miles.  In  each  city  there  were  posts  of  even 
greater  length.    Owing  to  necessary  concentration  of  the  force  in  the  more 


densely  populated  districts  of  both  cities,  where  a  turbulent  population  abounded, 
a  portion  of  the  night  posts  were  of  such  extent  that  the  Policeman's  call  could 
not  be  heard  from  the  centre  to  the  extremes  of  the  posts;  while  in  Brooklyn 
the  Patrolmen  were  so  far  apart  that  they  were  not  within  supporting  distance  of 
each  other. 

It  appears,  by  the  report  of  the  Board  of  Surgeons,  that  the  amount  of  time 
lost  by  sickness  and  injuries  in  the  whole  force  for  the  year  was  twenty-two 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-four  days.  Payment  of  salary  was  allowed 
for  thirteen  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixteen  and  three-quarter  days;  payment 
of  salary  was  disallowed  for  nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty-seven  and  one- 
quarter  days,  e<iual  to  twenty-two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-four  days. 
Though  the  number  of  the  Police  force  was  greater  than  in  the  preceding  year, 


President  of  the  Board  of  Surgeons,  Metropolitan  Police. 


OUR  rOLICF.  PROTECTORS. 


233 


the  amount  of  time  lost  by  sickness  was  considerably  less.  In  1868,  the  sick 
time  was  ^'77  i)er  cent,  of  the  wliole  time.  In  1869,  it  was  2 "3  per  cent,  of  the 
whoTetime.  In  1868  the  total  amount  paid  for  sick  time  was  fifty-one  thousand 
and  seventy-six  dollars  and  thirty-fn  e  cents.  In  1869,  the  total  amount  was 
forty-three  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  dollars  and  forty-six  cents. 
Difference  in  favor  of  1869  seven  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifty-one  dollars 
and  eighty-nine  cents.  Nevertheless,  this  was  a  serious  item  in  the  public  expen- 
diture, and  rej)resented  a  sum  more  than  equal  to  the  combined  salary  of  thirty- 
five  Patrolmen.  The  reduction  in  the  proportion  of  sick  time  was  attributed  by 
the  Board  in  some  degree,  by  the  members  who  were  broken  down  in  health 
being  induced  to  resign  and  accept  pensions.  The  improved  sanitary  condition 
of  the  station  houses,  also,  it  is  believed,  contributed  to  imjjrove  the  health  of  the 
force. 

Besides  the  regular  force.  Patrolmen  were  assigned  to  do  duty  in  special  de- 
partments or  bureaus. 

During  the  year  ending  October  31,  1869,  the  value  of  lost  or  stolen  property 
delivered  to  owners  at  the  several  ])recincts,  and  by  the  Detective  and  Court 
Squads,  was  estimated  and  valued  by  tlie  owners  tiiereof  at  one  million  seven 
hundred  and  forty-three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  six  dollars  and  eighty-four 
cents.  The  value  of  like  property  delivered  to  owners,  for  the  same  period,  from 
the  Property  Clerk's  office,  was  one  million,  two  thousand  one  hundred  and 
eighty-seven  dollars  and  eighty-one  cents.  The  total  proceeds  of  unclaimed 
property,  sold  in  pursuance  of  law,  was  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  fiftv-nine 
dollars  and  ninety  cents;  unclaimed  cash,  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  dollars  and  fifty-five  cents;  total  value,  two  millions  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty-one  dollars  and  ten  cents  ;  returned  to  own- 
ers, two  millions  seven  hundred  and  forty-five  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
ninety-four  dollars  and  sixty-five  cents  ;  total  loss  to  owners,  four  thousand  five 
hundred  and  twenty-six  dollars  and  forty-five  cents. 

The  Sanitary  Company  had  examined  during  the  year  three  thousand  five 
hundred  and  three  stationary  steam  boilers,  and  tested  by  hydrostatic  pressure 
three  thousand  and  thirty-five.  During  the  year  eight  hundred  and  thirty-five 
persons  applied  for  certificates  to  authorize  them  to  take  charge  of  boilers  or 
engines.  Of  that  number,  after  examination,  four  hundred  and  forty-four  were 
granted  certificates,  and  three  hundred  and  ninety-one  denied,  as  not  possessing 
the  requisite  degree  of  skill. 

In  nine  years,  from  1861  to  1869  inclusive,  the  number  of  poor  and 
unfortunate  persons  who  had  applied  for,  and  been  furnished  lodgings  at  the 
station  houses  had  been  eight  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  one  hundred  and 
sixty-one,  making  an  average  of  ninty-seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  per  year. 

During  the  same  space  of  time  (1861  to  1869  inclusive),  the  aggregate 
number  of  lost  children  taken  charge  of  by  the  Police,  and  restored  to  parents 
or  otherwise  disposed  of,  was  seventy-three  thousand  and  eighty-one,  to  which 
may  be  added  seven  hundred  and  seventy-nine  foundlings.  The  annual  average 
for  the  nine  years  was  eight  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty. 


234 


OUR  POLTCE  PROTECTORS. 


The  total  number  of  arrests  from  i860  to  1869  inclusive  was  eight  hundred 
and  ninety-eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-nine.  The  average  number 
per  year  was  eighty-nine  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-eight.  The  largest 
number  of  arrests,  one  hundred  and  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty-nine, 
occurred  in  1867.  The  smallest,  sixty-nine  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy- 
one,  in  1864.  The  difference  between  the  highest  and  lowest  number  is  thirty- 
tliree  tliousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-eight. 

This  is  a  noteworthy  showing,  for  during  1864 — that  being  the  year  of  the 
smallest  number  of  arrests,  the  year  in  which  the  armies  of  the  Nation,  in  the 
field,  were  largest  ;  and  the  largest  number  of  arrests  occurred  in  1867,  after 
the  armies  had  been  fully  disbanded.  Since  the  last-named  year  the  number  of 
arrests  had  decreased. 

The  aggregate  force  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  District,  on  the  first  day  of 
November,  1869,  was  :  Captains,  thirty-four  ;  Sergeants,  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
one;  Patrolmen,  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  ninety-four;  Doormen,  seventy- 
three.  Total,  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty-two.  This  is  inclusive  of 
the  following  :  Court  Squad,  forty;  Sanitary  Squad,  sixty-three;  Detective  Squad, 
twenty;  Special  Detailed,  twenty-two;  House  of  Detention,  four.  The  number  of 
precincts  was  thirty-two,  their  designation  being  by  number.  The  number  of 
men  authorized  by  law  was  : 

New  York,  two  thousand  ;  Brooklyn,  three  hundred  and  sixty-eight  ;  Rich- 
mond County,  twenty-six  ;  Yonkers,  fourteen  ;  West  Farms,  eight.  Total,  two 
thousand  four  hundred  and  sixteen. 

When  the  organization  of  the  force  was  established  with  a  Superintend- 
ent and  four  Inspectors,  the  number  of  Patrolmen  was  limited  to  one  thousand 
six  hundred  men.  Since  then,  from  time  to  time,  the  force  was  increased  more 
than  fifty  per  cent.,  by  adding  eight  hundred  and  sixteen  Patrolmen,  and  a 
proportionate  number  of  Captains,  Sergeants,  and  Doormen. 

The  aggregate  number  of  buildings  found  open  and  unoccupied,  secured 
by  the  Police,  for  a  series  of  nine  years,  from  1861  to  1869,  both  inclusive,  was 
forty  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty-nine. 

Number  of  arrests  for  the  year  ending  October  31,  1867:  males,  seventy-six 
thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-nine;  females,  t\vent\  -six  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  twenty.  Total,  one  hundred  and  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty-nine. 

It  has  been  asserted  that  tiie  Metropolitan  Police  system  was  the  best  ever 
devised,  and  produced  more  satisfactory  results  than  any  of  its  predecessors. 
This,  after  all,  is  not  very  great  praise,  as,  properly  speaking.  New  York  previously 
had  had  no  Police  force  worthy  of  the  name;  all  being  lacking  in  that  efficiency 
and  esprit  du  corps  which  spring  from  descipline,  organization  and  the  soldierly 
instinct  produced  by  the  wearing  of  a  uniform.  The  force,  however,  was  being 
educated  in  the  practical  school  of  a  Policeman,  and  the  results  were  beginning  to 
be  felt  and  appreciated.  In  all  the  satisfactory  characteristics  named,  the  Metro- 
politan Police  were  undoubtedly  superior  to  their  predecessors.  This,  under  the 
circumstances,  was  to  be  expected,  as  "progress"  was  the  watchword,  and  Police 
reforms  were  being  inaugurated  with  all  the  despatch  commensurate  with  sound 
judgment,  ripened  by  experience. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


-'35 


The  number  of  olYences  against  the  person  tor  tlie  vear  ending  on  (Jctober 
1867,  was: 


Offences. 


Assault  and 


Attachment  

Bastardy  

Bigamy  

Contempt  of  court 
Disorderly  conduct 
Escajjed  prisoners. 


Intoxication  and  disorderly  conduct. 

Kidna[)ping  

Murder   

Suspicious  persons  

Seduction  


1867,  was: 


Violation  of  the  Boat  laws. 


Males. 

Females 

Tolal. 

549 

•  8,1^7 

'.917 

10,074 

639 

69 

700 

7 

460 

Xr> 

5 

I  70 

5 

19 

4 

1 0 

T  ?  r»  1  X 

8, '53 

23,161 

99 

2 

lOI 

467 

183 

650 

..17.969 

6,143 

24, 1  I  2 

•  7.013 

3.582 

10.595 

14 

4 

18 

65 

8 

73 

•  ',873 

407 

2,280 

23 

23 

•  2,303 

2,516 

4,819 

r  r  0(^9, 

■  .5.S.200 

23,168 

78,436 

•  for  the 

year  ending  on  (!)c 

Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

•  •  39 

2 

41 

-  r  A 

I  z 

568 

25 

^83 

T  "? 

6 

138 

4 

1,191 

159 

379 

561 

2,559 

••4.552 

1,464 

6,016 

2 1 

160 

1,409 

T  fin 

5 

194 

•  •  304 

69 

373 

8 

20 

■  ■  77 

5 

82 

.  .  248 

34 

282 

.  .  171 

6 

177 

A    T  C  C 

414 

4.569 

••  503 

29 

532 

■1,538 

417 

J.955 

••3,235 

166 

3.401 

••  138 

•38 

..  69 

63 

..  156 

6 

42 

21,281 

3,552 

24.833 

236 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Convictions,  acquittals  and  discharges  by  the  Court  of  Special  Sessions,  in 
and  for  the  City  and  County  of  New  York,  from  the  year  1840  to  1867  inclusive: 

Convictions,  etc.  ^^^S^S^SSsi^ll 

Conv.  petit  larc'y  526    666    744    907  896    991    977     ..1064  1180  1419  1453  1475  1415 

Acq.,        "           97     78    laS    142  148    193    220    173    258    261    219    187    214  179 

Conv.ass't&bat'y  226    296    287    395  551    615    508    334   430    558    837    662    978  1230 

Acq.,        "           32     30     33     54  86     90     87     48     52     59     76     43     51  67 

Discharges            488    396    375    537  838  1158  1109    697    672   988  1382  1194  1167  1120 

Totals  1369  1466  1577  2032  1519  3047  2922  2352  2502  2966  3933  3539  3884  3944 

No.  of  trials  in 

Spec.  Sessions.  839  1001  1119  1311  1495  1741  1651  1309  1635  1837  2218  2079  2405  2570 
Sent,  to  Co.  pris.  508  682  737  987  1058  1128  1075  981  1063  1120  1402  1179  1254  2242 
Sent,  to  H.  of  R..    28     67     63     56     55     65     56     51     52     71    112     94     97  119 

in      o      t~      00      05      o      i-H      c}      ec  ^  J- 

l./Qnviciions,  eio.  ooooaoooooooooooaoooxaoxxi 

Conv.  petitlarc'yl411  2047  1788  2041  1919  1953  2082  1747  1397  1512  1411  1695  2184  1824 

Acq.,        "         108    190    208    273  317  289  365    382    256    279    263    323  345  252 

Discharges   536  481  376    361    354    586   454    584  553  501 

Con.,ass't& bat'y  1152   929    986  1589  1697  1699  1919  1606  1475  1191  1067  1239  1110  957 

Acq.,        "           66     84     84    284  344  349  392    285    259    168    166    186  202  185 

Discluirges  1184  1064  1459  1627  1784  1849  1623  1541  1330  1107    885  1051  893  811 

Other  misdem'rs.    . .     28     25    101  139  158  198    139    186    113     71     96  274  614 

Acquittals..                    6      4     40  60  54  60     53     70     44     31     39  67  117 

Discharges   101  125  89     75     98     60     44     27  31  78 

Totals  3921  4354  4449  5825  6748  6957  7005  6189  5425  5057  4392  5508  5339  5539 

No.  of  trials  in 

Spec.  Sessions.1528  1492  2803  3752  1476  4502  4917  4112  3639  3304  3009  3846  4182  3949 
Sent  to  Co.  pris.1159  1528  1426  1824  2061  1012  2054  2231  1720  1728  1220  1697  1678  1599 
Sent  toH.  of  R. .  77  69  41  195  134  129  138  136  111  168  170  260  270  224 
Tried   569    723    824  1045  1041    836    738    973    997  1046 

Salaries  of  Department  Officers  and  Clerks  : 

I    President  of  the  Board  of  Police  $5,500 

1  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Police   5,500 

2  Commissioners  of  Police,  each   5,000 

1    Chief  Clerk   5, 000 

I    First  Deputy  Clerk   2,500 

10    Deputy  Clerks,  each   1,500 

1    Treasurer's  Bookkeeper   2,500 

4  President's Sec'y,  Clerks  of  Supt.  and  Inspectors,  each.  .  1,500 

I    Pro])erty  Clerk   2,000 

I    Stenographer   1,600 

I    Inspector  of  Boats                                                   .  2,000 

I    Fire  Marshal  ,   5,000 

I    Assistant  Fire  Marshal   2,500 

Salaries  of  Officers  find  Members  of  tlie  Force: 

I    Superintendent  $7,500 

4    Inspectors,  each   3,500 

18    Surgeons,  each   2,250 

45    Cajjtains,  each   2,000 

181    Sergeants,  each   1,600 

2,321  Patrolmen,  each   1,200 

96    Doormen,  each   900 

I    Superintendent  Police  Telegraph   1,800 

6    Telegra])h  Ojjerators,  each   1,500 

I    Telegraph  Lineman   1,200 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


237 


Total  Police  Force,  two  thousand  six  hundred  and  seventy-four;  Total 
Special  Police,  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight,  drand  total  of  all  branches,  two 
thousand  cigiu  hundred  and  sixty. 

Location  of  Station  Houses  and  names  of  Captains: 

First  Precinct,  54  New  Street.    Captain,  Ira  S.  Garland. 

Second  Precinct,  49  Beekman  Street.    Captain,  Morris  De  Camjj. 

Third  Precinct,  160  Chambers  Street.    Captain,  Charles  Ulman. 

Fourth  Precinct,  9  Oak  Street.    Captain,  Anthony  J.  Allaire. 

Fifth  Precinct,  49  Leonard  Street.    Captain,  Jeremiah  Petty. 

Sixth  Precinct,  9  Franklin  Street.    Captain,  John  Jourdan. 

Seventh  Precinct,  247  Madison  Street.    Captain,  Jacob  V>.  Warlow. 

Eighth  Precinct,  128  Pince  Street.    Captain,  Nathaniel  R.  Mills. 

Ninth  Precinct,  94  Charles  Street.    Captain,  Cieorge  Washburne. 

Tenth  Precinct,  Eldridge  Street  near  Broome.    Captain,  John  J.  Ward. 

Eleventh  Precinct,  Union  Market.    Captain,  John  F.  Dickson. 

Twelfth  Precinct,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixtlr  Street,  near  Third 
Avenue.    Captain,  James  Z.  Bogart. 

Thirteenth  Precinct,  Attorney  Street,  near  Delancey.  Captain,  Theron  R. 
Bennett. 

Fourteenth  Precinct,  53  Spring  Street.    Captain,  Edward  Walsh. 
Fifteenth  Precinct,  221  Mercer  Street.    Captain,  Henry  Hedden. 
Sixteenth  Precinct,  230  W.  Twentieth  Street.  Captain,  John  J.  Williamson. 
Seventeenth  Precinct,  75  First  Avenue.    Captain,  John  J.  Mount. 
Eighteenth  Precinct,  163  E.  Twenty-second  Street.    Captain,  John  Cameron. 
Nineteenth  Precinct,  118  E.  Fifty-ninth  Street.    Captain,  Henry  Hutchings. 
Twentieth  Precinct,  352  W.  Thirty-fifth  Street.    Captain,  Charles  W.  Cattrey. 
Twenty-first  Precinct,  120  E.  Thirty-fifth  Street.    Captain,  Thomas  Thome. 
Twentv-second  Precinct,  545  W.  Fortv-seventh  Street.    Captain,  Johannes 
C.  Siott. 

Twenty-third  Precinct,  Eighty-sixth  Street,  corner  Fourth  Avenue.  Captain, 
Jedediah  W.  Hartt. 

Twenty-fourth  Precinct,  Police  Steamboat.    Captain,  James  Todd. 

Twenty-fifth  Precinct,  300  Mulberry  Street.    Captain,  Theron  S.  Copeland. 

Twenty-sixth  Precinct,  City  Hall,  basement.    Captain,  James  Greer. 

Twenty-seventh  Precinct,  99  Liberty  Street.   Captain,  Francis  C.  Speight. 

Twenty-eighth  Precinct,  550  Greenwich  Street.    Captain,  Thomas  Steers. 

Twenty-ninth  Precinct,  34  E.  Twenty-ninth  Street.  Acting  Captain,  Henry 
Burden. 

Thirtieth  Precinct,  Manhattanville.    Captain,  Thaddeus  Davis. 
Thirty-first  Precinct,   Broadway,  near  W.  Eighty-sixth   Street.  Captain, 
John  Helme. 

Thirty-second  Precinct,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Street,  corner  Tenth 
Avenue.    Captain,  Alanson  S.  Wilson. 

Sanitary  Stjuad,  Captain,  Bowen  G.  Lord. 

Captains,  thirty-four;  Sergeants,  one  hundred  and  thirty-two;  Patrolmen, 
one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-one;  Doormen,  seventy-three.  Total, 
2,159- 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Police  and  Civil  Justices'  Districts: 

First  District — First,  Second,  Third  and  Fifth  Wards. 
Second  District — Fourth,  Sixth  and  Fourteenth  Wards. 
Third  District— Eighth  and  Ninth  W^'lrds. 
Fourth  District — Tenth,  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth  Wards. 
Fifth  District — Seventh,  Eleventh  and  Thirteenth  Wards. 
Sixth  District — Eighteenth  and  Twenty-first  Wards. 
Seventh  District — Nineteenth  and  Twenty-second  Wards. 
Eighth  District — Sixteenth  and  Twentieth  Wards. 
Ninth  District— Twelfth  Ward. 

The  Police  force  for  the  year  ending  1869  consisted  of  the  following: 
Captains,  thirty-four;  Sergeants,  one  hundred  and  thirty-one;  Patrolmen,  one  thou- 


Juvenile  Asylum. 


sand  nine  hundred  and  ninety-five  ;  Doormen,  seventy.  'I'otal,  two  thousand  two 
hundred  and  thirty. 

Amount  of  money  lost,  one  million  five  hundred  and  twenty-one  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  forty  dollars  and  eighty  cents.  Amount  recovered,  one  million  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  thousand  and  twenty-eight  dollars  and  sixtj'-five  cents. 
Total  loss,  three  hundred  and  eighty-four  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twelve 
dollars  and  three  cents.  Amount  of  money  taken  from  lodgers,  and  restored  to 
them,  five  hundred  and  forty-fi\'e  thousand  and  fifty-six  dollars  and  eighty-seven 
cents. 

Lost  children  :  males,  three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-five  ; 
females,  two  thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight.    Total,  five  thousand  nine 


hundred  and  twenty-three. 

Lodgers  accommodated  i35»59' 

Buildings  found  open  and  secured   4!534 

Accidents  reported  and  persons  assisted   4>855 

Fires  reported   ^)037 

Animals  found  astray,  and  restored  to  their  owners   767 


(9rVv'  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


-'39 


The  Police  Department  had  now  entered  upon  another  era  of  re-organization 
and  development.  On  April  5,  1870,  there  was  passed  an  Act  to  re-organize  the 
local  government  of  the  city  of  New  York.  This  charter  is  commonly  known  as 
the  "Tweed  Charter."  By  it,  the  Police  Board  was  made  to  consist  of  four 
Commissioners,  who  were  appointed  for  the  respective  terms  of  eight,  seven, 
six,  and  five  years.  The  Police  Department  consisted  of  a  Superintendent, 
three  Inspectors,  Captains,  Sergeants,  Patrolmen,  Doormen,  and  as  many  Sur- 
geons, clerks  and  employees  as  the  Board  of  Police,  from  time  to  time,  might 
determine.  Members  were  removable  only  upon  written  charges,  (except 
tiie  Superintciulent).  No  person  to  be  ajjjjointed  who  was  not  a  citizen,  who 
could  not  read  and  write  understandingly  tiie  English  language,  and  who  did  not 
reside  in  the  State.  In  case  of  riot,  etc..  Special  Patrolmen  might  be  appointed 
to  ser\'e  without  i)ay.  No  member  could  resign  without  having  received  the 
consent  of  the  Board,  under  penalty  of  forfeiting  his  salary.  Unexplained  ab- 
sence for  five  days  was  deemed  and  held  to  lie  equivalent  to  a  resignation. 
The  Common  Council  was  directed  to  jjrovide  office  and  business  ac  commodations, 
station  houses,  etc.,  for  the  use  of  the  Police  force.  The  Board  of  Police  was 
authorized  to  issue  subpoenas  for  witnesses  upon  any  proceedings  sanctioned 
by  its  rules  and  regulations.  All  pensons  holding  office  under  the  department 
were  exempt  from  jury  duty  and  arrest.  The  Common  Council  was  ordered  to 
provide  accommodations  for  the  detention  of  witnesses ;  no  witness  to  be 
detained  longer  than  ten  days.  The  Board  of  Police,  on  conviction  for  neglect 
of  duty,  violation  of  rules,  disobedience  of  orders,  incapacity,  or  absence  without 
leave,  might  punish  by  reprimand,  fine,  withholding  pay,  or  dismiss  from  the  force. 
All  such  fines  were  paid  to  the  Chamberlain  for  account  of  the  Police  Life  In- 
surance Fund.  The  department  was  instructed  to  detail  two  Policemen  to  each 
polling  place.  The  Board  of  Police  annually,  on  or  before  the  first  of  December, 
were  called  upon  to  make  the  estimates  necessary  for  the  conduct  of  the  Board 
of  Police  for  the  next  ensuing  year.  The  Mayor,  Comptroller,  and  President  of 
the  Board  of  Police,  on  or  before  December  15,  met,  and  considered  and 
revised  said  estimates,  their  action  being  binding.  The  Board  of  Sujien  isors 
caused  the  amount  of  such  estimates  to  be  raised  by  tax. 

Mayor  Mall,  under  the  foregoing  chapter,  appointed  the  following  as  Police 
Commissioners :  Henry  Smith,.  Joseph  S.  Bosworth,  Matthew  T.  Brennan, 
Benjamin  F.  Manierre. 

The  Police  Department,  in  the  name  of  its  President  and  Treasurer,  by  Act 
ot  the  legislature  (April  26,  1870)  was  authorized  to  bring  an  action  at  law 
against  the  authorities  of  Richmond  County  to  compel  the  payment  of  its  share 
of  the  Police  expenses. 

The  Board  was  empowered  to  increase  the  Patrolmen,  such  increase  not  to 
exceed  one  hundred  in  addition  to  the  number  hitherto  allowed  by  law.  The 
't  reasurer  was  to  give  bonds  in  two  sureties  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  each.  He 
was  to  receive  fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  addition  to  t'ae  amount  provided  by  law. 
The  Board  appointed  a  P'ire  Marshal  and  clerks.  A  summary  of  the  remainder 
of  the  Act  may  be  noted  as  follows:  Special  Patrolmen  might  be  ajipointed  in 
case  of  riot,  etc.,  and  military  assistance  might  be  demanded.    Policemen  were 


240 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


required  to  convey  arrested  offenders  to  the  nearest  Magistrate;  the  Board  to 
prevent  the  undue  detention  of  witnesses;  all  witnesses,  in  default  of  bail,  to  he 
committed  to  the  House  of  Detention. 

John  Jourdaft,  who  was  appointed  Sujjerintendent  on  April  n,  1870,  died 
October  17  of  the  same  year.  James  J.  Kelso  was  thereu{)on  appointed 
Superintendent. 

Upon  the  death  of  Sperintendent  Jourdan,  the  Board  of  Police  adopted 
unanimously  (among  others)  the  following  resolutions: 

"Resoived,  That  by  the  death  of  John  Jourdan,  Superintendent  of  Police  in 
the  Police  Department  of  the  city  of  New  York,  the  department  and  the  public 
have  sustained  a  great  and  irreparable  loss.  He  entered  upon  Police  service  as  a 
Patrolman  in  1855,  and,  excepting  a  brief  period,  has  been  continuously  a  mem- 
ber of  the  successive  Police  organizations  until  his  death.  He  was  appointed  a 
Sergeant  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  April,  i860,  and  a  Captain  on  the  thirty-first  of 
January,  1863,  and  Superintendent  on  the  eleventh  of  April,  1870. 

"  He  was  always  active  and  vigilant  in  the  performance  of  duty.  He  felt  a 
warm  interest  in  the  efificiency  and  good  character  of  the  entire  Police  force,  and 
laudably  exerted  himself  to  make  the  men  and  officers  in  his  precinct  a  well- 
instructed  and  well-disciplined  body.  He  felt  an  honest  pride  in  a  proper  dis- 
charge of  Police  duties  by  his  officers  and  men,  as  well  as  in  the  performance  of 
his  own.  He  was  a  model  Police  Captain.  He  knew  every  suspicious  character 
in  his  precinct,  his  associates,  and  places  of  resort.  His  capacity  as  a  detective 
officer  was  not  surpassed,  and  probably  not  equaled,  by  that  of  any  other  mem- 
ber of  the  force.  Never  compromising  with  criminals,  persistent  and  untiring  in 
his  efforts  to  secure  their  arrest  and  punishment,  yet  he  was  popular,  and  enjoyed 
unlimited  general  confidence.  He  always  observed  good  faith,  and  his  whole 
official  life  has  been  characterized  by  a  uniform  purpose  to  be  right  and  fearless 
in  the  performance  of  duty.  He  was  as  sensitive  as  sensible,  and  ever  frowned 
upon  the  suggestion  that  anything  should  be  done  or  suffered  to  be  done  which, 
in  his  judgment,  would  prejudice  the  public  weal  or  the  proper  discipline  of  the 
force. 

"  As  Superintendent,  he  undertook  more  than  any  man  of  his  nervous  tem- 
perament can  endure.  Ujider  the  pressure  of  his  arduous  and  varied  duties,  and 
exhausting  anxieties  which  he  could  not  prevent  or  dispel,  his  health  soon  gave 
way,  and  the  result  is  his  premature  death,  and  the  loss  to  the  department  and 
the  public  of  his  marked  abilities  and  large  and  valuable  experience. 

"Reso/TCif,  That  in  his  death  each  member  of  the  Board  and  of  the  Police 
force  has  lost  an  honest  and  generous  friend,  the  department  an  invaluable 
officer,  and  the  community  at  large  an  efficient  and  experienced  Police 
protector." 

At  the  time  the  Act  of  April  5,  1870,  "To  re-organize  the  Local  Govern- 
ment of  the  City  of  New  York,"  went  into  effect,  every  person  connected  with 
the  Metropolitan  Police  Department  (with  some  few  exceptions)  was  transferred 
by  that  Act  to  the  Police  Department  created  by  it,  and  continued  in  the  office 
which  he  held  at  the  time  of  such  transfer.  On  the  eleventh  of  April  the  Board 
was  organized  by  the  election  of  Joseph  S.  Bosworth  as  President,  Matthew  T. 
Brennan  as  Treasurer,  and  the  appointment  of  Seth  C.  Hawley  as  Chief  Clerk. 
Mr.  Brennan  resigned  his  office  on  the  seventh  day  of  October,  1870,  and  Henry 
Smith  was  thereupon  elected  Treasurer.  Thomas  J.  Barr  was  appointed  to  fill  the 
vacancy. 

The  Police  force,  in  April,  1870,  consisted  of  one  Superintendent,  three 


01' R  rOI.ICF.  rROTF.CTORS. 


241 


Inspectors,  thirty-five  Captains,  one  luindrtd  and  thirty-six  Sergeants,  eighty-three 
Roundsmen,  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  ninety-two  I'atrolmen,  and  seventy- 
five^Doormen.    Total,  2,325. 

Of  the  Patrolmen,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-nine  were  assigned 
to  patrol  dutv,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty-three  to  special  duty.  Of  these,  two 
hundred  and  fifty-three,  twenty-nine  were  specially  detailed  on  the  application  of 
corporations  and  individuals,  who  paid  for  their  services,  as  provided  ])y  law, 
the  statutory  compensation. 

On  the  eleventh  of  Ai)ril,  1870,  John  A.  Kennedy,  who  had  been  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Metropolitan  I'olice  from  the  twenty-third  day  of  May,  i860, 
until  he  was  transferred  to  the  Police  Department  by  the  Act  of  April  5,  1870, 


Ludlow  Street  Jail. 


resigned  his  office.  The  vacancy  created  thereby  ^vas  filled  by  appointing  as 
Superintendent  John  Jourdan,  then  Captain  of  the  Sixth  Precinct.  Superinten- 
dent Jourdan  died  on  the  tenth  of  October,  1870.  On  the  seventeenth  day  of 
October,  James  J.  Kelso,  Captain  of  the  Detective  force,  was  apjjointed 
Superintendent  of  Police. 

The  new  Superintendent,  among  numerous  expressions  of  good  wishes,  was 
presented  with  the  following  set  of  resolutions  : 

We,  the  Detective  force  of  the  Police  Department  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
while  heartily  joining  in  the  general  ajjpreciation  of  the  well-merited  appoint- 
ment of  our  former  official  Chief,  James  J.  Kelso,  to  the  more  elevated  and 
responsible  office  of  Superintendent  of  Police,  while  approving  the  judiciousness 
of  the  selection,  cannot  refrain  from  cxj)ressing  our  sense  of  individual  loss  in 
the  severence  of  ties  of  long  association  in  the  most  delicate  and  arduous 


242 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


branch  of  the  public  service.  The  duties  of  this  service  are  most  exacting, 
requiring  the  exercise  of  vigilance  that  knows  no  rest,  patience  to  overconre  ob- 
stacles, intuitive  perception  of  character,  ready  and  fearless  action  in  embarrassing 
situations;  these  qualities,  combined  with  great  natural  shrewdness,  mtensified  by 
experience,  being  possessed  by  our  late  Chief  in  a  remarkabJt;  degree,  that 
insured  success.  Zealous  and' faithful  to  his  trust,  he  enforced  strict  discipline, 
always  acting  in  a  kindlv  and  gentle  manner,  impressed  by  the  force  of  his  own 
example,  his  high  sense  of  honor  commanded  respect,  and  greatly  added  to  the 
efficiency  of  the  department.  Although  by  his  transfer  to  a  higher  position  our 
late  association  no  longer  exists,  it  is  still  a  source  of  gratification  to  feel  that 
we  still  remain  under  his  intelligent  supervision,  and  that  we  shall  be  to  some 
extent  guided  bv  his  counsel.  Assured  that  his  new  duties  will  be  performed  in 
a  manner  which  will  inspire  confidence  to  the  whole  community,  we  wish  him 
the  enjoyment  of  every  prosperitv  that  should  attend  the  faithful  discharge  of 
jj^j  C.  H.  McDouGAL,  Chairman. 


House  of  Refuge,  Randall's  Island. 
James  J.  Kelso  joined  the  force  in  June,  1858,  and  was  detailed  for  duty  as 
Patrolman  at  the  then  Headquarters,  at  the  corner  of  Broome  and  Crosby 
Streets. 

The  New  York  County  Jail  (better  known  as  Ludlow  Street  Jail)  is  situated 
at  the  corner  of  Ludlow  Street  and  Essex  Market  Place,  and  was  first  occupied 
in  June,  1862,  taking  the  place  of  the  noted  Eldridge  Street  Jail.  It  is  builf  of 
Philadelphia  brick,  ornamented  with  New  Jersey  freestone  trimmings.  The 
building  is  built  in  the  form  of  an  L,  ninety  feet  on  each  street,  forty  feet  deep, 
and  about  sixtv-five  feet  high,  leaving  an  angle  of  about  fifty  feet  square,  sur- 
rounded bv  a  high  wall,  for  a  yard  in  which  the  prisoners  are  permitted  to  take 
their  daily  exercise.  The  jail  contains  eighty-seven  cells.  For  light  and  venti- 
lation it  is  probablv  not  surpassed  by  any  prison  in  the  United  States.  The  class 
of  prisoners  confined  herein  consists  principally  of  all  arrests  and  commitments 


OUR  ror.rcr.  protectors. 


243 


upon  civil  process,  with  tlie  few  arrests  made  by  the  United  States  Marshal  for 
this  district. 

Ludlow  Street  Jail  lias  become  notorious  b\'  the  escape  of  William  M. 
1  "weed  from  the  custody  of  the  Sheriff,  while  out  driving  in  com|jany  with  the 
Warden  of  the  jail  and  one  of  the  Keepers. 

The  Society  for  the  Reformation  of  Juvenile  Delincpients  (House  of  Refuge, 
Randall's  Island  ,  chartered  in  1824,  to  care  for  and  reform  juvenile  offen- 
ders, etc.,  was  the  first  in  the  country  organized  for  such  a  purpose.  The  first 
House  of  Refuge,  under  the  ])rovisions  of  the  Act  of  Incorporation,  was  opened 
January  i,  1825,  in  the  building  previously  occupied  as  a  United  Slates  Arsenal, 
located  on  what  is  now  known  as  Madison  Square.  At  the  opening,  the  inmates 
were  four  boys  and  six  girls,  committed  by  the  Police  Magistrates  of  the  city;  the 
provisions  of  the  law  being  confined  to  the  city  and  coimty  of  New  York.  Sub- 
sequent amendments  extended  to  all  parts  of  the  State,  until  1849,  when  the 
Western  House  of  Refuge  was  established  at  Rochester.  In  1839  the  institution 
was  removed  to  the  foot  of  Twenty-third  Street,  East  River,  and  occupied  the 
buildings  formerly  used  as  the  fever  hnsjjital,  it  having  outgrown  the  accommoda- 
tions on  Madison  Square.  In  1S54,  the  constantly  increasing  number  of  inmates 
compelled  the  managers  to  move  it  to  Randall's  Island. 

The  buildings  are  of  brick,  and  are  erected  in  the  Italian  style.  The  two 
principal  structures  front  the  river,  and  form  a  facade  nearly  a  thousand  feet  in 
length.  The  larger  of  the  two  buildings  is  for  the  accommodation  of  the  boys' 
department,  the  other  for  the  girls'.  Other  buildings  are  located  in  the  rear  of 
these,  and  are  inclosed  by  a  stone  wail  twenty  feet  high. 


244 


OUR  POT.ICE  PROJECTORS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


ISri  to  1876. 


CLUBS  MORE  TRUSTWORTHY  THAN  LEADEN  BALLS. 


Orange  Riots. — Police  and  Military  called  out. — The  Streets  of  New 
York  again  the  Scene  of  Riot  and  Bloodshed. — The  Militia,  unauthor- 
ized, Fire  upon  the  Mob. — Eleven  Killed  and  Thirty  Wounded. — 
Cleaning  of  the  Streets  charged  to  the  Board  of  Police. — Comple- 
tion OF  THE  Building  of  the  House  of  Detention. — Tables  of  Arrests. 
— -Time  Lost  to  the  Deparment  by  Reason  of  Sickness. — Property 
Clerk's  Returns. — Presentation  of  the  Flag  of  Honor. — An  Act  to 
Re-organize  the  Local  Government  of  New  York. — The  Board  of 
Police  to  Consist  of  Five  Members. — A  Revised  Manual  Issued  to 
THE  Force. — Duties  of  the  several  Heads  of  the  Department  and 
of  the  Force  Generally. — Regulation  Uniforms. — Qualifications  for 
Appointment  as  a  Patrolman. — Measures  of  Economy  Introduced. — 
Board  of  Surgeons. — Police  Salaries. — The  Board  Made  to  Consist  of 
Four  Members. — Changes  in  the  Board. 


NE  would  suppose  that  the  terrible  events  narrated  in  the  chapters  devoted 


^-""^  to  a  sketch  of  the  draft  riots  would  have  so  impressed  themselves  on  the 
hearts  and  memory  of  the  present  generation  that  anything  like  their  recurrence 
would  be  an  impossibility.  Vet  eight  years  later  the  streets  of  New  York  were 
again  alive  with  riotous  mobs,  and  the  Police  and  military  were  again  called  out  to 
disperse  them.  This  was  on  the  twelfth  of  July,  187 1.  On  that  day  the 
Orange  societies  of  this  and  neighboring  cities  and  towns  had  assembled  to  hold 
a  i)arade.  As  might  have  been  expected,  scenes  of  great  disorder  followed,  and, 
owing  to  the  hasty  action  of  the  military,  several  innocent  persons  lost  their 
lives  by  being  shot  down. 

This  time  the  angry  passions  of  the  mob  were  aroused,  not  by  any  sense  of 
injuries  inflicted,  or  about  to  be  inflicted,  by  the  general  or  local  government ; 
the  trouble  was  not  occasioned  by  any  dread  of  hunger,  persecution,  or  party 
politics.  It  was  a  revival  of  a  quarrel  of  two  hundred  years  standing,  which^ 
year  by  year,  had  increased  in  bitterness,  the  contending  forces  being  arrayed 
beneath  the  Orange  and  the  Green. 

King  James  II  was  the  reigning  and  lawful  king  of  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 
land when  driven  from  his  throne  by  William  of  Nassau,  Prince  of  Orange,  the 
decisive  battle  having  been  fought  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Boyne,  in  Ireland. 
William  of  Orange  ascended  the  throne,  and  King  James  went  into  exile.  The 


OUR  POr.ICF.  PROTECTORS. 


245 


latter  was  a  Catholic  monarch  and  the  toriner  professed  the  Protestant  faith. 
To  commemorate  this  victory,  Ulster  Protestants  in  1795  farmed  a  rcligio- 
politico  society.  Both  their  religion  and  their  politics  were  of  a  very  pronounced 
tvpe.  They  were,  although  numerically  a  handful,  compared  with  the  Catholic 
j)opulation,  strong  in  the  protection  of  the  government,  and  their  fanaticism  and 
bigotry,  from  generation  to  generation,  have  kept  ablaze  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
the  fires  of  religious  intolerance  and  political  persecution.  Neither  has  time 
diminished  nor  age  decayed  the  intensity  of  these  national  prejudices,  nor  eradi- 
cated the  memory  of  those  party  strifes.  The  Orange  and  the  Green  still  main- 
tain the  irrepressible  conflict,-  each  side  being  tenacious  of  its  principles  and 
jealous  of  its  "rights." 

When,  then,  the  Orange  anniversary  came  round,  the  Orange  societies 
turned  out  in  great  force,  protected  by  the  military  and  Police.  Acting  upon  in- 
structions recived  from  Mayor  Hall,  Superintendent  Kelso,  on  the  day  before, 
had  issued  an  order  forbidding  the  parade.  This,  as  the  result  proved,  was  but 
plaving  unintentionally  into  the  hands  of  the  Orangemen,  as  it  aroused  public 
opinion  in  their  favor,  and  Governor  Hoffman  hastened  from  Albany  and  issued 
a  proclamation  countermanding  Mayor  Hall's  order,  and  giving  permission  to  the 
Orangemen  to  parade,  promising  at  the  same  time  that  a  Police  and  military 
escort  would  be  furnished  them.  Large  crowds  of  people  congref^ated  at  several 
points  throughout  the  city,  who,  with  few  exceptions,  were  drawn  thither  out  of 
idle,  but  reprehensible  curiosity,  to  see  the  parade  and  know  what  was  to  come 
out  of  it.  True,  it  was  not  a  sympathizing,  much  less  a  friendly  mob,  there 
being  few  among  them  who  would  not  cheerfully  lend  their  personal  assistance 
in  wiping  the  thoroughfares  with  the  bodies  of  the  paraders. 

The  line  of  march  resolved  upon  was  down  Eighth  Avenue  to  Twenty- 
third  Street,  and  up  that  thoroughfare  to  Fifth  Avenue,  to  Fourteenth  Street,  to 
Union  Square,  and  down  Fourth  Avenue  to  Cooper  Institute,  where  the  proces- 
sion was  to  break  up.  Eighth  Avenue,  in  the  vicinity  of  ],amartine  Hall,  where 
the  Orange  societies  were  forming  in  line,  was  jammed  with  an  excited  throng. 
The  Police  advanced  and  swept  the  street,  from  Thirtieth  to  Twenty-eighth 
Street,  the  Police  forming  several  deep,  and  only  leaving  room  enough  for  the 
cars  to  pass. 

Police  Headquarters,  in  the  meantime,  had  assumed  the  air  and  bustle  that 
pervaded  the  place  during  the  week  of  the  draft  riots.  Commissioners  Manierre, 
Smith,  and  Barr  were  in  their  offices;  General  Shaler  and  staff  were  located  in 
the  Fire  Marshal's  office,  while  squads  of  soldiers  and  Policemen  kept  arriving 
and  departing.  The  place  presented  a  decidedly  warlike  appearance.  Informa- 
tion was  being  constantly  received  that  bands  of  rioters  were  parading  certain 
sections  of  the  city,  making  ready  to  join  battle  with  the  Orangemen.  Inspector 
Jameson,  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  Policemen,  was  dispatched  in  stages  to 
Forty-seventh  Street  and  Eighth  Avenue;  Captain  Allaire,  of  the  Seventh  Pre- 
cinct, was  hurried  off  with  fifty  men  to  protect  Harper's  Building  in  Franklin 
Square,  which,  it  was  rumored,  was  to  be  attacked  by  the  rioters  ;  five  hundred 
Policemen  were  massed  in  Eighth  Avenue  ;  Captain  Mount,  with  a  hundred 
Policemen,  was  detailed  to  look  after  a  gang  of  rioters  who  had  made  an  attack 


246  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

on  the  Armon-,  at  No.  19  Avenue  A,  in  the  hopes  of  securing  arms  ;  Drill 
Captain  Copeland  was  given  five  companies  with  which  to  seize  Hibernia  Hall, 
where  he  charged  and  dispersed  the  crowd. 

The  Orange  headquarters  were,  however,  the  focal  point  of  excitement,  to 
which  converged  knots  of  hotblooded  men  and  women  (for,  as  usual  on  such 
occasions,  the  weaker  sex  was  well  represented),  and  the  maledictions  that  were 
breathed  on  the  heads  of  the  Orange  societies  were  both  loud  and  deep.  The 
Orangemen  formed  in  line  in  Twenty-ninth  Street,  near  Eighth  Avenue.  A 
strong  body  of  Police  was  massed  in  advance.  Next  came  the  Ninth  Regiment, 
followed  at  a  short  interval  by  the  Sixth  Regiment  ;  while  a  bodv  of  Police  suc- 
ceeded them.  Nothing  of  moment  happened  until  the  head  of  the  procession 
reached  Twenty-sixth  Street,  when  some  little  disorder  was  occasioned  by  an 
attempt  of  the  Police  to  clear  the  sidewalks.  A  halt  was  ordered  at  Twenty- 
fourth  Street.  A  shot  was  fired  from  a  window,  and  in  an  instant  the  Eighty- 
fourth  Regiment  had  the  spot  covered  with  their  muskets,  when,  without  waiting 
for  orders,  they  discharged  a  volley,  the  Sixth  and  Ninth  Regiments  emulating 
the  example  of  the  Eighty-fourth.  The  next  instant,  as  the  smoke  cleared  off, 
eleven  corpses  were  seen  stretched  on  the  sidewalk,  with  terrified  men,  women, 
and  children,  overturning  and  trampling  on  each  other  in  maddened  excitement 
to  get  out  of  the  way  of  the  slaughter.  "  A  pause  of  a  few  minutes  now 
followed,"  says  Headley  in  his  Sketches  of  the  Great  Riots,  "while  the  troops 
reloaded  their  guns.  A  new  attack  was  momentarily  expected,  and  no  one 
moved  from  the  ranks  to  succor  the  wounded  or  lift  up  the  dead.  Here  a  dead 
woman  lay  across  a  dead  man  ;  there  a  man,  streaming  with  blood,  was  creeping 
painfully  up  a  doorstep,  while  crouching,  bleeding  forms  appeared  in  every  direc- 
tion. Women  from  the  windows  looked  down  on  the  ghastly  spectacle, 
gesticulating  wildly.  The  Police  now  cleared  the  avenue  and  side  streets,  when 
the  dead  and  wounded  were  attended  to,  and  the  order  to  move  on  was  given. 
General  Varian,  indignant  at  the  conduct  of  the  Eighty-fourth  in  firing  first 
without  orders,  sent  it  to  the  rear,  and  replaced  it  on  the  flank  of  the  Orange- 
men with  a  portion  of  the  Ninth.  The  procession,  as  it  now  resumed  its  march, 
and  moved  through  Twenty-fourth  Street,  was  a  sad  and  mournful  one.      *  * 

*  *  Two  of  the  Police  and  military  were  killed,  and  twenty-four 
wounded,  all,  however,  from  the  reckless  discharge  of  the  muskets  of  the  mili- 
tary ;  while  of  the  rioters  thirty-one  were  killed,  and  sixty-seven  wounded, 
making  in  all  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  victims." 

The  procession  resumed  its  march  and  moved  through  Twenty-fourth  Street. 
The  windows  along  the  route  of  the  procession  were  filled  with  spectators,  and 
crowds  lined  the  sidewalks,  but  all  were  silent  and  serious.  No  more  trouble 
took  place  and  the  Cooper  Intitute  was  reached  and  the  procession  disbanded. 

Much  indignation  was  expressed  at  the  action  of  the  troops  for  firing  with- 
out waiting  for  orders,  and  firing  so  wildly  as  to  wound  and  kill  some  of  their 
own  men. 

The  scenes  at  Bellevue  Hospital,  where  the  dead  and  wounded  were  taken, 
were  of  a  most  distressing  character.  The  ambulances  kept  discharging  their 
bloody  loads  at  the  doors,  and  groans  of  distress  and  shrieks  of  pain  filled  the 


OUR  I'OLICJi  rROTECTORH. 


247 


24« 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


air.  Long  rows  of  cots  filled  with  mangled  forms,  were  stretched  on  every  side, 
while  the  surgeons  were  kept  constantly  employed  dressing  the  wounds  of  the 
injured.    The  dead  lay  in  the  morgue. 

Thus  were  the  streets  of  New  York  again  bajjtized  with  citizens'  blood. 

TABLE  SHOWING  LOCATION   AND  CONDITION  OF  STATION  HOUSES. 


LOCATION  OF 
STATION  HOOSES. 


Nos.  52  and  54  New  Street. 
No.  49  Beekman  Street  


No.  160  Chambers  Street. 
No.  9  Oak  Street  


Nos..  19   and  21  Leonard 

Street  

No.  9  Franklin  Street  


No.  247  Madison  Street . . . . 
Corner  Prince  and  Woos- 

tcr  Streets  

No.  94  Charles  Street  

Nos.  87  and  89  Eldridgc 

Street  

Union  Market  


One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
fiftli  Street,  bet.  Third 
and  Fourth  Avenues  

Corner  Attorney  and  De- 
lancey  Streets  


No.  53  Spring  Street. . 


No.  221  Mercer  Street  

No.   230  We.st  Twentieth 

Street  

Corner  First  Avenue  and 

Fifth  Street  

No.  327  East  Twenty-sec- 
ond Street  

No.   220  East  Fifty-ninth 

Street  

No.  352  West  Thirty-fifth 

Street  

No.   120  East  Thirty-fifth 

Street  

Nos.    345    and   347  West 

Forty-seventh  Street  


John  .1.  Cisco 
Citv  


City 
City 


City 
City 


CONUI- 
TION. 


KEM.\KKS. 


Fair . . 
Good . 


Good  

First  class 


Good 
Bad.. 


City  [Good. 


Leased  for  ten  years,  from  May  1, 

1865,  at  $3,000  per  year. 
Recently  thoroughly  repaired,  and 

as  well  adapted  as  the  insufficient 

dimensions  will  permit. 
Not  sufficiently  capacious. 
A  new  and  commodious  station 

house  has  just  been  completed, 

and  will  be  occupied  on  the  tenth 

April  inst. 

New. 

Condemned  by  Superintendent  of 
Unsafe  Buildings;  lias  been  tem- 
porarily repaired;  a  new  building 
in  a  more  healthy  location  is  im- 
peratively needed. 


City  Good.  . .  . 

City  iGood  Too  small  for  purpo-ses  requirc<l. 


City   Good. 

City   ' 


City.... 
City  .... 
Citv  . . . . 


City 
City 


Building  new. 

Accommodations  insufficient  and 
inappropriate;  a  new  station  house 
is  required  for  the  comfort  and 
health  of  the  force. 


Fhst  dasslNew. 

Fair  Small  and  indifferent  accommoda- 
tions. 

A  new  station  house  for  this  pre- 
cinct, and  a  house  for  detention 
of  witnesses,  are  now  in  process 
of  erection  at  Nos.  201,  203,  205, 
and  207  Mulberry  Street. 

Good  Building  good,  and  in  good  order. 

I 

Good  Building  .small;  recently  refitted. 


City  Ciood  Indifferent  accommodations  for  the 

I    wants  of  the  precinct. 
City  Good  Rebuilt  in  1S64. 

City  Had  New  house  imperatively  needed. 

t 

Citv  p-ir.st  cla.ss  New. 

I  I 

City   Fair  An  old  building  retittcMl. 

I 

City  Good  I 


OUR  porjcr.  PRorr'.croRS. 


249 


TABI.K  SHONVINC;    LOCATION    AM)   CONDITION   l)F   STATION  HOUSES. 


St 

u 


23 


24 


25 


LOCATION  OF 
STATION  ilOUSES. 


OWNER. 


CONDt- 
TION. 


Fourth  Avenue  and  Eighty- 1 

sixth  Street  lAbram 

Wakeman. 


Bail. 


Steamer  "Seneca"  City 


First  class 


No.  34  East  Twenty-ninth 

Street  Peter  Golet 

I    and  others. 


City  Hall  (basement)  

Corner  Liberty  and  Church 

Streets   

No.  550  Greenwich  Street. . 


City 


Good. 


Fair. 


29'Nos.   137    and    139  West 

Thirtieth  Street  

30  Corner  One  Hundred  and 
I    Twenty-eiffhth  Street  and 
Broadway  


Citv  

William  A. 
Martin. . , 


City 


First  class 
.|Bad  


William  H. 
Guion  . . . 


SrOne  Hundredth  Street,  be- 
tween Ninth  and  Tenth 

Avenues  City 

33  Corner  Tenth  Avenue  andl 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
second  Street  jCity 


UKM  AKKS. 


Ijcnsed  for  two  years,  from  May  1. 
1870,  at  |2,006  per  year;  accom- 
modations unsatisfactory  ;  prem-i 
ises  not  adapted  to  station  liouse 
purposes  ;  lots  have  been  secured 
on  East  Eighty-eighth  Street, 
with  a  view  of  erecting  a  new 
building. 

The  Harbor  Police  are  now  pro- 
vided with  better  accommoda- 
tions than  at  any  time  sinct;  the 
institution  of  this  branch  of  the 
service  ;  the  steamer  "  Seneca." 
bought  and  fitted  up  in  1870.  is  in 
all  respects  what  is  needed  for 
harbor  duty. 


Lea.sed  for  fifteen  years,  from  .May 
1,  1870,  at  |1, 500"  per  year;  prem- 
ises refitted  and  in  excellent  con- 
dition. 


New. 

Leased  for  one  year,  from  May  1. 
1871,  at  $2,500  per  year;  accom- 
modations entirely  inadequate  ;  a 
new  station  bouse  is  an  impera- 
tively necessity. 


First  class  New. 


Bad. 


First  class 


Leased  for  one  year,  from  May  1, 
1870,  at  |1,500  per  year;  new 
station  house  indispensable. 


New. 


Arrangements  have  been  made  for 
a  new  and  more  conmiodious 
building  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  the  precinct. 


William  Jameson  joined  the  Crystal  Palace  Police  in  1853  as  Drill  Inspector 
for  two  hundred  men.  The  uniform  consisted  of  a  blue  dress  coat,  black  buttons, 
military  collar.  Alter  the  anpointment  of  the  first  Police  Commissioner,  In- 
spector Jameson  was  made  Drill  Master,  and  used  to  drill  the  men  in  the  Old 


25© 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Arsenal  in  Elm  Street.  When  the  Police  were  withdrawn  from  the  Crystal 
Palace,  they  were  amalgamated  with  the  regular  Police,  and  Inspector  Jameson 
detailed  as  First  Drill  Instructor  to  the  Police  Department.  Mr.  Jameson,  al- 
though quite  a  youtig  man,  had  seen  active  service  in  the  Mexican  War  and  Civil 
War.  In  1868  he  was  transferred  to  the  First  Precinct,  and  when  Inspector  Leon- 
ard died,  in  February,  1870,  he  was  made  an  Inspector,  and  was  detailed  to  Police 
Headquarters.  In  April,  1872,  after  nineteen  years  honorable  service,  he  was 
tried  and  dismissed  from  the  dejjartment  on  a  charge  of  being  absent  without 
leave  for  three  hours  from  the  office. 


\ 


Inspector  Jameson. 

An  Act  in  relation  to  the  cleaning  of  streets  (Chapter  677,  May  14,  1872), 
charged  the  Board  of  Police  with  the  duty  of  causing  all  streets,  avenues,  lan,es, 
etc.,  to  be  cleaned.  The  Board  was  vested  with  full  i)wvcr  to  supervise  the  exe- 
cution of  the  agreement  for  cleaning  the  streets  in  the  city  of  New  York,  which 
agreement  was  entered  into  on  June  9,  1865,  between  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and 
commonalty  of  the  city  of  New  York,  of  the  first  part,  and  John  L.  Brown,  Wil- 
liam H.  Devoe  and  Shephard  F.  Knapp,  contractors,  of  the  second  part.  When- 
ever said  contract  was  canceled,  the  Board  of  Police  were  to  forward  and  do  the 
work  of  cleaning  the  streets.  The  Board  was,  furthermore,  authorized  to  con- 
tract for  the  sale  of  street  manure,  dirt,  sweepings,  ashes,  etc. ;  to  appoint  such 


O [  'A'  rOI.  K  'A-  PRO  7  FX '  7  V  A'S. 


officers,  agents  and  employees  to  clean  the  streets;  after  exercising  such 
authority  for  thirty  days  the  Board  was  required  to  make  an  estimate  of  the  sum 
of  money  necessary  to  defray  the  expenses  during  the  year  1872,  and,  on  or  before 
the  first  of  December,  1872,  should  make  an  estimate  of  the  amount  required  for 
1873  '"^"^  subsecpient  years. 

In  1872  the  new  building  for  a  House  of  Detention  of  Witnesses  was  com- 
pleted. In  this  year,  there  were  in  tlie  House  of  Detention,  detained  as  wit- 
nesses, two  hundred  and  eighty-two  persons,  who  were  imprisoned  an  aggregate 
of  four  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty-eight  days,  and,  strange  to  say,  there  was 
no  fixed  period  to  their  imprisonment,  and  no  legal  process  of  which  they  could 
avail  themselves  (being  unable  to  secure  liail)  to  hasten  or  fix  a  day  when  thev 
might  claim  that  personal  liberty  which  is  supposed  to  be  the  constitutional  right 
of  every  innocent  person. 

The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  innocent  persons  imprisoned  as 
witnesses  in  the  House  of  Detention,  since  1858  to  1872: 


No.  persons.  No,  days. 


From  February 

9> 

1858, 

to  October 

31, 

1858 

292 

7>42i 

"  November 

I, 

1858, 

"  October 

31. 

1859 

419 

10,662 

"  November 

I, 

1859, 

"  October 

31, 

i860 

380 

6,609 

"  November 

I, 

i860, 

"  October 

31. 

1861 

4'i 

8,634 

"  November 

I, 

1861, 

"  October 

31, 

1862 

632 

9,480 

"  November 

I, 

1862, 

"  October 

31, 

1863 

269 

4,035 

"  November 

I, 

1863, 

October 

31. 

1864 

282 

4,230 

"  November 

I, 

1864, 

"  October 

31. 

1865 

229 

3,436 

"  November 

I. 

1865, 

"  October 

31, 

1866 

410 

6,150 

"  November 

I, 

1866, 

"  October 

31, 

1867 

262 

4,139 

"  November 

I, 

1867, 

"  October 

31, 

1868 

264 

3,852 

"  November 

I, 

1868, 

"    October  31, 

1869 

239 

3,873 

"  November 

I, 

1869, 

"  April 

4, 

1870 

100 

1,347 

"  April 

5, 

1870, 

"  April 

4, 

1871 

283 

4,618 

"  April 

5. 

1871, 

''  April 

4, 

1872 

282 

4,688 

Totals 

4,814 

83,173 

From  this  table  it  appears  that  the  total  number  imprisoned  was  four  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  fourteen.  The  aggregate  imprisonment  was  eightv-three 
thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  days;  equaling  an  imprisonment  of  one 
person  for  a  period  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  years  and  three  hundred 
and  eighteen  days.  Of  the  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  persons  thus  imprisoned 
(April  5,  1871,  to  April  5,  1872),  five  were  confined  over  one  hundred  days 
each;  fifteen  were  confined  less  than  one  hundred  and  over  fifty  days  each ; 
ninety- five  were  confined  less,  than  fifty  and  over  ten  days  each;  one  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  were  confined  ten  days  and  under. 

There  had  occurred  in  the  history  of  the  House  of  Detention  repeated 
instances  of  the  imprisonment  of  innocent  witnesses,  while  the  accused  person 
against  whom  they  were  held  as  witnesses  were  granted  their  liberty  on  bail. 
This,  too,  notwithstanding  the  Constitutional  provision  that  '*  Witnesses  shall  not 
be  unreasonably  detained,"  and  the  further  like  provision  that  "  No  person  *  * 
shall  be  deprived  of    *    *    liberty    *    *    without  due  process  of  law." 


253 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Against  this  oppressive  system  of  arbitrary  and  unnecessary  imprisonment 
of  innocent  persons,  the  Board  protested,  characterizing  the  system  as  "neither 
just  nor  necessary,"  and  contending  that  it  '  aught  to  l)e  immediately  replaced 
by  some  process  of  law  more  in  accord  with  the  common  ideas  of  humanity  and 
justice." 

The  totals  of  the  rank  and  number  of  the  force  for  this  year  are  as  follows: 
Captains,  thirty-five  ;  Sergeants,  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  ;  Roundsmen,  one 
hundred  and  three  ;  Patrolmen,  assigned  to  patrol  duty,  one  thousand  six  hun- 
dred and  twenty  ;  Patrolmen,  assigned  to  special  duty,  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
one  ;  Doormen,  seventy-four.    Grand  total,  2,232. 

It  appears  that  the  number  of  arrests  made  by  the  force  during  the  year  for 
all  causes  was  eighty-four  thousand  five  hundred  and  fourteen.  Males,  sixty 
thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine  ;  females,  twenty-four  thousand  three 
hundred  and  thirty-five  ;  an  excess  over  the  number  of  arrests  for  the  year  last 
preceding  of  eight  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-two. 

Table  of  arrests  for  a  series  of  years  from  1859  to  April  5,  1872: 

New  York  City 
New  York  City 
New  York  City 
New  York  City 
New  York  City 
New  York  City 
New  York  City 
New  York  City 
New  York  City 
New  York  City 
New  York  City 

New  York  City 
New  York  City 

Total  899544         23860  38 

During  the  preceding  year,  with  a  total  force  numbering  two  thousand  two 
hundred  and  thirty-two  men,  there  occurred  two  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
eighty-three  cases  of  sickness  and  injury,  which  were  treated  by  the  Surgeons  of 
the  department.  Four  hundred  and  five  of  the  above  mentioned  cases  were 
caused  by  injuries,  and  four  hundred  and  thirty  were  the  result  of  intermittent 
fever,  contracted  from  the  opening  and  grading  of  so  many  new  sreets  and 
boulevards  in  the  upper  precincts,  while  the  remaining  two  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-six  resulted  from  general  causes. 

The  time  lost  to  the  department  by  the  above  named  sickness  and  injury 
amounted  to  seventeen  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty-two  days,  being  a 
decrease  over  the  preceding  year  of  five  thousand  and  eighty-three  and  a  half  days. 

The  comparatively  small  number  of  casualties  and  cases  of  sickness  resulting 


\  ear. 

Total. 

Patrolmen. 

per  officer. 

i860 

65809 

1414 

46 

1861 

7  1 130 

1806 

39 

1862 

82072 

1783 

46 

1863 

61888 

1711 

36 

1864 

54751 

1805 

30 

1865 

68873 

1806 

38 

1866 

75630 

1789 

42 

1867 

80532 

1848 

44 

1668 

78451 

192  I 

41 

1869 

72984 

1922 

38 

From  Nov.  i. 

27218 

1996 

14 

'69  to  Apr. 

5,  '70- 

1871 

75692 

2075 

36 

1872 

84514 

1984 

42 

OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  253 

from  the  exposure  of  the  force  during  the  riot  of  July,  1871,  is  to  be  attributed 
to  the  efificient  handling  of  the  men  by  their  officers,  as  well  as  to  the  superior 
disttijjline  of  the  force  under  their  command. 

Tabic  of  lost  ciiildren  for  a  scries  of  years,  from  i860  t(j  April  5,  1872: 


NUMBER 
LOST  CHILDREN. 


NUMBER 
FOUNDLINGS. 


New 
New 
New 
New 
New 
New 
New 
New 
New 
New 


York  City. 
York  City. 
York  City. 
York  City. 
York  City. 
York  City. 
York  City. 
York  City. 
York  City. 
York  City. 


New  York  City. 
New  York  Citv. 


1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1 866 
1867 
i863 
1869 

From  Nov.  1,1869  ) 
to  April  5,  1870  J 
1871 
1872 


7201 
9806 
7380 
7204 

5723 
5912 

5979 
5748 
5923 

1570 

5933 
5082 


48 

153 
149 
176 
162 
90 


i6i 
37 


Total. 


73461 


1004 


Average  per  year  6,678. 

Table  of  lodgers  for  a  series  of  years  from  186 1  to  April  5,  1872: 


New  York  City. 
New  York  City. 
New  ^■ork  City. 
New  York  City . 
New  York  City. 
New  York  City . 
New  York  City. 
New  York  City. 
New  York  City. 


New  York  City. 
New  York  City. 


1861 

1 19348 

1862 

70938 

IS63 

68254 

1864 

59929 

1865 

64247 

1866 

1 15324 

1867 

105460 

1868 

141070 

1869  (to  Nov.  I.) 

135591 

rom  Nov.  i,  1869,  to 
April  5,  1870. 

1  82607 

1871 

141780 

1872 

147427 

NUMBER  OF 
LODGERS. 


Total  '  I  1251975 


Average  per  year  113,816. 

There  was  delivered  l)y  the  several  Precincts,  Detective,  and  Court  Squads, 
from  April  5,  1871,  to  April  5,  1872,  property  consisting  of  animals,  carriages, 


254 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


trucks,  carts,  and  merchandise,  and  with  money  and  valuables  taken  from  prison- 
ers as  personal  property,  a  sum  aggregating  one  million  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty-seven  dollars  and  seventy-two  cents.  The 
Property  Clerk's  returns  for  the  same  period  amounts  to  one  hundred  and  one 
thousand  and  seventy-five  dollars  and  ninety-three  cents  ;  making  a  grand  total 
of  one  million  two  hundred  and  ninety-five  thousand  and  sixty-three  dollars  and 
sixty-five  cents. 

A  committee,  representing  the  business,  professional  and  commercial 
interests  of  New  York,  desiring  to  pay  a  marked  tribute  to  the  heroism  of  the 
Police  force,  and  their  devotion  to  duty,  sent  the  following  communication  to 
the  Police  Board : 

In  Committee. 

New  York,  Oct.  5,  1872. 

Gentlemen  : 

The  commercial  bodies  represented  by  the  undersigned,  together  with  certain 
other  corporations,  and  sundry  private  citizens  of  New  York  City,  wishing  to 
show  their  appreciation  ot  the  fidelity,  discipline,  and  gallantry  shown  by  the 
Police  force  on  many  occasions  of  public  disturbance,  notably  during  the  riots 
of  July,  1863,  and  187 1,  have  provided  to  be  made  an  appropriate  flag,  and 
commissioned  the  undersigned  to  present  it  in  their  name  to  the  Department. 

They  wish  it  to  be  regarded  and  preserved  by  the  Police  Department  as  the 
"Flag  of  Honor,"  and  stipulate  that  it  shall  only  be  carried  at  the  annual 
parades,  and  at  the  funerals  of  members  of  the  force  who  die  in  consequence 
of  injuries  received  in  the  line  of  duty. 

The  undersigned  feel  pleasure  in  being  selected  to  perform  this  agreeable 
duty  on  behalf  of  the  body  of  their  fellow-citizens,  for  they  are  satisfied  that 
this  testimony  has  been  earned  by  the  good  behavior  of  the  guardians  of  the 
public  peace  in  times  of  great  peril.  They  feel  confident  that  the  officers  and 
men  under  your  control  will  in  the  fu'iure,  as  in  the  past,  be  always  ready  to 
respond  to  the  call  of  duty,  and  thus  continue  to  deserve  the  approbation  and 
respect  of  their  fellow-citizens  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

Requesting  you  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  this  communication,  and  to  de- 
signate a  suitable  time  and  place  for  the  ceremony  of  presentation,  we  are 
gentlemen, 

Your  obedient  servants. 


To  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners 
of  the  City  of  New  York. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


An  Act  to  re-organize  the  local  government  of  the  city  of  New  York  was 
passed  by  the  legislature,  April  30,  1873.  '^^^  most  important  heads  of  which 
are  as  follows  : 

The  Police  Department  to  have  for  its  head  a  Board,  to  consist  of  five 
persons  ;  the  Police  force  to  consist  of  a  Superintendent,  three  Inspectors,  Cap- 
tains, Sergeants,  Patrolmen,  Doormen,  and  as  many  clerks  and  employees  as 
the  Board  might,  from  time  to  time,  determine,  and  the  funds  appropriated 
allow ;  the  Patrolmen  not  to  be  increased  in  any  one  year  more  than  one 
hundred.    The  Board  might  appoint  twenty-two  Sergeants. 

The  qualifications  for  membership  on  the  force  were:  Such  Policeman  should 
be  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  never  convicted  of  crime,  must  read  and  write, 
and  reside  in  the  State  one  year. 

A  Police  officer  could  not  withdraw  or  resign  except  by  permission  of  the 
Board  of  Police;  unexplained  absence  for  five  days  was  to  be  deemed  equivalent 
to  a  resignation. 

The  Police  Department  (Chapter  137,  April  5,  1870)  made  the  salaries  of 
the  Police  Commissioners  equal  to  the  salary  of  the  Recorder,  namely,  fifteen 
thousand  dollars.  By  a  subsequent  Act  (April  26,  1870  ;  Chapter  383)  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Police  Board  received  an  additional  salary  of  one  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars.  This  lasted  until  the  framing  of  the  Charter  (April  30,  1873), 
which  designated  the  salaries  of  the  Commissioners  as  follows  :  President  of  the 
Board,  eight  thousand  dollars  ;  other  Commissioners,  six  thousand  dollars. 

The  remainder  of  the  Act  simply  recapitulated  the  leading  features  of  pre- 
ceding bills. 

Mayor  Havemeyer,  in  pursuance  of  the  above,  appointed  the  following  Police 
Commissioners:  Oliver  Charlick,  Abram  Duryea,  Hugh  Gardner,  John  R.  Russell, 
Henry  Smith,  the  latter  being  President  of  the  Board. 

George  W.  Matsell  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  Police  by  the  Board  of 
Police,  on  the  twenty-third  of  May,  1873,  vice  James  J.  Kelso  removed. 

A  subsequent  Act  (Chapter  755,  June  13,  1873)  provided  for  four  Inspec- 
tors, the  Board  to  fix  the  salaries  of  all  clerks  and  employees. 

Promotions  were  to  be  made  by  the  Board  on  grounds  of  meritorious  con- 
duct and  capacity;  no  person  was  to  be  appointed  on  the  force  who  was  over 
thirty  years  of  age;  the  Police  Department,  through  its  Treasurer,  in  pursuance 
of  orders  of  the  Board,  was  to  pay  salaries,  etc. 

A  revised  manual  was  promulgated  in  1873,  from  which  the  following  facts 
are  obtained:  The  "  Department  of  Police"  of  the  City  of  New  York,  con- 
sisted of  a  "Board  of  Police  composed  of  five  "  Commissioners  "  and  the  "  Police 
Force,"and  officers  appointed  by  said  Board.  The  Board  of  Police  was  the  head  of 
the  Department  of  Police;  governed  and  controled  the  Department,  its  business 
and  affairs,  and  was  invested  with,  and  exercised  all,  the  powers  conferred  by  law 
upon  the  Department  of  Police.  The  government  and  discipline  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Police  were  such  as  the  Board  of  Police,  from  time  to  time,  by  rules 
and  regulations,  prescribed.  The  territorial  jurisdiction  and  authority  of  the 
Board  of  Police,  and  of  the  Police  force  under  their  direction,  were  co-extensive 
with  the  territorial  limits  of  the  city  of  New  York.    For  the  purposes  of  Police 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


257 


government,  the  territory  of  the  city  of  New  York  was  divided  into  Inspection 
Districts,  Surgeons'  Districts,  and  Precincts,  subject  to  alteration,  from  time 
to  iime,  by  the  Board  of  Police.  Precincts  were  divided  into  patrol  lieats  or 
posts,  by  the  Captains,  with  the  approval  of  the  Superintendent;  subject  to 
alteration,  from  time  to  time,  by  like  authority. 

The  territory  of  the  city  of  New  York  was  divided  into  two  Inspection  Dis- 
tricts, which  were  called  and  known  respectively  as  the  "Eastern  District"  and 
"  Western  District."  "The  Eastern  District"  consisted  of  the  following  pre- 
cincts, to  wit:  First,  Second,  Fourth,  Sixth,  Seventh,  Tenth,  Eleventh,  Twelfth, 
Thirteenth,  Fourteenth,  Seventeenth,  Eighteenth,  Nineteenth,  Twenty-first, 
Twenty-third,  and  Twenty-sixth.  "The  Western  District"  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing precincts,  to  wit  :  Third,  Fifth,  Eighth,  Ninth,  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth. 
Twentieth,  Twenty-second,  Twenty-fourth,  Twenty-fifth,  Twenty-seventh,  Twen- 
ty-eighth, Twenty-ninth,  Thirtieth,  Thirty-first,  and  Thirty-second. 

The  Board  of  Police  assigned  the  Inspectors  to  office  duty  in  the  Central 
Department,  and  to  district  duty  in  the  Insjjection  Districts. 

The  Police  force  of  the  city  of  New  York  consisted  of  a  Superintendent, 
three  Inspectors,  Surgeons,  Captains,  Sergeants,  Patrolmen  and  Doormen,'  clerks 
and  employees,  to  the  nunilier  of  each  rank  authorized  by  law. 

The  Police  force  was  divided  into  two  Divisions,  known  and  called  respect- 
ively "  the  Eastern  Division,"  and  "  the  Western  Division."  The  members  of  the 
Police  force  assigned  to  duty  in  "  the  Eastern  District"  constituted  "  the  Eastern 
Division  "  of  the  force.  The  members  of  the  Police  force  assigned  to  duty  in 
"  the  Western  District,"  together  with  the  members  of  the  Court  Squads,  Sanitary 
Company,  Special  Service  Squad,  and  Detective  force,  constituted  "  the  Western 
Division  "  of  the  force.  The  Police  force  was  further  divided  into  as  many 
Companies  as  there  were  precincts,  such  other  Companies  or  Squads  as  the  Board 
of  Police  might  order,  and  the  Sanitary  Company  in  addition.  A  company  con- 
sisted of  the  members  of  the  force  assigned  to  duty  in  a  precinct,  and  in  the 
Sanitary  or  other  Company,  and  comprised  one  Captain,  Sergeants,  Patrolmen, 
and  Doormen.  A  Squad  consisted  of  members  of  the  force  assigned  to  duty 
as  such  Squad. 

Meetings  of  the  Board  of  Police  were  held  as  often  as  any  three  of  the  Commis- 
sioners might  direct;  but  all  meetings  of  the  Board  should  be  private,  unless  a 
majority  of  the  Commissioners  should  otherwise  determine.  The  Chief  Clerk  or 
Deputy  Clerk  should  be  present  and  record  its  proceedings  in  books  kept  for  that 
purpose.  The  ayes  and  noes  were  taken  on  all  judgments  dismissing  members 
from  the  force,  and  on  such  other  questions  as  might  be  required  by  law,  or  by 
the  Board  of  Police,  and  formed  part  of  the  record.  The  Board  was  em[)owered 
to  enact,  modify  and  repeal,  from  time  to  time,  orders,  rules  and  regulations  of 
general  discipline  affecting  the  force,  provided  that  they  did  not  conflict  with  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  or  with  the  constitution  or  laws  of  the  State 
of  New  York.  The  Board  made  all  appointments,  assignments  to  duty,  transfers 
of  members,  and  all  detailments;  but  the  Superintendent  might  makedetailments 
for  any  period  not  longer  than  three  days.  Certificates  of  appointments  to  office 
should  be  signed  by  the  President,  and  countersigned  by  the  Chief  Clerk  or  first 


2S8  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

Deputy  Clerk.  The  records  of  all  judgments  rendered  by  the  Board  in  relation 
to  members  of  the  force  were  authenticated  by  the  signature  of  the  Chief  Clerk. 
Charges  preferred  against  any  member  of  the  Police  force  should  be  in  writing, 
and  verified  by  the  oath  of  the  complainant,  except  charges  by  a  Commissioner, 
the  Superintendent,  Inspectors,  Captains,  Surgeons,  or  Chief  Clerk,  who  might 
make  charges  in  writing  without  oath.  Charges  by  Sergeants  and  Roundsmen 
against  members  of  the  force,  were  in  writing,  signed  by  the  officer  making  the 
same,  and  were  delivered  to  the  officer  in  command  at  the  station  house,  who 
immediately  entered  the  same  in  the  blotter,  and  filed  the  original  charge  so  made. 
It  was  the  duty  of  the  Captains  to  transmit  to  the  Superintendent  a  transcript  of 
each  of  said  charges,  on  the  day  the  same  were  entered  on  the  blotter.  When 
written  charges  were  preferred  against  any  member  of  the  Police  force,  they  were 
filed  with  the  Chief  Clerk  ;  whereupon  specifications  of  the  charges,  with  a  no- 
tice of  the  time  and  place  of  trial,  were  served  upon  the  party  charged  two  days 
before  the  day  of  trial,  the  day  of  such  service  being  counted  as  one  of  the  two 
days.  The  judgments  of  the  Board,  upon  charges  proved  true,  were  duly  entered 
in  the  records  of  the  department,  and  a  notice  thereof  read  to  the  force  of  the 
precinct  to  which  the  member  belonged. 

The  Superintendent  of  Police  is  the  chief  executive  officer  of  the  Police 
force,  subject  to  the  orders,  rules,  and  regulations  of  the  Board  of  Police. 

His  duties,  summarized,  are  as  follows:  To  make  quarterly  reports  in 
writing,  to  the  Board  of  Police,  on  the  state  of  the  Department  of  Police,  and  of 
the  Police  force  thereof;  with  such  statistics  and  suggestions  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  Police  government  and  discipline  as  he  should  deem  advisable;  to 
repair  in  person  to  all  serious  or  extensive  fires  in  the  city  of  New  York;  also  to  all 
riots  or  tumultuous  assemblages  within  said  city,  and  take  command  of  the  Police 
force  present;  to  enforce  in  the  city  of  New  York  all  the  laws  of  the  State  and 
ordinances  of  the  city  of  New  York;  and  also  to  abate  all  gaming-houses,  rooms 
and  premises;  and  places  kept  or  used  for  lewd  or  obscene  purposes  and  amuse- 
ments; and  places  kept  or  used  for  the  sale  of  lottery  tickets  or  policies;  to 
communicate  to  the  Board  of  Police  information  of  the  presence  of  any  danger- 
ous epidemic  or  contagious  or  infectious  disease;  and  any  nuisance  detrimental 
to  the  public  health  in  any  part  of  the  city  of  New  York;  to  inspect,  from  time 
to  time,  each  station  house  and  Police  prison  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the 
House  of  Detention  of  witnesses;  and  report  to  the  Board  in  relation  to  their 
order  and  cleanliness;  and  whether  the  books  were  properly  kept,  and  the  busi- 
ness of  the  station  house  properly  conducted. 

He  was  authorized  to  promulgate  orders  to  the  officers  and  members  of  the 
force  not  inconsistent  with  law,  or  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Board;  and 
all  members  of  the  force  should  observe  and  obey  them. 

The  Superintendent,  and  each  Captain  within  his  precinct,  possessed  general 
Police  supervision  over  all  licensed  and  unlicensed  pawnbrokers,  venders,  junk- 
shops,  cartmen,  intelligence  office  keepers,  and  auctioneers  within  the  city. 
Whenever,  under  Section  41  of  Chapter  403  of  the  Laws  of  1864,  the  Superinten- 
dent should  come  into  possession  of  implements  of  gaming,  he  should  retain  the 
same  until  the  prosecution  against  the  arrested  parties  should  be  finally  concluded. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


259 


The  full  dress  of  the  members  of  the  Police  force,  excepting  the  Surgeons, 
was  of  navy  blue  cloth,  indigo  dyed,  and  all  wool. 

For  the  Superintendent. — The  dress  was  a  double-breasted  frock  coat  ;  the 
waist  extending  to  the  top  of  the  hip,  and  the  skirt  within  one  inch  of  the  bend 
of  tlie  knee  ;  two  rows  of  Police  buttons  on  the  breast,  eight  in  each  row,  placed 
in  pairs,  the  distance  between  each  row,  five  and  one  half  inches  on  the  top,  and 
three  and  one  half  inches  at  the  bottom  ;  stand-up  collar,  rising  no  higher  than 
to  permit  the  chin  freely  to  turn  over  it,  to  hook  in  front  at  the  bottom  ;  cuffs,  three 
and  one-half  inches  deep,  and  buttoning  with  three  small  buttons  at  the  under- 
seam  ;  two  buttons  on  the  hips,  one  button  on  the  bottom  of  each  skirt-pocket 
welt,  and  two  buttons  intermediate,  so  that  there  were  six  buttons  on  tlie  back  ; 
collars  and  cuffs  of  dark  blue  velvet  ;  lining  of  the  coat,  black.  Tlic  trousers 
plain  ;  black  neckcloth  ;  white  gloves  and  collar  ;  the  vest  single-breasted,  with 
eight  buttons  placed  at  equal  distances  ;  the  cap  of  navy  blue  cloth,  and  of  tlio 
form  of  the  pattern  in  the  Superintendent's  office,  having  a  band  of  dark  blue 
velvet,  with  a  gold  embroidered  wreath  in  front  encircling  a  sih  er  star. 

For  Inspectors. — The  dress  the  same  as  for  Superintendent,  except  tiial  tliere 
were  seven  buttons  in  each  row  on  the  breast  of  the  coat,  placed  at  equal  dis- 
tances, and  the  gold  wreath  on  the  cap  enclosed  the  word  "Ins[)ector"  in  silver. 

For  Captains  and  Sergeants. — The  same  as  for  Superintendent,  except  that 
there  were  eight  buttons  in  each  row  on  the  breast  of  the  coat,  placed  at  equal 
distances  ;  the  collar  rolling;  the  collar  and  cuffs  of  the  same  color  and  material 
as  the  coat  ;  the  band  of  the  same  color  and  material  as  the  body  of  the  ca]), 
welted  at  the  edges,  and  the  wreath  enclosing  the  word  "  Captain  "  or  "  Sergeant," 
with  the  number  of  the  precinct  to  which  the  officer  was  attached,  in  gold.  The 
Captain  of  the  Harbor  Police  had  a  gold  anchor,  and  the  Sergeants  silver 
anchors,  enclosed  in  a  wreath  in  lieu  of  the  number  of  the  precinct. 

For  Patrolmen. — The  dress  was  a  single-breasted  frock  coat  with  rolling 
collar  ;  the  waist  extending  to  the  top  of  the  hip,  and  the  skirt  to  within  one 
inch  of  the  bend  of  the  knee  ;  nine  buttons  on  the  breast,  two  buttons  on  the 
hips,  two  buttons  on  the  bottom  of  each  pocket,  and  three  small  buttons  on  the 
under  seam  of  the  cuffs.  Trousers  having  a  white  welt  in  the  outer  seam  ; 
white  shirt  collar,  and  white  gloves  ;  black  neckcloth  ;  vest,  single-breasted, 
with  nine  buttons  placed  at  equal  distances.  The  cap  of  navy  blue  cloth,  to 
correspond  with  sample  in  the  office  of  the  Superintendent,  with  wreath  sur- 
rounding the  appropriate  number  in  white  metal. 

The  Patrolmen  detailed  as  Roundsmen,  in  addition  had  the  word  "  Rounds- 
man "  in  white  metal  letters,  in  lieu  of  the  wreath. 

For  Harbor  Patrolmen. — The  dress  was  a  sailor's  jacket,  rolling  collar, 
coming  down  half-way  between  the  hip-joint  and  knee  ;  five  buttons  on  each 
side  of  breast,  two  buttons  on  the  under  seam  of  the  cuffs,  pockets  inside  ; 
vest,  singlf-breasted,  nine  buttons  ;  trousers  jjlain  ;  .shirt  ot  blue  flannel;  cap, 
same  as  other  Patrolmen,  with  wreath  and  number  the  same  as  in  the  office  of 
the  Superintendent  ;  i)ea-jacket  overcoat,  three  inches  above  the  knee,  five  but- 
tons on  each  side,  side  pockets  with  flaps  ;  in  other  respects,  same  as  other 
Patrolmen. 


26o 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


For  Doormen. — The  dress  was  a  double-breasted  round  jacket,  extending 
two  inches  below  the  hip,  with  five  Police  buttons  on  each  breast,  and  one  on  the 
inside  seam  of  each  cuff ;  trousers  of  Cadet-mixed  cloth,  plain  ;  cap,  the  same 
as  Patrolmen,  without  wreath,  but  with  the  word  "  Doorman  "  in  white  metal 
letters,  placed  in  front.    In  other  particulars,  same  as  Patrolmen. 

The  officers  were  permitted  to  wear  the  summer  uniform  while  in  the  dis- 
charge of  desk  duty  in  the  station  houses. 

The  overcoat  was  of  navy  blue  beaver  cloth,  double-breasted,  rolling  collar, 
pocket-welts  on  back,  outside  breast  pocket  with  flap  on  the  right  side,  the  waist 
extending  to  one  inch  below  the  hip,  and  the  skirt  to  three  inches  below  the 


New  Court  House. 

bend  of  the  knee,  swell  edge  stitched  one-fourth  of  an  inch  from  edge,  flaps  on 
pocket,  swell  edge  stitched  one-fourth  of  an  inch  from  edge.  Inspectors  had 
seven  Police  buttons  on  each  breast,  and  six  on  the  back  and  skirt,  and 
tliree  on  the  cuffs.  Captains  had  eight  Police  buttons  on  each  breast,  six  on  the 
back  and  skirt,  and  three  on  the  cuffs.  Patrolmen  had  nine  Police  buttons  on 
each  breast,  four  on  the  back  and  skirt,  and  two  on  the  cuffs. 

Captains  wore  the  prescribed  uniform  at  all  times,  unless  specially  authorized 
to  wear  citizen's  clothes  by  the  Board  or  Superintendent  of  Police. 

Sergeants,  Roundsmen,  Patrolmen,  and  Doormen,  wore  the  prescribed 
uniform  at  all  times  when  their  respective  platoons  were  on  patrol  or  reserve  duty; 
and  when  the  off  platoon  might  be  called  on  duty  on  extraordinary  occasions. 

When  either  of  the  above  enumerated  members  of  the  force  attended  at  any 
Court,  as  witness  or  complainant;  or  at  the  regular  or  special  drills  for  exercise; 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECIVRS. 


or  at  Headquarters,  on  any  business  whatever;  or  at  the  School  of  Instruction,  he 
appeared  in  the  prescribed  uniform. 

Members  of  the  force  might,  for  special  purposes,  be  relieved  from  wearing 
uniform  by  the  Board  or  by  the  Superintendent  of  Police;  but  at  no  time,  while  in 
citizen's  dress,  was  any  member  exempted  from  the  performance  of  Police  duties. 

Special  Patrolmen,  during  the  service  authorized  by  Chapter  383  of  the  Laws 
of  1 870,  wore  a  shield  of  white  metal,  with  the  Coat  of  Arms  of  the  city  of  New 
York  and  the  words  "  Municipal  Police,  Special,"  with  serial  numbers,  in  figures, 
impressed  thereon,  in  the  form  to  be  prescribed  by  the  Board  of  Police. 

The  summer  uniform  consisted  of  blue  flannel  sack  coat,  and  blue  flannel 
trousers.  The  coat  of  Patrolmen  was  a  single-breasted  sack,  with  short  turn- 
over collar,  buttoning  close  up  to  the  chin,  and  reaching  half-way  between  the 
articulation  of  tlie  hip-joint  and  the  knee,  with  four  buttons  on  the  front,  no  pock- 
ets showing  on  the  outside,  and  the  trousers  made  same  as  in  winter. 

For  Harbor  Patrolmen,  flannel  sack  coat,  and  flannel  trousers  made  like 
the  above,  and  sennet  hat. 

Coats  for  Captains,  double-breasted,  buttoning  close  up  to  the  chin,  with 
short  rolling  collar,  two  rows  of  buttons  of  five  each  on  the  front,  tlic  coat  reach- 
ing to  a  point  half-way  between  the  articulation  of  the  hip-joint  and  the  knee; 
trousers  without  welt  in  the  seams. 

For  Sergeants,  same  as  for  Captains,  except  that  there  were  two  rows  of 
buttons,  of  four  each. 

No  person  should  be  appointed  a  Patrolman  unless' — 

He  was  able  to  read  and  write  the  English  language  understandingly. 

He  was  a  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  had  been  a  resident  of  this  State  during  a  term  of  one  year  next  prior 
to  his  application  for  appointment,  and  had  been  a  resident  of  the  city  of  New 
York  for  six  consecutive  months  immediately  preceding  that  time. 

He  had  never  been  convicted  of  crime. 

He  was  at  least  five  feet  seven  inches  in  height,  measured  in  his  bare  feet; 
and  weighed  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  pounds  avoirdupois,  with- 
out clothing. 

He  was  less  than  thirty  years  of  age. 

He  was  of  good  health,  and  sound  in  body  and  mind. 

He  was  of  good  moral  character  and  habits. 

'rhe  Police  force,  on  the  last  day  of  December,  1S73,  consisted  of  the 
following: 

Superintendent,  one;  Inspectors,  four;  Captains,  thirty-five;  Sergeants, 
one  hundred  and  forty-one;  Patrolmen,  twenty-two  hundred;  Doormen,  seventy- 
two.    Total  force,  2453. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  May  of  this  year,  Messrs.  Oliver  Charlick,  Hugh 
Gardner,  Abraham  Duryea  and  John  R.  Russell  were  appointed  by  the  Mayor, 
Commissioners  of  Police,  and,  together  with  Henry  Smith,  who  continued  in  said 
office,  met  at  the  Central  office  and  organized  as  a  Board  of  Police  by  continuing 
Henry  Smith  President,  and  Oliver  Charlick  Treasurer  of  the  Board.  The 
Standing  Committees  were  created  and  composed  as  follows: 


262 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Committee  on  Street  Cleaning:  Messrs.  Charlick,  Gardner,  and  Dur}'ea; 
Committee  on  Station  Houses:  Messrs.  Gardner,  Charlick  and  Russell;  Committee 
on  Rules  and  Discipline:  Messrs.  Duryea  and  Russell;  Committee  on  Finance: 
Messrs  Russell,  Duryea  and  the  Treasurer. 

Two  special  committees  were  appointed,  as  follows i  Committee  on  Improve- 
ment, Efficiency  and  Economy,  Messrs.  Russell  and  Charlick  ;  Committee  on 
Surgeons,  Messrs.  Charlick,  Russell  and  Gardner.  The  President  was  added  as 
an  ex-officio  member  of  all  standing  committees. 


Matthew  T.  Brennan. 

Measures  of  economy  were  introduced  on  the  report  and  recommendation  of 
the  Committee  of  Improvement,  Efficiency  and  Economy,  consisting  in  the  dis- 
missal of  employees  found  to  be  in  excess  of  the  number  required  for  the  efficient 
dispatch  of  business,  and  in  the  reduction  of  salaries — nine  clerks  and  four  tele- 
graph operators  being  dismissed.  The  reduction  effected  in  the  salaries  amounted 
to  eight  thousand  nine  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 

By  the  provisions  of  Section  I,  Chapter  755  of  the  Laws  of  1873,  the  Police 
force  was  established  and  limited  as  to  number  and  grade  of  office,  and  their 
salaries,  as  prescribed  by  law,  was  as  follows:  Superintendent,,  seven  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars;  Inspectors,  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars;  Captains,  two 
thousand  dollars;  Sergeants,  one  thousand  six  hundred  dollars,  Surgeons,  two 


OUR  POLfCE  PROTECTORS. 


263 


thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars;  Patrolmen,  one  thousand  two  hundred 
dollars;  and  Doormen,  nine  hundred  dollars. 

■*At  the  date  of  the  organization  of  the  above  Board  of  Police,  tiicre  were  in 
office  sixteen  Surgeons,  receiving,  as  above,  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  per  annum  each.  These  Surgeons  were  dismissed,  and  three  Surgeons 
appointed  on  salaries  established  by  law,  to  examine  candidates  for  appointment 
on  the  Police  force,  and  to  have  a  general  supervisory  care  of  the  medical  and 
surgical  service  of  the  department.  Thirty-seven  doctors  residing  in  the  various 
precincts  of  the  city  were  designated  to  be  sent  for  to  attend  such  sick  Policemen 
as  were  adjudged  to  re(]uire  medical  or  surgical  treatment,  and  to  treat  cases  of 
injury  or  illness  of  citizens  who  might  he  brought  to  the  station  houses.  The  rate 
of  compensation  for  the  services  of  this  class  of  Surgeons  was  fixed  at  three  dollars 
per  visit  to  Policemen,  and  for  calls  to  citizens' cases  at  the  station  houses  four 
dollars  in  the  day  time,  and  five  dollars  for  calls  occurring  in  the  night. 

It  had  become  apparent  to  the  Board  of  Police  that  the  number  of  Patrol- 
men (two  thousand  one  hundred)  was  inadequate  to  meet  the  increased  and  in- 
creasing demand  for  Patrol  service  of  the  city  in  every  precinct  (and  especially  in 
the  uptown  precincts,  where  the  increase  of  population  was  rapid);  there  was  a 
deficiency  of  force,  and  the  constant  calls  from  respectable  citizens  of  all  classes 
and  conditions  for  a  more  complete  and  perfect  Police  protection  of  property  and 
persons  and  human  life,  against  the  increasing  menaces  of  ill-disposed  and  crimi- 
nal persons. 

The  population  of  New  York  City  was  (1873)  estimated  at  one  million.  The 
two  thousand  one  hundred  Patrolmen  of  the  Police  Department  gave  one  Patrol- 
man to  every  four  hundred  and  sixty-seven  of  the  population.  The  population 
of  London,  for  the  same  year,  was  estimated  at  three  millions.  The  number  of 
Patrolmen  was  nine  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty,  or  one  to  every  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  of  the  population.  The  Board  had  decided  to  increase  the 
force  by  one  hundred  extra  Policemen,  as  authorized  by  law,  but  it  was  found 
that  this  increase  could  not  be  effected  until  financial  means  had  been  made  to 
pay  such  an  increase  of  the  force. 

On  April  30,  1874,  the  laws  provided  that  the  Board  of  Police  should  con- 
sist of  four  Commissioners,  the  Mayor  to  appoint  without  the  confirmation  of 
the  Board  of  Aldermen,  any  person  to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  death  or  resig- 
nation, or  who  should  be  removed  for  cause. 

Abram  Disbecker  was  appointed  a  Police  Commissioner  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  Henry  Smith.  Commissioner  Russell's  term  expired  May  i, 
1874.  Messrs.  Gardner  and  Charlick  resigned  in  May  of  the  same  year.  George 
W.  Matsell  and  John  R.  Voorhis  were  appointed  Police  Commissioners  July  7,  1874. 
George  W.  Walling  was  appointed  Superintendent,  July  23,  1S74,  in  i)lace  of 
George  W.  Matsell. 

Henry  Smith,  President  of  the  Board  of  Police,  died  on  the  twenty-third  day 
of  February,  1874.  Upon  the  receipt  of  the  tidings  of  his  death,  the  Board, 
consisting  of  the  surviving  members,  unanimously  adopted  resolutions  of  regret  at 
his  untimely  death,  and  tendered  an  expression  of  their  sympathy  to  the  grief- 
stricken  wife  and  afflicted  kindred  of  the  deceased. 


264 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  death  of  Mr.  Smith  created  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  President  .of  the 
Board  of  Police,  which  office,  on  the  twelfth  of  March,  1874,  was  filled  by  the 
selection  of  Commissioner  Hugh  Gardner. 

On  the  thirty-first  of  December,  1874,  the  Police  force  for  all  grades  was  as 
follows:  Superintendent,  one;  Inspectors,  four;  Captains,  thirty-six;  Sergeants, 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five;  Patrolmen,  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
two;  and  Doormen,  eighty;  making  a  total  of  2,521. 

The  total  number  of  days  lost  by  the  whole  force  for  the  year  1874,  was 
twenty-three  thousand  and  twenty-six  and  one-half;  of  this,  thirteen  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  five  and  three-fourth  days  were  paid,  and  nine  thousand  one 
hundred  and  twenty  and  three-fourths  unpaid,  making  the  amount  paid  for  sick 
time,  forty-five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirteen  dollars  and  eighty-five 
cents. 

The  total  number  of  arrests,  males  and  females,  for  the  year,  was  ninety-two 
thousand  one  hundred  and  twelve. 

Mayor  AVickham  appointed  William  F.  Smith  Police  Commissioner,  May  i, 
1875,  in  place  of  Abram  Duryea,  whose  term  had  expired. 

George  W.  Matsell  and  Abram  Disbecker  were  removed,  December  31,  1875, 
and  DeWitt  C.  Wheeler  and  Joel  B.  Erhardt  appointed  in  their  places.  Sidney 
P.  Nichols,  on  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  office  of  John  R.  Voorhis,  was 
appointed  a  Police  Commissioner,  May  i,  1876. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  265 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

1875-ISSO. 

"NEW  YORK  SAYS.  STOP!" 


New  York  Fast  Becoming  a  Law-abiding  City. — Proceedings  and  Report  of 
THE  Select  Legislative  Committee  on  the  Causes  and  Increase  of  Crime. 
— Government  of  the  Police  Force. — Demoralization  and  Inefficiency. — 
All  the  Blame  for  these  Evils  not  Attributable  to  the  Police. — Con- 
victions Hard  to  Gain. — Legal  Loop-holes  of  Retreat  for  Criminals. — 
Lottery  and  Policy. — The  Detective  Police  not  Properly  Remunerated 
FOR  their  Services. — Salary  and  Duties  of  Patrolmen,  etc. — The  Board 
OF  Police  Commissioners. — Evil  Effects  of  Political  Intermeddling  with 
the  Force. — Too  Few  Policemen. — The  Gre.\t  Railroad  Strikes. — Scenes 
OF  Riot  and  Bloodshed. — The  Tompkins  Square  Meeting. — "  New  York 
Says  Stop." — New  Rules  for  the  Guidance  of  the  Force. 

1\  T  UCH  as  has  been  said  and  written  about  the  wickedness  of  ''Gotham,"  New 
York,  after  all,  is  not  so  bad  a  city  for  a  law-abiding  citizen  to  live  in.  That 
it  holds  within  its  gates  some  hard  citizens  no  one  will  be  bold  enough  to  gain- 
say; but  that  New  York,  on  the  whole,  is  worse  than  any  other  city  of  its  size, 
in  population  and  commercial  importance,  is  an  allegation  which  can  easily  be 
refuted,  as  the  facts  are  at  hand  to  do  so.  Perhaps  in  no  city  in  the  world 
of  its  cosmopolitan  character  is  there  such  protection  against  the  criminal 
operations  of  professional  robbers  and  the  machinations  of  all  classes  of  thieves 
and  swindlers.  Indeed,  from  a  Police  point  of  view.  New  York,  generally  speak- 
ing, is  at  present  an  orderly,  well-conducted  city,  where  the  higher  grades  of  crime 
are  remarkably  few  and  infrequent.  This  change,  however,  has  taken  place  within 
a  comparatively  short  space  of  time.  Up  to  a  few  years  ago,  the  criminal  classes 
were  particularly  bold  and  successful  in  their  operations,  but  thanks  to  an  improved 
Police  system,  and  a  Detective  Department  second  to  none  in  the  world.  New 
York  has  had  a  breathing  spell;  but,  perhaps  it  would  not  be  too  much  of  a  con- 
cession to  make  in  deference  to  a  pessimistic  jjublic  opinion,  to  admit  that  there 
is  still  room  for  improvement. 

The  city,  it  would  seem,  was  drifting  into  particularly  bad  habits  about  the 
year  1875.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  complaining  that  the  Police  were  not  doing  1 
their  whole  duty,  and  that  too  much  deference  was  being  paid  by  them  to  the 
comfort  and  interests  of  criminals  as  a  class,  and  too  little  to  the  peace  of  mind 
of  taxpayers  and  citizens  generally.  That  there  was  some  foundation  for  these 
complaints  is  but  too  conclusively  proven  by  the  proceedings  and  report  of  the 


266 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Select  Committee  appointed  by  the  Assembly  in  1875  "to  investigate  the  causes 
of  the  increase  of  crime  in  the  city  of  New  York."  The  resolution  under  which 
their  authority  was  conferred  runs  as  follows: 

Whereas,  The  steady  and  rapid  increase  of  crime  in  the  city  and  county  of 
New  York  has  created  great  alarm  in  the  minds  of  all  good  citizens  of  that  citv; 
and, 

Whereas,  the  proper  authorities  charged  with  its  apprehension,  prosecution 
and  punishment  appear  to  be  inadequate  to  its  speedy  suppression,  while  the 
interest  of  good  government  require  that  all  offences  against  the  laws  should  be 
dealt  with  in  the  most  summary  and  decisive  manner,  therefore, 

Resolved,  that  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly  be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized 
to  appoint  a  select  committee  of  five,  which  committee  shall  have  power  to  send 
for  persons  and  papers,  and  compel  the  attendance  of  witnesses,  and  to  inquire 
into  the  causes,  as  far  as  possible,  of  the  great  increase  of  crime  in  said  city  and 
county,  by  making  such  examination  and  investigation  of  all  persons  and  officers 
*  *  *  *  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  if  such  increase  of  crime 
can  be  charged  to  the  negligence  or  connivance  of  any  of  the  public  officers 
whose  duty  it  is  either  to  arrest,  detect,  prosecute  or  punish  crime  in  said  City 
and  County  of  New  York. 

The  duties  so  imposed  on  the  committee  naturally  brought  under  their 
investigation  the  Board  of  Municipal  Police  ;  the  Criminal  Courts,  from  the 
Police  Justices  to  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  ;  the  Coroners  ;  the  District 
Attorney  ;  and  all  the  penal  institutions,  public  and  private;  and  in  addition  to 
this,  owing  to  the  overwhelming  evidence  that  intemperance  was  the  chief  cause 
of  crime,  the  committee  deemed  it  proper  to  inquire  fully  into  the  affairs  of  the 
Board  of  Excise.  The  testimony  taken  gives  a  condensed  history  of  the  Police 
Department,  and  throws  a  lurid  light  on  the  condition  and  management  of  the 
criminal  classes  in  New  York  City,  presenting  a  picture  of  moral  degradation  that 
is  anything  but  pleasing  to  look  upon.  The  report  covers  nearly  three  thousand 
printed  pages.    In  condensed  form,  this  report  tells  the  following  story: 

The  Police  force  of  the  city  is  governed  by  a  Board  of  four  Commissioners 
of  Police,  appointed  for  terms  of  six  years,  expiring  at  different  periods,  by  the 
Mayor,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  The  force,  un- 
der the  government  of  the  Commissioners,  consisted  of  one  Superintendent, 
four  Inspectors,  thirty-four  Captains,  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  Sergeants,  one 
hundred  and  forty-two  Roundsmen,  two  thousand  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
Patrolmen,  and  seventy-three  Doormen.  The  city  was  divided  into  thirty  terri- 
torial precincts,  twenty-eight  of  which  were  commanded  by  Captains  and  two  by 
Sergeants.  In  addition  to  these,  there  were  the  Sanitary  Company,  commanded 
by  a  Captain  ;  the  Harbor  Police,  employing  a  steamboat  and  rowboats,  ,com- 
manded  by  a  Captain  ;  the  Broadway  Squad,  designed  to  help  people  across 
Broadway  in  the  daytime,  commanded  by  a  Captain  ;  while  one  Captain  had 
charge  of  the  drilling  of  the  Patrolmen  ;  another  was  Superintendent  of  the 
Street  Cleaning  Department,  and  another  one  was  under  him  in  command  of  cer- 
tain scows  attached  to  that  department.  Besides  these,  there  were  the  Mounted 
Squad,  consisting  of  fourteen  men  ;  the  Steamship  Squad,  of  twenty-two  men ; 
the  Headquarter  Detectives,  twelve  in  number  ;  the  House  of  Detention,  com- 
manded by  a  Sergeant,  and  employing  four  Policemen;  and  five  Court  Squads, 


A  Drunkard's  Dream. 
(Drawn  by  C  DE  Grimm,  by  permission  of  Mr.  Jame.s  Gordon  Bennett.) 


I 


OCR'  POIJCF.  rROTECTORS.  267 

each  commanded  by  a  Scr<;cant,  and  (.  niplov  iii^  in  the  aggregate  forty-seven 
Policemen. 

■"The  precincts  were  divided  into  four  Inspection  Districts,  eacli  of  wliich  was 
commanded  by  an  Inspector,  and  the  Sujjerintendent  had  power  over  the  whole 
force.  All  orders  from  the  Board  were  issued  to  him  alone,  and  the  Police  force 
should  receive  their  orders  from  him  alone.  The  committee  claimed  that  "great 
abuses  had  sprung  up  in  the  past  from  indi\  idiial  C'ommissioners  issuing  orders  to 
the  Superintendent,  and  even  to  the  Superintendent's  subordinates,  without  con- 
sulting him." 

Having  gone  jiretty  extensively  into  certain  classes  of  crime  that  exi.sted  in 
the  city,  the  committee  say:  "  In  this  connection  it  is  proper  to  say  that  all  the 
blame  (for  the  existence  of  these  evils)  must  not  l)elaid  upon  the  sliouldcrs  of  the 
Police.  Again  and  again  houses  of  prostitution  that  were  disorderly  have  been 
'pulled'  (a  Police  term,  meaning  arrested,)  and  the  inmates  taken  before  the 
Magistrates  ;  again  and  again  Magistrates  have  dismissed  such  cases,  eitlier  from 
an  honest  oi)inion  that  the  testimony  was  insufficient  for  a  conviction,  which  was 
assuredly  in  most  cases  erroneous,  or  from  some  other  less  creditable  motive. 
Hundreds  of  others  have  been  held  by  Magistrates,  have  given  bail  to  go  to  the 
deneral  Sessions,  have  been  indicted  there,  and  nothing  has  ever  been  done  with 
them.  After  giving  bail  they  resumed  business  directly,  either  in  the  same  place 
or  in  an  immediately  adjoining  one." 

Referring  to  gambling  houses,  the  report  declares:  "While  very  great  im- 
provements in  respect  to  the  number  of  gambling  houses  has  taken  place,  es- 
pecially since  the  sessions  of  this  committee  began,  we  cannot  doubt  that  there  is 
room  forstill  further  amelioration  in  the  condition  of  the  city  in  this  respect;  and 
it  will  only  come  when  the  existence  of  a  gambling  house  for  any  length  of  time 
in  the  precinct  of  a  Captain  is  made  adequate  cause  for  his  dismissal  from  the 
force.  Several  of  the  best  officers  have  indicated  their  willingness  to  be  subjected 
to  a  rule  that  shall  hold  their  positions  responsible  for  the  continued  existence  of 
gambling  houses  within  thirty  days  after  power  is  given  them  to  suppress  it." 

Very  interesting  information  concerning  lottery  and  policy  was  obtained  by 
the  committee:  "The  lowest,  meanest,  worst  form,  however,  which  gambling 
takes  in  the  city  of  New  York,  is  what  is  known  as  policy  playing."  Policy  was 
described  by  one  of  the  witnesses,  who  was  competent  to  give  an  opinion  on 
such  a  subject,  as  "a  parasite  on  lottery."  Policy  selling  appears  to  be  a  betting 
by  individuals  with  policy  dealers  upon  the  result  of  the  daily  drawing  of  the 
lotteries  in  Kentucky.  It  does  not  involve  the  purchase  of  a  lottery  ticket,  but 
is  merely  a  private  wager  upon  the  result  of  a  lottery  drawing.  A  number  of 
people,  estimated  by  some  at  as  large  a  figure  as  eleven  hundred  at  times,  were, 
at  the  time  in  question,  engaged  in  the  business  of  selling  policy  in  the 
city  of  New  York;  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  the  purchasers  were  found 
among  the  poorest,  lowest,  and  the  most  ignorant  classes  of  the  communitv. 
One  of  the  witnesses  (himself  a  large  policy  dealer)  made  this  remarkable 
statement,  as  coming  from  him  :  It  (policy)  is  a  right  down  incorporated 
swindle  from  the  word  'go,'  right  through;  it  ought  to  be  stopped.  To  make  Ji 
long  story  short,  it  makes  boys  steal  revenue  stamps  and  go  and  sell  them,  and 


268 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


women  take  the  bank-book  of  the  men,  and  when  they  want  to  go  into  business, 
where's  the  money  ?    It  takes  the  pennies  off  dead  men's  eyes." 

A  curious  incident  is  related  by  the  committee  in  their  report  (p.  23)  of  the 
power  of  the  "  Central  Organization "  (a  body  that  controled  the  dealers  of 
branch  offices),  and  the  reasons  why  the  Police  were  unable  to  suppress  these 
criminals.  A  curious  illustration  of  the  intense  folly,  to  say  the  least,  of  the 
way  in  which  Courts  deal  with  policy,  will  be  found  in  the  testimony  of  Captain 
Hedden  (p.  463).  Discharging  his  duty  efficiently  and  intelligently,  and,  indeed, 
in  the  only  way  in  which  it  could  be  discharged,  he  sent  an  officer  in  plain 
clothes  to  purchase  a  policy  slip;  upon  that  he  arrested  the  dealer,  who  was  dis- 
charged by  the  Court  on  the  ground  that  the  Policeman  was  a  party  to  the 
crime. 

The  detective  system  of  the  city  was  divided  into  two  branches,  the  Head- 
quarters Detectives  and  the  Ward  Detectives.  The  Headquarters  Detective  force 
consisted  of  about  twenty-five  men  under  the  command  of  a  Captain,  up  to  Janu- 
ary, 1875.  The  Ward  Detectives  were  about  two  in  number  in  each  precinct, 
although  varying  ;  there  being  sometimes  only  one,  and  sometimes  three  or  four. 
The  duties  of  the  Headquarters  Detectives  were  the  investigation  of  crimes  as- 
signed to  them  for  that  purpose  by  the  Superintendent-  The  duties  of  the  Ward 
Detectives  were  also  the  investigation  of  crimes  in  the  precincts,  and  in  this  re- 
spect they  and  their  Captains  at  times  clashed  with  the  Headquarters  Detectives. 

The  Headquarters  Detectives  had  continued  pretty  nearly  unchanged  for  a 
good  many  years,  saving  the  natural  changes  that  arose  from  the  passage  of  time, 
"  and  there  is  no  doubt  whatever  that  in  shrewdness,  in  experience,  and  in  capac- 
ity, many  of  them  were  abundantly  equal  to  the  duties  imposed  upon  them." 

The  pay  of  the  detectives  was  precisely  the  same  as  that  of  the  Patrolmen, 
one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  a  year,  and  no  increased  compensation  was 
given  even  to  the  oldest  and  most  experienced  officer  among  them,  except  when 
he  was  allowed  by  the  grace  of  the  Board  to  receive  some  portion  of  the  reward 
paid  for  the  recovery  of  stolen  property.  In  rank  and  in  salary  the  oldest  detect- 
ive stood  merely  on  a  par  with  the  newest  Patrolman  who  walked  his  beat. 

A  Patrolman,  on  his  joining  the  force,  which  he  did  after  swearing  to  a  con- 
siderable variety  of  things,  and  after  being  certified  to  by  a  number  of  reputable 
citizens  who  had  known  him  for  five  years,  and  after  passing  medical  examination 
as  to  qualifications,  was  put  in  the  school  of  instruction,  under  a  Drill  Captain, 
for  a  month.  Upon  receiving  his  appointment,  and  before  entering  the  school  of 
instruction,  he  became  a  full  Patrolman,  and  no  power  existed  in  the  Board  to  get 
rid  of  him  except  upon  trial  m  the  same  manner  as  with  any  officer.  At  the  jend 
of  a  month,  or,  if  he  proved  an  exceptionally  stupid  scholar,  at  the  end  of  two 
months,  he  went  upon  the  force,  and  from  the  hour  that  he  received  his  appoint- 
ment he  drew  pay  at  the  rate  of  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  per  year,  the 
same  not  only  as  the  oldest  and  most  experienced  Patrolman,  but  as  any  Rounds- 
man on  the  force. 

It  was  the  duty  of  Roundsmen,  who  were  attached  to  each  precinct,  to 
traverse  the  precinct  from  point  to  point,  in  order  to  see  that  the  Patrolmen  were 
discharging  their  duty  faithfully. 


OUR  POTJCF.  PROTF.CTORS. 


269 


Above  them  in  grade  stand  the  Sergeants,  who  received  one  thousand  six 
hundred  dollars  per  year,  who  were  appointed  hy  the  Board  at  pleasure,  after  an 
examination  was  held,  and  four  of  whom  were  attached  to  each  precinct,  while  a 
few  others  discharged  independent  duty,  such  as  the  command  of  Court  Squads, 
etc.  The  Sergeants  in  turn  presided  at  the  desk  in  the  station  house,  and  kept 
the  "blotter,"  so-called,  a  book  in  which,  with  great  minuteness  of  detail,  all  the 
transactions  of  Police  life  are  entered.  The  Sergeant,  while  presiding  at  the  desk 
in  the  absence  of  the  Captain,  exercises  the  authority  of  the  Captain,  and  their 
positions  require  grave  judgment  and  very  considcral)le  capacity,  coolness  and 
courage. 

Above  the  Sergeants  rank  the  Captains,  who  received  two  thousand  dollars 
per  annum.  Those  in  command  of  the  precincts  were  absolutelv  supreme, 
under  the  control,  of  course,  of  their  superior  officer  and  of  the  law. 

In  rank  above  the  Captains  were  four  Inspectors,  whose  salarv  was  three 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars  apiece,  and  who,  \\\)  to  the  sunnncr  of  1875,  were 
located  as  follows:  one  was  in  charge  of  the  Street  Cleaning  Bureau,  another 
acted  as  a  sort  of  deputy  to  the  Superintendent,  and  the  other  two  daily  in- 
spected and  reported  to  the  Superintendent.  This  system  was  done  away  with, 
and  the  city  was  divided  into  four  inspection  districts,  of  which  the  two  most 
important,  the  First  and  Second,  included  the  whole  of  the  city  below  Forty- 
second  Street,  and  these  were  commanded  by  the  two  oldest  and  most  expe- 
rienced Inspectors.  The  Inspectors  were  also  given  authority,  each  in  his  dis- 
trict, over  the  Captains.  The  Captains  reported  daily  to  them,  and  they  re- 
ported an  abstract  to  the  Superintendent.  A  small  force,  two  Sergeants  and  a 
Roundsman,  was  allotted  to  each  Inspector. 

Above  the  Inspectors  stands  the  Superintendent,  whose  salary  is  six  thou- 
sand dollars  per  annum,  and  who  holds,  perhaps,  in  some  respects,  one  of  the 
most  important  places  in  the  United  States.  Beyond  all  question,  more  duties 
devolve  upon  the  Superintendent  than  it  is  possible  for  any  man  to  do  well. 

The  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  consists  of  four  Commissioners,  ap- 
pointed by  the  Mayor,  one  of  whom,  elected  by  his  associates  as  President,  draws 
a  salary  of  eight  thousand  dollars,  while  the  other  three  receive  six  thousand 
dollars  each.  They  are  entrusted  with  the  absolute  government  of  the  whole 
Police  force  of  the  city  of  New  York,  subject  only  to  such  restrictions  as  the 
legislature  has  provided  in  its  laws.  All  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
department  emanate  from  them,  and  in  addition  to  that,  all  the  appointments 
and  all  the  promotions  are  made  bv  them.  The  trials  of  all  the  offenses  charged 
against  Policemen,  from  Jietty  offenses  against  the  military  code,  such  as  a  dis- 
ordered button,  up  to  the  very  greatest  charges,  are  held  before  one  or  all  of  the 
Commissioners,  and  are  decided  by  the  Board,  as  a  Board.  In  addition,  the 
legislature  imposed  u[)on  the  Commissioners  the  management  of  the  cleaning 
of  the  streets  of  the  city  of  New  York,  a  vast  labor,  which  employed  a 
vast  number  of  men  and  carts,  and  which  required  the  almost  incessant 
attention  of  one  at  least  of  the  Commissioners.  The  Commissioners  were 
further  obliged  to  take  charge  of  the  Bureau  of  Elections,  which,  during  a  large 
portion  of  the  year,  consumed  a  great  deal  of  their  time.    They  appoint  all  the 


270 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


inspectors  of  election,  something  over  two  thousand  in  number,  and  all  the  poll 
clerks  ;  they  designate  all  the  jjolling  places  ;  in  fact,  the  whole  machinery  of 
election  is  under  their  direct  and  immediate  control.  The  President  of  the 
Board  of  Police  is-,  in  addition,  a  member  of  the  Health  Board. 

"  One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  experienced  in  procuring  an  efficient  Police, 
has  been,  the  Committee  find,  the  continual  intermeddling  of  ])oliticians  with  the 
government  of  the  force.  Patrolmen  have  generally  been  appointed  through 
political  influence;  promotions  have  been  made  on  the  same  ground,  and  even 
details  for  duty  have  frequently  been  regulated  in  the  same  manner.  *  *  * 
The  present  Board  have  announced  to  the  force  that  any  officer  who  procures 


inspector  McDermott. 


politicians  to  attempt  to  influence  the  action  of  the  Board,  will  receive  no  con- 
sideration at  their  hands,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  steady  enforcement  of  this 
rule  may  lead  to  the  abatement  of  this  intolerable  nuisance."    *    *  * 

There  were  not  enough  Policemen  in  New  York,  the  committee  concluded. 
It  appears  that  the  total  number  of  night  posts  in  the  city  at  this  time  was  eight 
hundred  and  twenty.  The  aggregate  length  of  the  night  posts  was  eight  hundred 
and  twenty-five  miles,  three  furlongs,  thirty-eight  rods  and  five  yards.  The  aver- 
age length  of  each  night  post  was  one  mile  and  two  rods.  The  total  force  of 
Patrolmen  in  Patrol  Precincts  was  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  forty-six. 
Average  absent  from  any  cause,  four  hundred  and  eight.  Average  effective  force 
on  each  night,  seven  hundred  and  sixty-nine.  Average  length  of  each  actual  night 
post,  one  mile,  twenty-three  rods  and  two  yards.  Aggregate  length  of  day  posts, 
eight  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles,  three  furlongs,  thirty-eight  rods,  and  five 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


271 


yards.  Average  effective  day  force,  three  hundred  and  eighty-four.  Average 
length  of  each  actual  day  i)OSt,  two  miles  and  four  rods.  A  Tatrolman  was 
rec{*iired  while  walking  his  beat  at  night  to  examine  the  door  of  every  house  on 
his  post  and  to  see  whether  or  not  it  was  closed  securely.  When  the  average 
length  of  such  a  post  is  considered,  one  mile  and  upwards  of  twenty-three  rods,  it 
may  be  imagined  easily  how  long  a  time  it  takes  a  Patrolman  to  get  from  one  end 
of  his  beat  to  the  other,  and  how  long  an  interval  must  ensue  after  the  time  at 
which  he  leaves  any  given  ])oint  on  his  beat  before  he  returns  to  it  again.  *  *  * 
The  committee  conc:luded  "that  five  hundred  additional  Policemen  were  abso- 
lutely essential  to  the  safety  of  the  lives  and  property  of  the  citizens  in  New 
York." 

The  report  of  Superintendent  Walling,  announcing  the  death  of  Inspector 
Francis  C.  Speight,  March  20,  1877,  was  the  occasion  for  the  Board  to  pass  re- 
solutions of  sympathy  and  condolence.  He  was  appointed  a  Patrolman  during 
the  first  term  as  Mayor  of  William  F.  Havemeyer,  and  attained  the  rank  of 
Captain  in  1854  ;  in  1857  he  became  a  member  of  the  Metropolitan  Police 
force,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Inspector  on  the  eleventh  day  of  August, 
1874.  During  an  unusually  extended  term  of  office  he  discharged  its  difficult 
duties  faithfuUv,  vigorously,  and,  as  appears  by  his  record,  to  the  evident  satis- 
faction of  the  numerous  superior  officers  under  whom  he  served. 

Upon  the  report  of  Inspector  Thorne  announcing  the  death  of  Inspector 
John  McDermott,  the  nineteenth  of  April,  1880,  the  Board  passed  the  follow- 
ing: 

[Vherem,  John  McDermott,  late  an  Inspector  of  the  Police  force,  deceased, 
was  appointed  a  Patrolman  of  Police  of  the  city  of  New  York,  December  24, 
1859,  a  Roundsman  January  26,  1863,  a  Sergeant  November  15,  1865,  a  Cap- 
tain October  9,  1869,  and  an  Inspector  May  31,  1872,  p.nd  during  this  extended 
term  of  office  he  discharged  its  difificult  duties  faithfully,  vigorously,  and,  as 
appears  by  his  record,  to  the  evident  satisfaction  of  the  numerous  superior  of- 
ficers under  whom  he  served.  He  died  on  the  nineteenth  of  A]jril,  inst.,  in  the 
forty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Inspector  McDermott  the  Department  and 
the  public  lose  a  p.ompt,  efficient,  courteous  and  faithful  officer,  whose  record  of 
official  action  is  commended  to  the  force  as  an  example  worthy  of  study  and 
emulation. 

Resolved,  That  the  sympathy  of  the  Board  is  tendered  to  the  family, 
relatives,  and  friends  of  the  deceased  in  their  deep  affliction. 

The  great  railroad  strikes  which  convulsed  the  country  in  1877,  leading  to 
desperate  encounters  between  the  rioters  and  the  militia,  were  fortunately 
brought  to  a  sudden  stop  just  as  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  organize  those 
dangerous  forces  in  open  mass  meetings  in  the  heart  of  a  socialistic  district  in  this 
city.  These  railroad  strikes  had  been  unprecedented  in  their  extent.  Beginning 
at  Martinsburg,  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  the  strikes  and  attendant 
disorders  spread  to  all  the  great  lines  in  the  central  and  western  j)art  of  tiie  Union, 
in  rapid  succession.  The  hard  times  had  pressed  heavily  on  the  hard  worked 
masses,  and  the  lowering  of  wages  by  railroad  corporations  provoked  discontent 
and  aroused  a  retaliatory  spirit  among  the  men.  It  is  a  coincidence  worthy  of 
note,  that  those  scenes  of  disorder  were  also  enacted,  like  the  draft  and  orange 
riots,  in  the  month  of  July.  So  serious  had  grown  the  situation  in  a  little  time, 
that  the  President  of  the  United  States  issued  a  proclamation  in  which  all  good 


272 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


citizens  were  admonished  against  countenancing,  abetting,  or  taking  part  in  such 
unlawful  proceedings,  and  all  persons  engaged  in  or  connected  with  said  domes- 
tic violence  and  obstruction  of  laws,  were  warned  to  disperse  and  retire  peaceably 
to  their  respective  abodes  on  or  before  twelve  o'clock  noon,  of  the  nineteenth  of 
July,  instant. 

Scenes  of  riot  and  bloodshed  were  witnessed  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore,  in 
which  the  mob  was  fired  upon  by  the  military.  In  the  conflict  between  thirty 
and  forty  of  the  mob  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  nine  were  killed  outright. 

Pittsburg  was  the  next  city  to  experience  the  fury  of  the  strikers,  and  a 
general  revolt  spread  like  a  devouring  flame  along  the  line  of  the  great  railroads. 
The  country  had  been  thoroughly  aroused,  and  no  one  knew  where  the  trouble 
would  end.  Reading  was  the  next  point  to  feel  the  force  of  the  storm,  while 
Philadelphia  and  Scranton  soon  became  the  centres  of  similar  trouble. 

While  the  State  and  general  Government  were  thus  employed  in  grappling 
with  those  serious  disturbances,  it  was  natural  that  public  attention  should  be  at- 
tracted to  the  great  State  of  New  York,  to  mark  what  effect  the  revolutionary 
proceedings  of  the  strikers  would  produce  in  that  quarter.  The  hands  employed 
at  Homellsville,  on  the  Erie  Railroad,  had  struck,  and  taken  up  arms  in  defiance 
of  law.  Governor  Robinson,  by  proclamation,  warned  all  persons  engaged  in  the 
violation  of  law  to  desist  therefrom,  and  offered  a  reward  of  five  hundred  dollars, 
to  be  paid  upon  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  each  and  every  striker  found  guilty 
of  a  breach  of  the  law.  Syracuse,  Buffalo,  and  other  cities  and  towns  were  deeply 
agitated  by  the  unlawful  work  of  the  strikers. 

It  was  at  this  crisis  that  an  event  occurred  in  the  city  of  New  York,  which, 
for  weal  or  woe,  was  destined  to  prove  of  far-reaching  importance.  This  city 
was  regarded  as  the  pivotal  point  of  the  strike  ;  as  New  York  went  so  went 
the  victory  or  defeat.  It  caused,  therefore,  serious  alarm  throughout  the  State 
when  it  was  announced  that  a  mass  meeting  was  called  to  take  place  in  Tomp- 
kins Square,  under  the  auspices  of  Socialistic  leaders,  and,  of  course,  in  sympathy 
with  the  strikers.  This  action  was  regarded  by  the  city  authorities,  and  properly 
so,  as  being  fraught  with  the  possibilities  of  great  danger  to  the  peace  and  wel- 
fare of  the  State  and  entire  country.  The  rioters  had  at  this  stage  been  checked 
in  the  several  centres  which  they  had  selected  as  their  strongholds.  They  had 
hoped  to  regain  lost  ground  by  making  a  diversion  on  this  city,  where  the  ele- 
ments of  popular  disorder  are  but  too  numerous.  With  New  York  strikers  and 
their  sympathizers  up  in  arms,  an  impetus  would  have  been  given  to  the  cause, 
which,  in  the  inflamed  and  strained  condition  of  the  temper  of  the  masses, 
would  have  been  extremely  difficult  to  stamp  out,  and  what  untold  tales  of  horrors 
and  atrocities  might  have  resulted  as  the  natural  product  of  such  a  conflict!  This 
truly  was  one  of  those  public  critical  emergencies  where  an  ounce  of  Police  pre- 
vention was  better  than  a  pound  of  military  cure.  It  was  a  very  trying  and 
anxious  moment  for  New  York  City,  and  it  is  not  much  of  an  exaggeration  or  an 
abuse  of  a  figure  of  speech  to  say  that  her  fate  trembled  in  the  balance. 

The  Police,  true  to  their  history,  were  not  unmindful  of  the  gravity  of  the 
situation.  By  their  prompt  and  energetic  measures  the  advancing  tread  of  the 
strikers  was  brought  to  a  halt  before  they  had  time  to  marshal  their  forces  or  fall 


OUR  rOLICE  PROTECTORS. 


into  line.  A  morning  paper,  in  three  words,  summed  up  the  situation  :  "  Nkw 
VoKK.  sAvs  sTor  !"  'I'he  same  paper  says  :  "The  thorough  and  magnificent  prep- 
arations made  by  the  National  Guard  of  the  First  Division  and  the  Now  York 
ToHce  have  checked  the  threatened  disorder  in  this  city  at  the  outset,  and  left 
nothing  whereon  to  hang  to-day  any  fear  or  expectation  of  outbreak  here." 

The  Board  of  Police,  by  reason  of  disturbances  and  riots  in  other  cities  of 
the  State,  and  the  apprehensions  of  similar  disorders  taking  place  in  this  city, 
demanded  the  assistance  of  the  Seventh,  Twenty-second,  Eighth  and  Seventy- 
first  Regiments,  which  demand  was  approved  by  the  Mayor.  The  regiments 
named  were  accordingly  assembled  in  their  respective  armories,  equij)ped  for 


Essex  Market. 


service,  armed  with  breech-loaders,  and  each  supplied  with  forty  rounds  of  am- 
munition per  man,  and  directed  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  respond — until 
further  orders — to  any  demand  which  might  be  made  upon  them  by  the  Board  of 
Police  to  aid  in  suppressing  riot,  tumult,  or  disturbance  of  the  public  peace. 
The  Police  force  covering  Tompkins  Square  were  distributed  as  follows: 
Mounted  Squad  and  mounted  Patrolmen  from  up-town  precincts,  under 
Sergeant  Revell,  at  the  Eighteenth  Ward  Market,  foot  of  E^ast  Seventeenth 
Street ;  three  hundred  Patrolmen  at  the  Seventeenth  Precinct  Station  House, 
Fifth  Street  and  First  Avenue,  under  command  of  Inspector  Murray  ;  two  hun- 
dred Patrolmen  at  the  Eighteenth  Precinct  Station  House,  Twenty-second  Street, 
between  First  and  Second  Avenues,  under  Inspector  Thome  ;  one  hundred  and 
sixty  men  at  the  Eleventh  Precinct  Station  House,  Sheriff  and  Houston  Streets, 
under  Captain  Allaire;  and  one  hundred  men  in  reserve  at  Police  Headquarters, 
under  Captains  Hedden  and  Gunner.  Nearly  every  part  of  the  city  was  covered 
by  the  Central  Office  Detectives,  who  made  regular  rejjorts.  Trouble  being  ex- 
pected at  the  Thirtieth  Street  Depot  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad,  Captain 


274 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Washburn,  of  the  Twentieth  Precinct,  had  his  command  strongly  reinforced. 
The  Western  Steamboat  Squad,  under  the  command  of  Sergeant  GastHn, 
guarded  the  property  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  at  Piers  Nos.  i,  2,  4,  5,  38, 
and  39,  North  River  ;  that  of  the  New  York  Central  and  Hudson  River  Rail- 
road, Pier  No.  26,  North  River;  that  of  the  Starin  Transportation  Company,  at 
Piers  Nos.  14  and  15,  North  River,  and  the  landings  at  the  foot  of  West  Twenty- 
second  Street  and  Twenty-fourth  Street. 

These  preparations  were  too  formidable  for  the  men  to  cope  with  who 
had  called  the  Tompkins  Square  meeting.  Strikers  and  rioters  were  cowed,  and 
the  meeting  broke  up  with  no  public  disturbance  of  any  consequence.  The 
turning  point  was  safely  passed  and  the  demon  of  discord  was  crushed.  The 
public  breathed  more  freely,  and  the  press,  voicing  public  opinion,  gave  emphatic 
expression  to  this  sentiment: 

"  The  conduct  both  of  the  Police  and  of  the  citizen  soldiery  w-as  simply 
admirable." 

Mayor  Ely  made  charges  for  dereliction  against  three  Police  Commissioners 
of  this  city,  viz.  Messrs  Erhardt,  Nichols,  and  Wheeler.  The  following  letter  to 
one  of  these  Commissioners  embodies  the  nature  of  these  charges  : 

Executive  Dep.a.rtment, 
City  H.\ll, 

New  York,  Dec.  18,  1877. 

Joel  B.  Erhardt,  Esq., 

Police  Commissiotier  of  the  City  of  New    York : 

Sir:  The  management  of  the  Police  Department  seems  to  call  for  official 
action  on  my  part. 

The  duty  of  cleaning  the  streets,  which  is  devolved  upon  that  Department, 
has  been  inefficiently  performed.  The  unclean  and  filthy  condition  of  the  streets 
during  the  present  year  has  not  only  been  a  public  scandal  and  disgrace  to  the  city, 
but  has  been  recently  reported  by  the  Health  Department  as  dangerous  to  the 
public  health,  although  the  sum  of  sixty  thousand  dollars  has  been  taken  each 
month  from  the  public  treasury  for  street  cleaning  purposes  ;  an  amount  in  my 
judgment  amply  sufficient  for  the  proper  performance  of  that  work. 

The  Police  Department  has  also  assumed  the  right  to  decide  when  the 
statutes  of  the  State  should  be  enforced,  and  when  they  should  be  permitted  to 
be  ignored,  and  after  allowing  them  to  be  disregarded  for  considerable  periods 
of  time,  has  then  enforced  them  capriciously  and  by  raids,  in  such  manner  as  to 
render  law  odious  instead  of  respected. 

For  this  inefficiency  and  maladministration  of  the  Police  Department,  you, 
as  one  of  the  Commissioners,  are  in  my  judgment  responsible. 

You  are  hereby  notified  that  I  will  give  you  an  opjjortunity  to  be  heard  in 
answer  to  the  above  charges  on  the  twentieth  day  of  December  instant,  at  twerve 
o'clock  noon,  at  this  office,  then  and  there  to  show  cause,  if  any  exist,  why  you 
should  not  be  removed  from  office  as  one  of  the  Police  Commissioners  of  the 
city  of  New  York. 

Smith  Ely,  Jr.,  Mayor. 

To  this  Mr.  Erhardt  made  an  order  as  follows: 
City  and  County  of  New  York,  jrjr.  .• 

Joel  B.  Erhardt,  being  sworn,  says:  That  the  charges  herein  were  served 
upon  him  late  in  the  day  on  Tuesday,  December  18,  1877  ;  that  they  are  so 
general  in  their  nature,  that  it  has  been  impossible  for  him  to  properly  prepare 


OUR  rOLfCE  PROTECTORS. 


275 


his  defense  in  the  time  allowed  in  such  charge;  that  so  far  as  said  charges  relate 
t.)  street  cleaning,  it  is,  as  he  is  advised  by  his  counsel  and  verily  believes,  neces- 
sary*and  important  that  he  should  present  evidence  to  show  not  only  that  all 
moneys  expended  by  the  Police  Department  have  been  i)roperly  and  economi- 
cally expended;  that  the  streets  have  been  as  thoroughly  cleaned  as  the  law, 
and  the  legal,  and  other  instructions  and  com])lications  permitted,  and  that  the 
Police  De])artment  has  not  been  guilty  of  inefficiency  or  maladmistration.  But 
as  deponent  is  advised  by  his  said  counsel,  it  is  furthermore  important  that  he 
should  be  ])reparcd  to  show  that  he  is  not  responsible  for  any  inefficiency  or 
maladministration.  That  if  a  brief  delay  is  allowed,  deponent  will  be  prepared 
with  such  proof.  That  the  only  reason  for  desiring  such  delay  is  the  physical 
impossil)ility,  while,  by  attending  to  the  necessary  duties  of  his  office,  and  ex- 
amining the  witnesses,  or  procuring  their  statements,  and  preparing  the  neces- 
sary statistics  in  the  brief  time  permitted,  especially  as  the  absence  from  the 
country  of  one  of  the  members  of  the  Board  has  thrown  increased  labors  upon 
the  remaining  meinbers.  Deponent  further  says  that  the  charge  that  the  right 
to  decide  when  the  statutes  of  the  State  should  be  enforced  and  when  they 
should  be  permitted  to  be  ignored,  has  been  assumed,  and  that  the  laws  have 
been  enforced  capriciously  and  by  raids,  is  so  general  in  its  nature,  that,  as  he  is 
advised  by  counsel  and  verily  believes  to  be  true,  it  is  important  and  necessary 
to  be  prepared  to  show  its  falsity  by  evidence  and  statistics  of  the  office  during 
the  two  years  past;  and  that  deponent  has  been  unable  to  procure  the  requisite 
statistics  and  proofs  from  the  records  in  the  brief  period  allowed.  Deponent 
further  says,  that  the  said  charges  are  each  and  all  of  them  untrue,  and  that  he 
has  a  good  and  substantial  defence  upon  the  merits,  after  a  full  statement  of  the 
facts,  as  he  is  advised  by  counsel  and  verily  believes  to  be  true. 

Joel  B.  Erhardt. 

Sworn  to  before  me,  this  20th  day  ) 
of  Deceml)er,  1877.  \ 

[l.  s.]  Edmund  C.  (Iav, 

Notary  Public. 

Sidney  P.  Nichols,  for  nearly  two  years  previously  chairman  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  the  Police  Department  on  Street  Cleaning,  in  defending  himself  against  this 
charge  of  dereliction,  testified  that  the  organization  of  the  Street  Cleaning  Bureau 
was  made  up  as  follows: 

The  person  in  charge  was  known  as  Die  Street  Cleaning  Inspector,  and  by 
law  was  required  to  be  a  Police  officer.  He  had  charge  of  all  the  operations  of 
the  Bureau,  directed  how  and  when  ttie  work  should  be  done,  and  was  respon- 
sible to  the  Commissioners  of  Police  for  the  proper  carrying  out  of  the  work  of  the 
Bureau.  He  was  assisted  by  a  person  known  as  the  Deputy  Inspector,  who  as- 
sisted him  in  carrying  out  the  orders  of  the  Inspector,  and  had  a  general  super- 
vision of  the  work  of  the  Bureau. 

The  city  was  divided  into  Street  Cleaning  Districts,  usually  Wards,  of  which 
one  or  more  constituted  a  district,  which  was  in  charge  of  a  foreman,  who  had 
the  immediate  charge  of  the  work  in  his  district,  assisted  by  two  or  more  gang- 
men,  who  were  in  direct  charge  of  the  laborers  and  cartmen,  of  which  there  were 
employed  constantly  a  sufficient  number  to  perform  the  work  in  each  district. 
The  gangmen  reported  all  matters  to  the  foreman,  and  the  foreman  made  a  daily 
report  of  all  the  men  employed,  the  time  each  is  entitled  to,  the  streets  cleaned, 
and  the  number  of  loads  of  ashes,  garbage,  and  street  sweepings  gathered  by  the 


276 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


cartmen  and  delivered  at  the  several  dumping  boards  upon  scows  or  barges"  to  be 
taken  away  to  places  of  deposit.  There  was  one  district  made  up  of  Broadway  and 
the  principal  avenues  and  streets  that  need  cleaning  oftener  and  at  night,  which 
district  was  in  charge  of  a  foreman  and  gangman,  the  same  as  the  other  districts. 
The  foremen  directs  what  streets  and  avenues  shall  be  cleaned  each  working  day, 
unless  specially  ordered  by  the  Inspector  to  clean  certain  streets  or  parts  of  streets 
on  specified  days. 

There  was  a  person  employed  at  each  dumping  board  known  as  a  Dump  In- 
'  spector,  who  had  charge  of  all  work  and  workmen  at  the  dump,  and  kept  a  tally 
of  all  loads  delivered  by  the  carts,  specifying  each  cartman  by  name  and  the  num- 
ber of  loads  each  cartman  delivered  during  the  day  or  night.  These  daily  returns 
of  the  foreman  and  Dump  Inspectors  were  returned  each  day  to  the  officer  of  the 
Street  Cleaning  Bureau,  and  there  compiled  and  preserved. 

There  was  a  person  known  as  the  Superintendent  of  Scows,  or  Boats,  who  had 
the  immediate  charge  of  all  the  floating  property  of  the  bureau,  and  directed 
(under  orders  from  the  Inspectors)  where  the  materials  shall  be  taken  to  to  be 
disposed  of,  and  has  charge  of  the  force  employed  in  disposing  of  the  same. 

There  was  a  person  known  as  the  Superintendent  of  Stables,  who  had  the  im- 
mediate charge  of  the  stables  and  repair  shops.  All  horses,  carts  and  machines 
owned  by  the  bureau,  except  when  at  work  in  the  several  districts,  were  in  charge 
of  a  foreman.  He  had  charge  of  and  kept  the  time  of  all  laborers,  mechanics, 
etc.,  employed  in  and  about  the  stables. 

The  Street  Cleaning  Department  was  created  by  statute  in  1872.  The 
Board  of  Police  were  required  to  clean  the  streets,  and  to  keep  them  clean.  In 
1873  the  amount  of  money  expended  was  ore  million  and  seventy-nine  thousand 
dollars;  in  1874,  it  was  eight  hundred  and  twenty-nine  thousand  dollars;  in  1875, 
eight  hundred  and  one  thousand  dollars;  in  1876  it  was  seven  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  thousand  dollars,  and  in  1877  it  was  seven  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars,  or  five  hundred  and  ninety-two  thousand  dollars  to  November  i,  1877  ; 
and  for  all  four  years  three  million  four  hundred  and  fifty-four  thousand  dollars. 
The  number  of  miles  they  cleaned  in  1873  ^^^^  eleven  thousand  ;  in  1874  twelve 
thousand  ;  in  1875  xvvsxq  thousand,  and  in  1876  it  was  eleven  thousand. 

In  four  years,  forty-five  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty-two.  The  loads  of 
ashes,  garbage  and  dirt  removed  were  as  follows  :  In  1873  one  million  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-seven  thousand  ;  in  1874,  one  million  and  thirty  thousand  ;  in 
1875,  one  million  ^ind  thirty-one  thousand;  in  1876,  one  million  and  eleven 
thousand  ;  four  million  four  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  in  four  years.  The 
total  cost  per  mile  in  the  first  year  was  ninety-eight  dollars  ;  the  second  yetfr, 
1874,  sixty-four  dollars  and  eighty  cents  ;  in  1875,  it  was  eighty  dollars  and 
fifty-six  cents  ;  in  1876,  it  was  sixty-four  dollars — making  an  average  of  seventy- 
six  dollars  and  eighty-two  cents  i)er  mile  in  each  year.  The  cost  per  load  of 
material — that  is  the  only  way  it  can  be  arranged — was,  for  the  first  year,  ninety- 
seven  cents;  second  year,  eighty  cents  ;  third,  seventy-se\en  cents  ;  and  for  the 
fourth  year,  seventy-one  cents;  making  an  average  of  eighty-three  cents  for  four 
years  ;  and  in  1877  it  has  been  seventy-two  cents.  A  million  of  loads  and  more 
was  the  product  ;  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of  streets  to  be  cleaned,  and  three 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


277 


hundred  miles  and  over  to  be  traversed  every  day  for  the  purpose  of  collecting 
ashes,  garbage  and  street  dirt.  The  material  so  collected  had  the  relation  of 
aboflt  sixty-five  to  seventy  per  cent,  of  ashes  ;  of  about — a  large  allowance — ten 
per  cent,  garbage,  and  the  remainder  street  sweepings  as  it  was  collected. 

The  manual  at  present  in  use  in  the  Police  Department  was  promulgated  in 
1877.  Amendments  have  been  added  thereto  at  several  subsequent  periods. 
Some  of  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  aforesaid  manual  are  appended  in  a 
condensed  form.  The  following  was  the  Board  of  Police  for  1877:  William  Y. 
Smith,  DeWitt  C.  Wheeler,  Joel  B.  Erhardt,  Sidney  P.  Nichols,  Commissioners. 
Officers:  William  F.  Smith,  President;  DcWitt  C.  Wheeler,  Treasurer. 

Co.MMiTTEES.— On  Rules  and  Discipline:  Commissioner  Erhardt,  Cliair- 
man;  Commissioners  Wheeler,  Smith  and  Nichols.  On  Street  Cleaning:  Com- 
missioners Nichols  and  Wheeler.  On  Repairs  and  Sup])lies:  Commissioners 
Wheeler  and  Nichols.  On  Elections:  Commissioners  Wheeler  and  Nichols.  On 
Clerical  Force:  Commissioners  Wheeler  and  Nichols.  Seth  C.  Hawley,  Chief 
Clerk;  George  W.  Walling,  Superintendent. 

The  *'  Police  Department "  of  the  city  of  New  York  consists  of  a  "  Board 
of  Police  "  composed  of  four  "  Commissioners  "  (appointed  by  the  Mayor,  by 
and  with  consent  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,)  and  the  "  Police  force "  and 
officers  appointed  by  said  Board.  The  Board  is  the  head  of  the  Police  Depart- 
ment ;  governs  and  controls  the  department,  its  business  and  affairs  ;  is  invested 
with  and  exercises  all  the  powers  conferred  by  law  upon  the  Police  Department. 
The  territorial  jurisdiction  and  authority  of  the  Board,  and  the  Police  force  un- 
der their  direction,  are  co-extensive  with  the  territorial  limits  of  the  city  of  New 
York.  For  the  purposes  of  Police  government,  the  territory  of  the  city  of  New 
York  is  divided  into  Inspection  Districts,  Surgeons  Districts,  and  Precincts, 
subject  to  alteration,  from  time  to  time,  by  the  Board  of  Police.  Precincts  are 
divided  into  patrol  beats  or  posts  by  the  Captains,  with  the  approval  of  the 
Superintendent,  subject  to  alteration,  from  time  to  time,  by  like  authority. 

The  territory  of  the  city  of  New  York  was  divided  into  four  Inspection 
Districts,  which  are  respectively  named  the  First,  Second,  Third,  and  Fourth 
Inspection  Districts. 

First  District  consists  of  Precincts  Nos.  1,4,  7,  10,  11,  13,  14,  17,  18,  21, 
26,  and  First  and  Third  District  Court  Squads. 

Second  District  consists  of  Precincts  Nos.  5,  8,  9,  15,  16,  20,  25,  27,  29,  and 
Second  District  Court  Squad. 

Third  District  consists  of  Precincts  Nos.  12,  19,  19  Sub.,  23,  33,  34,  and 
Fourth,  Fifth,  and  Sixth  District  Court  Squads. 

Fourth  District  consists  of  Precincts  Nos.  22,  30,  31,  32,  and  35. 

An  Inspector  of  Police  is  assigned  to  each  district,  and  has  an  office  within 
the  limits  of  his  district,  or  at  such  places  as  the  Board  of  Police  may  determine. 

The  Superintendent,  unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Board  of  Police, 
assigns  one  Inspector,  in  rotation,  to  attend  to  the  night  duty,  and  one  to  the 
duty  pertaining  to  the  Central  Department,  on  Sunday. 

Night  duty  commences  at  6  p.  m.  and  terminates  at  8  .\.  m. 

Sunday  duty  begins  at  8  a.  m.  and  ends  at  6  p.  m. 


278 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  Police  force  of  the  city  of  New  York  consists  of  a  Superintendent^  four 
Inspectors,  Surgeons,  Captains,  Sergeants,  Patro^lmen  and  Doormen,  clerks  and 
employees,  to  the  number  of  each  rank,  authorized  by  law. 

The  Police  force  is  divided  into  as  many  companies  as  there  are  Precincts, 
and  such  other  companies  and  squads  as  the  Board  of  Police  may  order. 

The  regulation  uniform  is: 

For  the  Superintendent — The  dress  is  a  double-breasted  frock  coat  ;  the 
waist  to  extend  to  the  top  of  the  hip,  and  the  skirt  to  within  one  inch  of  the 
bend  of  the  knee;  two  rows  of  Police  buttons  on  the  breast,  eight  in  each  row, 
placed  in  pairs,  the  distance  between  each  row  five  and  one-half  inches  at  the 
top,  and  three  and  one-half  inches  at  the  bottom  ;  stand-up  collar,  to  rise  no 
higher  thai,  to  permit  the  chin  to  turn  freely  over  it,  to  hook  in  front  at  the 


Orphan  Asylum. 

bottom;  cuffs,  three  and  one-half  inches  deep,  and  to  button  with  three  small 
buttons  at  tlie  under  seam;  two  buttons  on  the  hips,  one  button  on  the  bottom 
of  each  skirt-pocket  welt,  and  two  buttons  intermediate,  so  that  there  will  be  six 
buttons  on  the  back;  collars  and  cuffs  to  be  of  dark  blue  velvet  ;  lining  of  the 
coat,  black;  the  pantaloons  plain;  black  neckcloth  and  white  collar;  the  waist- 
coat single-breasted,  with  eight  buttons  placed  at  equal  distances. 

For  Inspectors — The  dress  the  same  as  for  Superintendent,  except  that 
there  are  seven  buttons  in  each  row  on  the  breast  of  the  coat,  placed  at  equal 
distances,  and  the  gold  wreath  on  the  hat  shall  inclose  the  word  "  Inspector  "  in 
silver. 

For  Captains  and  Sergeants — The  same  as  for  Superintendent,  except  that 
there  are  eight  buttons  in  each  row,  on  the  breast  of  the  coat,  placed  at  equal 
distances;  collar  rolling,  the  collar  and  cuffs  of  the  same  color  and  material  as 


OUR  rorjcE  protfctors.  279 

the  coat;  the  wreath  on  the  hat  to  inclose  tlie  word  "  Captain  "  or  "  Sergeant," 
with  the  number  of  the  precinct  to  which  the  officer  is  attached  in  gold.  The 
Captain  of  the  Harbor  Police  has  a  gold  anchor,  and  the  Sergeants  silver 
anchors,  inclosed  in  a  wreath,  in  lieu  of  the  number  of  the  precinct. 

For  Patrolmen — The  dress  is  a  single-breasted  frock  <;oat  with  rolling  col- 
lar; the  waist  to  extend  to  the  top  of  the  hip,  and  the  skirt  to  witiiin  one  inch 
of  the  bend  of  the  knee;  nine  buttons  on  the  breast,  two  buttons  on  the  hips, 
two  buttons  on  the  bottom  of  each  pocket,  and  three  small  buttons  on  the  under 
seam  of  the  cuffs.  Trousers  have  a  white  welt  in  the  outer  seam;  white  shirt 
collar;  black  neckcloth;  vest,  single-breasted,  with  nine  ljuttons  placed  at  ecpial  dis- 
tances.    The  hat,  with  wreath  surrounding  the  approjjriate  number  in  white  metal. 

Patrolmen  detailed  as  Roimdsmen,  in  addition,  have  the  word  "  Rounds- 
man "  in  white  metal  letters,  in  lieu  of  the  wreath. 

Roundsmen  wear  on  each  arm  of  the  overcoat,  dress  coat,  and  blouse,  a 
United  States  Infantry  chevron  of  two  stripes,  above  the  point  of  the  elbow. 

The  officers  of  the  force  rank  in  the  following  order  :  First,  Superintend- 
ent; second.  Inspector;  third,  Captain;  fourth.  Sergeant;  fifth.  Roundsman. 

Mounted  Roundsmen  wear,  as  above  mentioned,  the  United  States  cavalry 
chevron. 

For  Harbor  Patrolmen — The  dress  is  a  sailor's  jacket,  rolling  collar,  to  come 
down  half  way  between  the  hip  joint  and  knee  ;  five  buttons  on  each  side  of 
breast,  two  buttons  on  the  under  seam  of  the  cuff  ;  pockets  inside  ;  vest,  single- 
breasted,  nine  buttons;  trousers,  plain;  shirt  of  blue  flannel;  hat,  same  as  other 
Patrolmen,  with  wreath  and  number  ;  pea-jacket  overcoat,  three  inches  above  the 
knee,  five  buttons  on  each  side,  side  pockets  with  flaps  ;  in  other  respects,  same 
as  other  Patrolmen. 

The  coat  of  Mounted  Patrolmen  and  officers  in  charge  is  the  same  as  pre- 
viously described,  except  that  the  skirt  of  the  coat  extends  only  to  a  point 
midway  between  the  waist  and  the  bend  of  the  knee  ;  and  is  trimmed  on 
collar,  lappels,  and  cuffs  with  yellow  cord,  as  per  sample  in  the  office  of  the  "  De- 
partment of  Clothing  and  Equipment."  Trousers  are  the  same  as  above, 
except  that  the  cord  on  them  shall  be  yellow.  The  metallic  ornaments  on  hat 
and  belt  are  composed  of  yellow  metal.  The  cord  and  tassel  are  of  the  style 
prescribed,  except  that  they  are  yellow. 

For  Doormen — The  dress  is  a  double-breasted  round  jacket,  extending  two 
inches  below  the  hip,  with  five  Police  buttons  on  each  breast,  and  one  on  the 
inside  seam  of  each  cuff  ;  trousers  of  Cadet-mixed  cloth,  plain  ;  hat,  the  same 
as  Patrolmen,  without  wreath,  but  with  the  word  "  Doorman  "  in  white  metal  let- 
ters, placed  in  front.     In  other  jjarticulars,  same  as  Patrolmen. 

The  summer  uniform  consists  of  blue  flannel  sack  coat,  and  blue  flannel  trou- 
sers. The  coat  of  Patrolmen  is  a  single-breasted  sack,  with  short  turn-over  col- 
lar, to  button  close  up  to  the  chin,  and  reach  to  a  point  four  inches  above  the 
bend  of  the  knee,  with  four  buttons  on  the  front  ;  no  pockets  to  show  on  the  out- 
side, and  the  trousers  to  be  made  same  as  winter  trousers. 

For  Harbor  Patrolmen — Flannel  sack  coat  and  flannel  trousers  made  like 
the  above. 


28o 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Officers  are  permitted  to  wear  the  summer  uniform  while  in  the  discharge  of 
desk  duty  in  the  station  house. 

No  person  will  ,be  appointed  Patrolman  of  the  Police  force  unless — 
First. — He  is  able  to  read  and  write  the  English  language  understandingly. 
Second. — He  is  a  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

Third. — He  has  been  a  resident  of  this  State  during  a  term  of  one  year  next 
prior  to  his  application  for  appointment. 

Fourth. — He  has  never  been  convicted  of  crime. 

Fifth. — He  is  at  least  five  feet  seven  and  a  half  inches  in  height,  measured  in 
his  bare  feet,  and  weighs  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  pounds,  avoir- 
dupois, without  cloth  mg. 

Sixth. — He  is  less  than  thirty  years  of  age. 

Seventh. — He  is  of  good  health,  and  sound  in  body  and  mind. 

Eighth. — He  is  of  good  moral  character  and  habits. 


SURGEON'S  CERTIFICATE. 


QUESTIONS,  EACH  OF  WHICH   IS  TO  BE  ANSWERED  BY   THE  MEDICAL 

EXAMINERS. 

N.  B. — It  is  understood  that  the  Examiners  will,  of  course,  put  such  other  questions  bearing 
upon  each  case  as  they  may  think  proper,  and  that  the  whole  Examination  will  be  thorough, 
exact  and  circumstantial. 


Name  Age. 


.  Residence. 


Has  the  Applicant  ever  been  examined  by  the  \ 
Surgeons  of  the  Department,  and  if  so,  state  >  ■ 


the  result? 


*  State  the  exact  Weight,  A;  Height  B;  Cir- 
cumference of  Chest  under  Clothing,  C;  fig- 
ure and  general  appearance,  D. 


Wg't 
A 


Height. 


B.  ft. 


In. 


Ct 

Circumference  chest  in 


Under  Clothing  

At  Forced  Expiration. . 
On  Full  Inspiration. 


A.  Is  the  Respiring  Murmur  clear  and  distinct 

over  both  Lungs? 

B.  Is  the  character  of  the  Respiration  Full, 

Easy  and  Regular? 

C.  Are  there  any  indications  of  Disease  of  the 

Organs  of  Respiration  or  their  Append- 
ages? 


A 


B 


Is  the  Character  of  the  Heart's  Action 
Uniform,  Free  and  Steady? 
Are  its  Sounds  and  Rhythm  Regular  and 
Normal? 

C.  Are  there  any  indications  of  Disease  of  this 
Organ  or  of  the  Blood  Vessels? 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


281 


A.  State  the  Rate  and  Quality  of  Respiration?  "|  A 

B.  State  the  Rate  and  other  Qualities  of  the 
■•Pulse. 

C.  Does  it  Intermit,  or  become  Irregular  or 

Unsteady? 


Is  th 
torat 
tation? 


e  Applicant  subject  to  Cough,  Expec-  \ 
ration,  Difficulty  of  Breathing,  or  I'alpi-  > 


B. 


Are  the  functions  of  the  Brain  and  Nervous 
System  in  a  Healthy  State? 

Have  the  Brain  or  Spinal  Cord  ever  been  [  B. 
Diseased?  J   


1 


If  the  Applicant  has  had  any  serious  Illness  1 
or  Injury,  state  expressly  what  effect,  if  | 
any,  is  perceptible  in  the  heart,  lungs,  kid-  \ 
neys  or  other  abdominal  organs,  or  the  I 
skin,  eyes,  ears,  limbs,  etc.  J 


Has  the  Applicant  any  predisposition,  either  "] 
hereditary  or  acquired,  to  any  constitu-  ' 
tional  disease,  as  phthisis,  scrofula,  rheu- 
matism? 


Does  the  Applicant  display  any  evidence  of  \ 
having,  or  having  had,  syphilis?^  ) 


Do  the  Answers  to  Questions  in  the  Applica- 
tion,  aiul  to  the  Certihcates  thereto  at-  | 
tached,  give,  in  your  opinion,  a  full  and,  \ 
in  all  respects,  a  satisfactory  description  of  | 
the  Person?  J 


*  The  Examiners  are  called  upon  to  pay 
especial  attention  to  the  annexed  schedules 
in  determining  the  fitness  of  the  applicant  for 
the  duties  of  a  patrolman. 

t  There  should  be  a  difference,  at  least,  of 
two  inches  at  forced  expiration  and  on  full 
inspiration. 

*  *  Obesity  must  be  regarded  as  a  good 
cause  for  rejection,  whenever  it  exists  to  the 
extent  of  interfering  with  the  activity  and 
usefulness  demanded  of  a  policeman  under 
emergencies. 

\  Syphilitic  taint  in  the  applicant  must  al- 
ways be  regarded  as  good  cause  of  rejection. 


t  Minimum  Circumference 
of  the  Chest  tolerable  in  ap- 
plicants. 


Circumference 
Height.         of  Chest, 
ft.  inches.  inches. 


Statuke  and  Weight. — 
The  stature  shall  not  be  be- 
low 5  ft.  7^  in,,  nor  the 
weight  below  that  marked 
as  Its  minimum  accompani- 
ment in  the  subjoined  table. 


Height.  Min.  Weight, 
ft.  inches.  lbs. 


REMARKS:  

We  Hereby  Certify,  that  we  have  this  day  carefully  and  thoroughly  examined,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  above  instructions  and  find  that  he  is 

 sound  in  limb  and  body,  is  able-bodied    of  a 

robust  constitution,  has  good  eyesight  and  good  hearing,  and  in  our  opinion  is 

 physically  qualified  to  sustain  the  labors  and  exposures,  and  perform  the  duties  of  a 

Patrolman,  and  that  the  above  is  a  truthful  record  of  the  examination. 

 )  Surgeons 

  -  of 

New\ork.  1S7   )  Police. 


282 


OUR  rOLICK  PROTECTORS. 


Police  Department,  300  Mulberry  Street,  N.  Y. 
I  Hereb\'  Cektifv,  that  I  have  carefully  revieived  the  foregoing  record  of  ex- 
amitiatioti,  and  fiml  the  same  to  be  in  accordance  with  the  i?istruct:cns  of  the 
Board. 

 Chief  Sun^eon. 

Dated  187.. 


A'o 


E.xamined  187.. 


S.  C.  Hawlev,  Chief  Clerk: 

Vou  JC'ill  cause  the  bearer  to  be  E.xamined  by 

the  Committee  of  Surgeons  in  pursuance  of  the  Rule. 

 Commissioner. 

Signature  of  Applicant  

Preliminary  examinations  for  appointments  on  the  force  of  those  reported 
favorably  by  the  Surgeons  are  held  by  the  chief  clerk  in  his  office,  in  respect  to 
their  eligibility  and  qualifications  to  be  Patrolmen,  except  as  to  their  physical 
conditions.  Evidence  of  their  naturalization  and  honorable  discharge  from  the 
army  or  navy  shall  be  then  produced.  To  those  who  are  found  clearly  competent 
he  delivers  a  petition  in  the  form,  properly  filled  up.  On  such  petition  the  can- 
didate procures  the  signatures  of  not  less  than  ten  reputable  citizens,  when  it  is 
to  be  returned  to  the  chief  clerk,  who  designates  which  of  the  petitioners  shall 
verify  the  petition  by  affidavit.  The  chief  clerk  causes  the  confidential  inquirv 
into  the  character,  habits,  and  associations  of  the  candidate  to  be  made  by  the 
Captains  of  the  precincts  in  which  the  candidate  resides,  and  also  by  the  Super- 
intendent, through  officers  specially  detailed  by  him  for  that  purpose.  Thechijf 
clerk,  upon  the  return  of  favorable  character  reports,  causes  the  candidates  to  ap- 
pear before  the  full  Board,  when  the  Board  decides  which  of  the  applicants  shall 
be  placed  on  the  roll  of  candidates  to  be  appointed  Patrolmen  as  vacancies 
occur. 

PETrnoN. 

To  the  Board  of  Police  of  the  J'olice  P)epart?nent  of  the  City  of  Atai  ]'ork: 

The  undersigned  request  the  Board  of  Police  to  aj)point  

to  be  in  the  Police  force  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  in- 
dividually, and  each  for  himself,  states  and  represents  to  the  Board  that  he  has 

known  the  said  personally,  intimately,  and  well,  for  

year  last  past,  and  is  qualified  to  speak  intelligently  in  relation  to  his  character, 
habits  and  associations,  and  states  and  represents  that  he  is  a  man  of  good  moral 
character,  correct  and  orderly  in  his  deportment,  and  not  in  any  respect  a  violator 
of  law  or  good  order.  That  he  is  of  sober,  temperate,  and  industrious  habits,  not 
addicted  to  the  habitual  use  of  intoxicating  drinks,  or  to  other  hurtful  excesses — 
that  he  has  never  st  enhim  drunk,  or  known  or  heard  of  his  having  been  drunk  ; 
nor  of  his  having  been  guilty  of  or  arrested  for,  any  criminal  or  disorderly  cofi- 
duct  or  act. 

And  they  further  represent  as  aforsaid,  that  he  is  a  man  of  truth  and  in- 
tegrity, of  sound  mind,  good  understanding,  and  of  a  temper,  habits  and  manners 
fit  to  be  a  Policeman.  The  undersigned  are  willing  and  ready  at  any  time  to  ap- 
pear at  the  Central  Department  and  make  affidavit  to  the  truth  of  the  above 
representation. 

N.  B. — The  names  and  residences  of  at  least  ten  petitioners  are  required. 
Signature  of  Petitioners.  Residence  of  Petitioners. 


01^ A'  /'Of. /(•/■:  PROTECTORS. 


283 


(Rcvcrsf  side  (if  I'ctition  as  follows:) 


A  I  I'lD.W  IT. 


State  of  Nkw  York, 


City  and  County  of  New  York,  ) 

The  undersigned,  being  duly  sworn,  doth  depose  and  say,  that  he  has  read 
the  foregoing  petition,  signed  by  him,  knows  the  contents  thereof,  and  that  the 
same  is  true. 


iVoticc  to  Petitioners. — The  welfare  and  efificiency  of  the  Police  force  demands 
that  all  promotions  be  made  on  the  ground  of  merit  and  ability,  to  be  proved  by 
thorough  and  faithful  performance  of  Police  duties,  and  thataU  transfers  from  one 
j)recinct  to  another,  as  well  as  detailments  to  special  duty,  be  decided  quite  inde- 
pendent of  i)olitical  or  personal  considerations,  or  influences.  It  is  tiierefore  de- 
sired that  all  applicants  and  their  friends  understand  and  remember  that  when  a 
man  is  appointed  a  member  of  the  force,  he  must  submit  himself  to  the  rules, 
regulations,  and  orders  of  the  department,  and  seek  to  win  advancement  and 
favorable  positions  by  a  faithful  and  thorough  discharge  of  Police  duties  ;  that 
petitions  and  solicitations  in  his  behalf  for  promotion,  transfer,  or  detailment, 
by  outside  parties,  are  regarded  by  the  Board  as  subversive  of  discipline  and 
subordination,  and  cannot  advance  the  interest  of  the  member  in  whose  behalf 
they  are  made. 


Any  member  of  the  Police  force  may  be  punisiicd  by  the  J5oard  of  Police, 
in  their  discretion,  eitiier  l)y  reiirimand,  forfeiture,  and  withholding  pay  not  ex- 
ceeding thirty  days  for  any  one  offense,  or  by  dismissal  from  t'ne  force,  on  con- 
viction of  either  of  the  following  offenses,  to  wit: 

Of  intoxication. 

Of  any  act  of  insubordination  or  disrespect  towards  a  superior  officer. 

Of  any  acts  of  ojipression  or  tyranny. 

Of  nelgect  of  duty. 

Of  violation  of  the  rules. 

Of  neglect  or  disobedience  of  orders. 

Of  any  legal  offence. 

Of  absence  without  leave. 

Of  immoral  conduct. 

Of  conduct  imbecoming  an  officer. 

Of  conduct  injurious  to  the  public  peace  or  welfare. 

Of  incapacity,  mental,  physical,  or  educational. 

Of  any  breach  of  discipline. 

Of  neglecting  or  refusing  to  pay  a  debt  for  uniform  clothing. 
Of  contracting  a  debt  under  false  or  fraudulent  j)retences. 


Sworn  before  me  this 
of  


Chief  Clerk. 


By  order  of  the  Board, 


Chief  Clerk. 


284 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Before  being  qualified  as  a  Patrolman,  the  following  form  of  statement  must 
be  made  under  oath,  and  subscribed  to  by  the  applicant: 

POLICE  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK. 

No.  300  Mulberry  Street. 

New  York  187 

Statement  of  an  applicant  for  appointment  as  Patrolman 

of  the  Police  Force  of  the  City  of  New  York,  made  for  the  purpose  of  testing  his 
qualifications. 


QUESTIONS. 


ANSWERS. 


What  is  your  name  ?  

In  what  year,  day,  and  month  were  you  born?  

Where  were  you  born  ?  

If  not  born  in  the  United  States,  have  you  been  ) 

naturalized.    When  and  where?  \ 

Can  you  read  and  write  English?  

Have  you  been  arrested  for  misdemeanor,  or  for  any  \ 

crime  ?  \ 

Have  you  been  convicted  of  any  crime  or  misdemeanor? 
Have  you  resided  in  this  State  for  one  continuous  year 

last  past  ?  

Where  do  you  now  reside  ?  

Are  you  Married?  

What  Family  have  you?  

What  has  been  your  occupation?  

Have  you  ever  had  the  rheumatism  ?  

Have  you  ever  had  a  fit  of  any  kind  ?  

Have  you  ever  had  piles,  and  how  long  since?  

If  your  parents,  or  either  of  them,  are  dead,  at  what  ) 

age  and  of  what  disease  did  they  die?  \ 

Have  you  been  in  any  military  service  ?  

Were  you  honorably  discharged?  

Have  you  ever  been  a  Policeman  ?  

Have  you  paid,  or  promised  to  pay,  or  given  anyl 

money  or  other  consideration  to  any  person,  directly  ! 

or  indirectly,  for  any  aid  or  influence  towards  pro-  [ 

curing  your  appointment  ?    J 

City  and  County  of  New  York,  ss.  :  

being  duly  sworn,  doth  depose  and  say,  as  follows:  I  wrote  the  answers  and 
signed  the  within  statement  with  my  own  hand,  and  the  same  is  true. 

Sworn  and  subscribed  before  me,  this  ) 

day  of  187  \ 

 Chief  Clerk. 

Notice. — Applicants  are  required  to  fill  the  blanks  on  the  other  page  of 
this  paper  in  their  own  handwriting,  without  any  aid,  assistance,  or  suggestion  from 
any  other  person.  This  must  be  done  in  the  office  of  the  Chief  Clerk.  Any 
false  statement,  evasion  or  deception  in  answering  the  within  questions  will  be 
good  grounds  for  rejection  of  the  application,  and  of  dismissal  from  the  Force. 

All  orders  to  the  Superintendent  of  Police  emanates  from  and  are  issued 
to  him  only  by  the  Board  of  Police,  and  all  orders  to  the  Police  force  are  issued 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


by  the  Superintendent  to  the  Inspectors  or  Captains  of  Police,  and  by  him  to 
them  communicated  to  the  force,  or  any  member  or  members  thereof  ;  he  is  the 
<  hicf  executive  officer  of  the  Police  force,  subject  to  the  orders,  rules,  and 
regulations  of  the  Board  of  Police. 

Each  Inspector  is  held  responsible  for  tlie  general  good  conduct  and  order 
of  liis  district,  as  the  Captains  of  Police  are  held  responsible  for  the  good  con- 
duct and  order  of  their  respective  precincts;  and  while  no  rule  is  laid  down  by 
the  Board  of  Police  for  his  precise  government,  it  is  expected  that  each  In- 
spector will  visit  portions  of  his  district,  and  the  station  liouses  therein,  at  un- 
certain hours  of  the  day  and  night.  He  will  diligently  intpiire  into  every  com- 
plaint made  by  citizens  of  laxity  or  misconduct  in  performance  of  duty  by  mem- 
bers of  the  force,  and  report  the  same  lo  the  Superintendent. 


St.  Luke's  Hospital. 

Sergeants  in  turn,  shall  patrol  their  precincts,  and  see  that  the  Roundsmen  and 
Patrolmen  of  their  platoons  or  sections  are  performing  their  duty  properly.  It 
is  the  duty  of  the  Sergeant  on  patrol  to  go  on  patrol  with  his  section  or  platoon; 
to  remain  out  during  the  tour,  in  the  vigilant  performance  of  duty;  and  to  return 
with  the  men  to  the  station  house,  at  the  end  of  the  tour.  There  are  four 
Roundsmen  for  each  precinct,  two  for  each  platoon;  to  be  selected  from  the 
Patrolmen  by  the  Board  of  Police,  and  to  hold  the  position  during  the  pleasure 
of  the  Board.  The  Roundsmen  shall  promptly  obey  all  orders  received  from 
their  superior  officers;  shall  set  an  example  of  sobriety,  discretion,  skill,  indus- 
try, and  promptness  to  the  Patrolmen  under  their  command;  and,  at  all  times, 
appear  neatly  attired,  and  cleanly  in  their  persons  and  eepiipments.  Each  Ser- 
geant, Roundsman,  or  other  visiting  officer,  should  see  each  Patrolman  under  his 
command  while  on  post,  at  least  once  during  each  tour  of  duty. 

The  prevention  of  crime  being  the  most  important  object  in  view,  the  Pa- 
trolman's exertions  must  be  constantly  used  to  accomplish  that  end.    He  must 


286 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


examine  and  make  himself  perfectly  acquainted  by  sight  with  every  person  liv- 
ing on  his  post;  vigilantly  watch  every  description  of  person  passing  over  his 
post  ;  and  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  prevent  the  commission  of  assaults, 
breaches  of  the  peace,  and  all  other  crimes  about  to  be  committed 

On  charges  preferred  by  Mayor  Cooper,  Governor  Robinson  removed 
Commissioners  Nichols  and  Smith.  Joel  B.  Erhardt's  term  had  expired. 
Charles  F.  MacLean  was  aj)pointed  April  i8,  1879,  in  place  of  Sidney  B.  Nichols. 
Stephen  B.  French  was  appointed  May  20,  1879,  place  of  Joel  B.  Erhardt, 
and  James  E.  Morrison  was  appointed  August  5,  1879,  i'^  place  of  William  F. 
Smith.  Morrison  resigned  November  24,  1879,  'i^d  John  R.  Voorhis  was 
appointed  in  his  place. 

Sidney  P.  Nichols  and  William  F.  Smith  were  reinstated  February  7,  i8?o, 
by  the  Court,  which  caused  the  removal  of  MacLean  and  Voorhis.  Joel  W. 
Mason  was  appointed  May  25,  1880,  in  place  of  DeWitt  C.  Wheeler,  whose  term 
of  ofifice  had  expired. 

Mayor  Grace  appointed  James  Matthews  Police  Commissioner  on  March  11, 
18S1,  in  place  of  William  F.  Smith,  resigned.  Commissioner  Matthews  served  the 
unexpired  term  of  William  F.  Smith,  and  Mayor  Grace  re-appointed  Mr.  Matthews 
to  succeed  himself.  Mayor  Edson  re-appointed  Sidney  P.  Nichols  January  9, 
1883,  to  succeed  himself. 

Mr.  Nichols  died  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  October,  1884,  and  Fitz  John 
Porter  was  a])pointed  to  fill  the  unexpired  term. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


2R7 


CHAPTER  XIV, 


PROVISIONS  OF  THE  CONSOLIDATION  ACT. 


1880— 1SS3. 


Centrai,  Offick  Bureau  of  Detectives. — Government  and  Discipline  of 
THE  Police  Department. — Powers  Invested  in  the  Board  of  Police. — 
Bureau  of  Elections. — Board  of  Health. — Police  Surgeons. — Special 
Patrolmen. — Police  Life  Insurance  Fund. — Powers  of  the  Police  Force. 
— Pawnbrokers. — The  Sanitary  Company. — Duties  of  Captains  and  Sur- 
geants;  of  Physicians. — The  Telegraph  System. — An  Act  Amendatory  of 
THE  Consolid.\tion  Act. — Roosevelt  Co.mmittee. — Lottery  and  Policy. 

A  N  Ac:t  to  amend  Chapter  335,  Laws  of  1873,  ^^'lown  as  the  Public  Burdens 


Bill,  was  passed  May  29,  1880.  This  placed  the  salaries  of  the  Commis- 
sioners of  Police,  hereafter  to  be  appointed,  at  five  thousand  dollars  a  year,  each. 
The  salary  of  the  force,  thereafter  to  be  appointed,  was  as  follows  :  Inspectors 
three  thousand  dollars;  Captains,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars;  Surgeons, 
one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars;  Sergeants,  one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars;  Patrolmen,  eight  hundred  dollars.  After  two  years  of  service  in 
the  third  grade,  such  Patrolman  was  advanced  to  the  second  grade  and  received 
nine  hundred  dollars  per  annum.  After  two  years  service  in  the  second  grade 
he  was  advanced — should  his  conduct  and  efficiency  have  been  satisfactory — to 
the  first  grade,  at  an  annual  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars. 

An  Act  passed  May  17,  1882,  authorized  the  Board  of  Police  to  establish 
a  Bureau,  which  should  be  called  the  Central  Office  Bureau  of  Detectives,  not 
to  exceed  forty  detectives,  who  were  entitled  to  receive  the  same  pay  as  the 
Sergeants  of  Police,  namely,  one  thousand  six  hundred  dollars  per  year. 

An  Act  to  consolidate  the  special  and  local  laws  affecting  public  interests  in 
the  city  of  New  York  (Chapter  410,  Laws  of  1882),  thus,  with  slight  variations 
from  the  legal  phraseology  of  the  text,  defines  the  powers  and  duties  of  the 
Police  Department: 

The  government  and  discipline  of  the  Police  Department  sliould  be  such 
as  the  Board  of  Police  may  from  time  to  time,  by  rules  and  regulations,  pre- 
scribe. The  Board,  from  time  to  time,  in  their  discretion,  are  empowered  to 
enact,  modify,  and  repeal  orders,  rules  and  regulations  of  general  discipline  of 
the  subordinates  under  their  control,  but  in  strict  conformity  to  the  provisions 
of  the  chapter. 

The  Board  was  invested  with  power  to  issue  subpoenas,  attested  in  tlie  name 


288 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


of  its  President,  to  compel  the  attendance  of  witnesses  upon  any  proceedings 
authorized  by  its  rules  and  regulations.  Each  Commissioner  of  Police,  the 
Superintendent,  the  Chief  Clerk  and  Deputy,  are  authorized  and  empowered  to 
administer  affirmations  and  oaths  to  any  person  summoned  and  appearing  in 
any  matter  or  proceeding  authorized  as  aforesaid,  and  in  all  matters  appertain- 
ing to  the  department  or  the  duties  of  any  officer,  or  to  take  any  deposition 
necessary  to  be  made  under  the  orders,  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Board. 
Any  person  making  a  complaint  that  a  felony  or  misdemeanor  has  been  commit- 
ted, may  be  required  to  make  affirmation  or  oath  thereto,  and,  for  this  purpose, 
the  Inspectors,  Captains  and  Sergeants  of  Police  shall  have  power  to  administer 
affirmations  and  oaths.  The  Board  of  Police  shall  at  all  times  cause  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  city  of  New  York,  not  in  conflict  with  law,  to  be  properly  enforced. 
The  Board  shall  provide  suitable  accommodations  for  the  detention  of  witnesses 
who  are  unable  to  furnish  security  for  their  appearance  in  criminal  proceedings,  to 
be  called  the  House  for  the  Detention  of  Witnesses.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  all  Magistrates,  when  committing  witnesses  in  default  of  bail,  to  commit 
them  to  such  House  of  Detention.  The  Board  of  Police  may,  with  the  author- 
ity and  approval  of  the  Mayor  and  Common  Council,  from  time  to  time,  but 
with  special  reference  to  locating  the  same  as  centrally  in  precincts  as  possible, 
establish,  provide,  and  furnish  stations  and  station  houses,  or  sub-stations,  at 
least  one  to  each  precinct,  for  the  accommodation  of  members  of  the  Police 
force,  and  as  places  of  temporary  detention  for  persons  arrested  and  property 
taken  within  th»  precinct.  The  Board  of  Police  shall  have  power  to  erect, 
operate,  supply  and  maintain,  all  such  lines  of  telegraph  to  and  between  such 
places  in  the  city  for  the  purposes  and  business  of  the  Police  Board  as  they 
shall  deem  necessary,  the  cost  of  which  shall  be  chargeable  to  the  general  ex- 
penses of  the  Police.  The  Board  is  permitted  to  use  the  said  telegraph  imes  to 
aid  them  in  facilitating  the  operations  of  the  Department  of  Health,  and  when  so 
used,  the  expense  thereof  shall  be  charged  to  the  said  Department  of  Health. 

In  the  performance  of  Police  service  in  any  precinct  or  precincts  comprising 
waters  of  the  harbor,  the  Board  of  Police  may  procure  and  use  and  employ  such 
rowboats  and  steamboats  as  shall  be  deemed  necessary  and  proper.  In  rural  or 
sparsely  inhabited  precincts  they  may  establish  a  mounted  patrol,  and  procure, 
and  use,  and  employ  so  many  horses  and  equipments  as  shall  be  requisite  for  the 
purpose  ;  and  they  may  procure  and  cause  to  be  used  any  teams  and  vehicles 
required  to  transport  prisoners,  supplies  and  property,  whenever  it  shall  be  pro- 
per and  economical  to  do  so  ;  and  may  sell  and  dispose  of,  in  accordance  with 
law,  any  personal  property  owned  or  used  in  the  department  whenever  it  shall 
have  become  old  and  unfit,  and  not  rec^uired  for  service;  and  they  shall  have 
authority  to  detail  and  employ  Patrolmen  in  any  duty  or  service  other  than  pa- 
trol duty,  which  may  be  necessary  and  proper  to  enable  said  Board  to  exercise 
the  powers  and  perform  the  duties  and  business  imposed  and  required  by  law. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Police: 

To  cause  some  intelligent  and  experienced  person  connected  with  the 
Police  force  to  attend  at  the  Police  courts  in  cases  where  there  is  need  of 
such  assistance,  who  shall  aid  in  bringing  the  facts  before  the  Police  Justices 


OUR  /'()/./(■/■:  PROTECTORS.  289 

in  proceedings  pending  in  such  Police  courts.  It  is  made  the  duty  of  the 
Police  JJoard  to  jirovide  for  the  lodging  of  vagrant  and  indigent  persons.  The 
Board  shall  have  authority  to  offer  rewards  to  induce  all  classes  of  persons  to  give 
information  whicli  sliall  lead  to  the  detection,  arrest,  and  conviction  of  persons 
guilty  of  homicide,  arson,  or  receiving  stolen  goods  knowing  them  to  be  stolen; 
and  to  pay  such  rewards  to  such  persons  as  shall  give  such  information. 

To  continue  the  bureau  in  the  office  of  the  Department  of  Police  known 
and  designated  as  the  Bureau  of  Elections.  The  affairs  of  said  bureau  shall, 
under  and  subject  to  sucli  rules,  regulations  and  orders  as  may  from  time  to 
time  be  made  and  adopted  by  said  Board  of  Police;  be  managed,  conducted,  and 
carried  on  by  a  suitable  and  jjroper  person,  chosen  and  selected  by  the  said 
Board,  who  shall  be  known  as  the  Chief  of  the  P>ureau  of  Elections;  shall  hold 
office  for  the  period  of  three  years,  and  whose  salary  shall  be  fixed  and  paid  by 
the  said  Board  at  such  sum  as  they  shall  deem  proper,  not  exceeding  five  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  shall  be  removable  by  the  Board  of  Police  for  cause. 

To  perform  all  the  duties  imposed  upon  them  in  Sections  eighteen  hundred 
ami  forty-five,  eighteen  liundred  and  forty-six,  eighteen  hundred  and  fortv-seven, 
eighteen  hundred  and  fifty,  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-two,  eighteen  hundred 
and  fifty-three,  and  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-seven. 

To  properly  advise  the  Board  of  Health  of  all  threatened  danger  to  human 
life  or  health,  and  of  all  matters  thought  to  demand  its  attention,  and  to  regu- 
larly report  to  said  Board  of  Health  all  violations  of  its  rules  and  ordinances,  and 
of  the  health  laws  and  all  useful  sanitary  information.  Said  Boards  shall,  so  far 
as  practicable  and  appropriate,  co-operate  for  the  promotion  of  the  public  health 
and  the  safety  of  human  life  in  said  city. 

To  faithfully  (by  and  througli  its  proper  officers,  agents  and  men)  en- 
force and  execute  the  sanitary  rules  and  regulations,  and  the  orders  of  the  Board 
of  Health,  upon  the  same  being  received  in  writing  and  duly  authenticated  as  said 
Board  of  Health  may  direct.  To  employ  and  use  the  appropriate  persons  and 
means,  and  to  make  the  necessary  and  appropriate  expenditures  for  the  execution 
and  enforcement  of  said  rules,  orders  and  regulations,  and  such  expenditures,  so 
far  as  the  same  may  not  be  refunded  or  compensated  by  the  means  herein  else- 
where provided,  shall  be  paid  as  the  other  expenses  of  said  Board  of  Health  are 
])aid.  In  and  about  the  execution  of  any  order  of  the  Board  of  Health,  or  of 
the  Board  of  Police  made  pursuant  thereto,  Police  officers  and  Policemen 
shall  have  as  ample  power  and  authority  as  when  obeying  any  order  of  or  law 
applicable  to  the  Board  of  Police,  or  as  if  acting  under  a  special  warrant  of  a 
Justice  or  Judge,  duly  issued  ;  but  for  their  conduct  they  shall  be  responsible  to 
the  Board  of  Police,  and  not  to  the  Board  of  Health.  The  Board  of  Health  may, 
with  the  consent  of  the  Board  of  Police,  impose  any  portion  of  the  duties  of  sub- 
ordinates in  said  department  upon  subordinates  in  the  Police  Department. 

The  Police  Department,  through  its  Treasurer,  and  in  pursuance  of  the  orders, 
rules  and  regulations  of  the  Board,  shall  pay  all  salaries  and  wages  to  the  offi- 
cers and  members  of  the  Police  Department  and  force,  as  established  by  and  in 
pursuance  of  law,  and  all  bills,  claims,  and  obligations  lawfully  incurred  by,  or  by 
authority  of  said  Board  ;  and  the  Comptroller  shall  pay  over  to  the  Treasurer  of 


290 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Police,  on  the  requisition  of  the  Board  of  Police,  the  total  amount  annually  esti- 
mated, levied,  raised,  and  appropriated  for  the  support  and  maintenance  of  the 
Police  Department  and  force,  from  time  to  time,  and  in  such  sums  as  shall  be 
required  (not  exceeding  one-twelfth  part  of  said  total  annual  amount  in  any  one 
month),  and  the  Treasurer  of  Police,  if  required  by  the  Comptroller,  shall  trans- 
mit to  the  Department  of  Finance,  each  month,  duplicate  vouchers  for  the  pay- 
ment of  all  sums  of  money  made  on  account  of  the  Police  Department  during 
each  month.  The  Board  of  Police  shall  procure  and  pay  for  all  printing,  books, 
blanks,  paper,  and  other  articles  of  stationery  required  for  the  administration  and 
business  of  the  department  and  each  bureau  thereof.  Any  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners, or  any  member  of  the  Police  force,  who  shall,  after  qualifying  in  office. 


Custom  House,  Wall  Street. 

accept  any  additional  place  of  public  trust,  or  civil  emolument,  or  who  shall  during 
his  term  of  office  be  publicly  nominated  for  any  office  elective  by  the  people,  and 
shall  not  within  ten  days  succeeding  the  same  publicly  decline  the  said  nomi-na- 
tion,  shall  be  in  either  cas^  deemed  thereby  to  have  resigned  his  commission,  and 
to  have  vacated  his  office,  and  all  votes  cast  at  any  election  for  any  person  holding 
the  office  of  Police  Commissioner,  or  within  thirty  days  after  he  shall  have  re- 
signed such  office,  shall  be  void. 

The  Commissioners  of  Police  shall  annually,  or  as  often  as  a  vacancy  shall 
occur,  elect  one  of  their  number  to  act  as  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Police. 
He  shall  preside  at  the  meetings  of  the  Board.  They  shall  select  one  of  their 
number  to  be  the  Treasurer  of  Police.  He  shall  be  the  fiscal  officer  of  the  Po- 
lice.   He  shall,  on  check  and  voucher,  duly  disburse,  by  order  of  the  said  Police 


OUR  POTJCE  PROTECTORS. 


291 


Board,  all  moneys  belonging  to  the  Police  fund,  and  shall  deposit  the  same,  when 
paid  to  him,  in  a  bank  or  banks  designated  by  said  Board,  'i'he  Treasurer  shall 
give  a  bond,  with  two  sureties  in  the  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  each,  for 
the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties  ;  said  bond  to  be  approved  by  the  Comp- 
troller, and  filed  in  his  office. 

The  Police  force  shall  consist  of  one  Superintendent  of  Police  ;  four  Inspec- 
tors; Captains,  not  exceeding  in  number  one  to  each  fifty  of  the  total  number  of  Pa- 
trolmen ;  Sergeants,  not  exceeding  four  in  number  to  each  fifty  of  the  total 
number  of  Patrolmen  ;  Doormen,  not  exceeding  two  in  number  to  each  fifty  of 
the  total  number  of  Patrolmen  ;  not  exceeding  twenty-two  Surgeons,  one  of  whom 
shall  be  designated  as  Chief  Surgeon  ;  and  Patrolmen  to  the  number  of  two  thou- 
sand three  hundred.  The  Board  of  Police  shall  have  power  to  increase  the  Po- 
lice force  by  adding  to  the  number  of  Patrolmen  from  time  to  time,  as  far  as  the 
funds  appropriated  allow,  but  such  increase  shall  not  exceed  one  hundred  in 
any  one  year. 

Whenever  a  vacancy  shall  occur  in  the  office  of  Superintendent  of  Police, 
and  in  the  absence  or  disability  of  the  said  Superintendent,  the  President  shall 
possess  all  the  powers  and  perform  all  the  duties  of  that  office,  subject  to  the  or- 
ders, rules  and  regulations  of  the  Board  of  Police.  But  the  Conrmissioners  of 
Police  may,  by  resolution,  designate  such  other  officer  of  the  Police  force  as  they 
may  choose,  to  execute  and  perform  the  duties  of  the  Superintendent  during  the 
period  of  such  absence  or  disaljility. 

The  duties  of  the  Police  Surgeons,  and  the  extent  and  bounds  of  their 
districts,  shall  be  assigned,  from  time  to  time,  by  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
Board  of  Police.  The  Board  of  Police  may,  if  requested  by  the  Board  of  Health, 
employ  their  Surgeons  to  aid  the  Sanitary  Inspectors  in  the  discharge  of  their 
duties,  under  such  regulations  and  orders  as  the  Board  of  Police  may  make  and 
issue. 

No  person  shall  now  be  appointed  to  membership  on  the  Police  force,  or 
continue  to  hold  membership  therein,  who  is  not  a  citizen  of  the  United  States, 
or  who  has  ever  been  convicted  of  crime,  or  who  cannot  read  and  write  under- 
standingly  in  the  English  language,  or  who  shall  not  have  resided  within  the 
State  one  year,  but  skilled  officers  of  experience  may  be  appointed  for  Detec- 
tive duty  who  have  not  resided  as  herein  required.  No  person  shall  be  appointed 
Patrolman  who  shall  be  at  the  date  of  such  appointment  over  thirty  years  of  age, 
or  who  shall  have  been  convicted  of  any  crime,  nor  shall  any  person  who  shall 
have  been  a  member  of  the  force  and  resigned,  or  been  dismissed  therefrom,  be 
re-appointed,  except  by  the  concurring  vote  of  all  of  the  Commissioners  com- 
prising the  Board,  to  be  taken  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  recorded  in  the  minutes. 
The  name,  residence  and  occupation  of  each  applicant  for  appointment  to  any 
position  in  the  Police  Department,  as  well  as  the  name,  residence,  and  occupa- 
tion of  each  person  appointed  to  any  position,  shall  be  jmblished;  and  such 
publication  shall,  in  every  instance,  be  made  on  the  Saturday  next  succeeding 
such  application  or  appointment,  in  the  City  Record. 

The  Board  may,  upon  an  emergency  or  apprehension  of  riot,  tumult,  mob, 
insurrection,  pes'ilence,  or  invasion,  appoint  as  many  Special  Patrolmen,  without 


292 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


pay,  from  among  the  citizens,  as  it  may  deem  desirable.  The  Board  of  Police,  with 
the  approbation  in  writing  of  the  Mayor,  or,  in  case  of  their  disagreement,  the 
Governor,  may,  under  similar  circumstances,  demand  the  assistance  of  the  mili- 
tary of  the  First  Division,  and  such  commanding  ofificer  shall  obey  such  order. 
Special  Patrolmen,  appointed  in  pursuance  of  law,  may  be  dismissed  by  resolu- 
tion of  the  Board  ;  and  while  acting  as  such.  Special  Patrolmen  shall  possess  the 
powers  to  perform  the  duties,  and  be  subject  to  the  orders,  rules,  and  regulations 
of  the  Board,  in  the  same  manner  as  regular  Patrolmen.  Every  such  Special 
Patrolman  shall  wear  a  badge,  to  be  prescribed  and  furnished  by  the  Board  of 
Police. 

Every  member  of  the  Police  force  shall  have  issued  to  him  by  the  Board  of 
Police,  a  proper  warrant  of  appointment,  signed  by  the  President  of  said  Board 
and  Chief  Clerk  or  first  deputy,  which  warrant  shall  contain  the  day  of  his  ap- 
pointment and  his  rank.  Each  member  of  the  Police  force  shall,  before  enter- 
ing upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  take  an  oath  of  office,  and  subscribe  the  same 
before  any  officer  of  the  Police  Department  who  is  empowered  to  administer 
an  oath. 

Promotions  of  officers  or  members  of  the  Police  force  shall  be  made  bv 
the  Board  only  on  grounds  of  meritorious  Police  service  and  superior  capacity, 
and  shall  be  as  follows:  Sergeants  of  Police  shall  be  selected  from  among  Patrol- 
men assigned  to  duty  as  Roundsmen,  Captains  from  among  Sergeants,  and 
Inspectors  from  among  Captains. 

The  Board  shall  have  power,  in  its  discretion,  on  conviction  of  a  member 
of  the  force  of  any  legal  offense  or  neglect  of  duty,  or  violation  of  rules,  or 
neglect  or  disobedience  of  orders,  or  absence  without  leave,  or  any  conduct  in- 
jurious to  the  public  peace  or  welfare,  or  immoral  conduct,  or  conduct  unbe- 
coming an  officer,  or  other  breach  of  discipline,  to  punish  the  offending  party  by 
reprimand,  forfeiting  and  withholding  pay  for  a  specified  time,  or  dismissal  from 
the  force;  but  no  more  than  thirty  days'  i)ay  shall  be  forfeited  for  any  offense. 
All  such  fines  shall  be  paid  forthwith  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Department  to  the 
account  of  the  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund.  Members  of  the  force  shall  be 
removable  only  after  written  charges  shall  have  been  preferred  against  them,  and 
after  the  charges  have  been  publicly  examined  into,  upon  such  reasonable  notice 
to  the  person  charged,  and  in  such  manner  of  examination  as  the  rules  and  regu- 
lations of  the  Board  of  Police  may  prescribe. 

No  member,  under  penalty  of  forfeiting  the  salary  or  pay  which  may  be  due 
to  him,  shall  withdraw  or  resign,  except  by  permission  of  the  Board  of  Police. 
Unexplained  absence,  without  leave,  of  any  member  of  the  Police  force,  for  five 
■days,  shall  be  deemed  and  held  to  be  a  resignation,  and  the  member  so  absent 
shall,  at  the  expiration  of  said  period,  cease  to  be  a  member  of  the  Police 
force. 

Every  person  connected  with  the  Police  Department  on  the  thirtieth  day  of 
April,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-three,  and  who  remains  so  connfected,  shall 
continue  in  office,  and  the  amount  of  salary  or  compensation  then  legally  paid 
to  such  person,  except  as  in  this  Act  otherwise  provided  or  authorized,  shall  be 
the  salary  and  compensation  fixed  for  his  office;  but  the  Commissioners  may  fix 


OUR  POIJCF.  PROTECTORS. 


■^93 


the  salary  and  compensation  of  such  clerks  and  employees  other  than  Police- 
mei^  whom  they  may  be  authorized  by  law  to  employ. 

No  person  holding  office  under  this  Department  shall  be  liable  to  military 
or  jury  duty,  and  no  officer  or  Patrolman,  while  actually  on  duty,  shall  be  liable 
to  arrest  on  civil  process,  or  to  ser\'ice  of  subpoena  from  Civil  Courts. 

No  member  of  the  Board  of  Police,  under  any  pretense  whatsoever,  shall, 
for  his  own  benefit,  share  in  any  present,  fee,  gift,  or  emolument  for  Police 
services,  additional  to  his  regular  salary  or  compensation.  The  Board,  for 
meritorious  and  extraordinary  services  rendered  by  any  member  of  the  Police 
force  in  the  due  discharge  of  his  duty,  may  permit  any  member  of  the  Police 
force  to  retain  for  his  own  benefit  any  reward  or  present  tendered  him  therefor; 
and  it  shall  be  cause  for  removal  from  the  Police  for  any  member  thereof  to 
receive  any  such  reward  or  present  without  notice  thereof  to  the  Board  of 
Police.  Upon  receiving  said  notice,  the  said  Board  may  either  order  the  said 
member  to  retain  the  same,  or  shall  dispose  of  it  for  the  benefit  of  the  Police 
Life  Insurance  Fund. 

The  several  members  of  the  force  shall  have  power  and  authority  to  imme- 
diately arrest,  without  warrant,  and  to  take  into  custody,  any  person  who  shall 
commit,  or  threaten,  or  attempt  to  commit,  in  the  presence  of  such  member,  or 
within  his  view,  any  breach  of  the  peace  or  offense  directly  prohibited  by  Act  of 
the  legislature,  or  by  any  ordinance  of  the  city.  The  members  of  the  Police  force 
shall  possess,  in  the  city  of  New  York  and  in  every  part  of  this  State,  all  the  com- 
mon law  and  statutory  power  of  Constables,  excejjt  for  the  service  of  civil  pro- 
cess, and  any  warrant  for  search  or  arrest,  issued  by  any  Magistrate  of  this  State, 
may  be  executed,  in  any  part  thereof,  by  any  member  of  the  Police  force,  and  all 
the  provisions  of  Sections  seven,  eight  and  nine  of  Chapter  two,  title  two,  part 
four,  of  the  revised  statutes,  in  relation  to  giving  and  taking  of  bail,  shall 
apply  to  this  chapter. 

Any  member,  as  the  regulations  of  the  said  Board  may  provide,  may  arrest 
any  person  who  shall,  in  view  of  such  member,  violate  or  do,  or  be  engaged  in 
doing  or  committing  in  said  city,  any  act  or  thing  forbidden  by  Chapter  twelve 
of  this  Act,  or  by  any  law  or  ordinance,  the  authority  conferred  by  which  is  given 
to  the  Board  of  Health,  or  who  shall,  in  such  presence,  resist,  or  be  engaged  in 
resisting  the  enforcement  of  any  of  the  orders  of  said  Board,  or  of  the  Board  of 
Police  pursuant  thereto.  And  any  person  so  arrested  shall  be  thereafter  treated 
and  disposed  of  as  any  other  person  duly  arrested  for  a  misdemeanor. 

In  every  case  of  arrest  by  any  member  of  the  Police  force,  the  same  shall  be 
made  known  immediately  to  the  superior  on  duty  in  the  precinct  wherein  the 
arrest  was  made,  by  the  person  making  the  same  ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
said  superior,  within  twenty-four  hours  after  such  notice,  to  make  written  re- 
turn thereof,  according  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Board  of  Police,  with 
the  name  of  the  party  arrested,  the  alleged  offense,  the  time  and  place  of  arrest, 
and  the  place  of  detention.  Each  member  of  the  Police  force,  under  the  pen- 
alty of  ten  days'  fine,  or  dismissal  from  the  force,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Board, 
shall,  immediately  upon  an  arrest,  convey  in  person  the  offender  before  the  near- 
est sitting  Magistrate,  that  he  may  be  dealt  with  according  to  the  law.    If  the 


294  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

arrest  is  made  during  the  hours  that  the  Magistrate  does  not  regularly  hold  court, 
or  if  the  Magistrate  is  not  holding  court,  such  offender  may  be  detained  in  a 
station  house,  or  precinct  thereof,  until  the  next  regular  public  sitting  of  the 
Magistrate,  and  no  longer,  and  shall  then  be  conveyed  without  delay  before  the 
Magistrate,  to  be  dealt  with  according  to  law.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said 
Board,  from  time  to  time,  to  provide  suitable  rules  and  regulations  to  prevent  the 
undue  detention  of  persons  arrested,  which  rules  and  regulations  shall  be  as 
operative  and  binding  as  if  herein  specially  enacted,  subject,  however,  to  the 
order  of  the  court  committing  the  person  arrested. 

It  shall  be  a  misdemeanor  punishable  by  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary 
for  no  less  than  one  year,  nor  exceeding  two  years,  or  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than 
two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  for  any  person,  without  justifiable  or  excusable 
cause,  to  use,  or  to  incite  any  other  person  to  use,  personal  violence  upon  any 
member  of  the  Police  thereof  when  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  or  for  any  mem- 
ber of  the  Police  force  to  willfully  neglect  making  any  arrest  for  an  offense  against 
the  law  of  this  State,  or  ordinance  in  force  in  the  city  of  New  York,  or  for  any 
person  not  a  member  of  the  Police  force  to  falsely  represent  himself  as  being  such 
member  with  a.  fraudulent  design  upon  person  or  property,  or  ujjon  any  day  or 
time  to  have,  use,  wear,  or  display  without  authority,  any  shield,  buttons,  wreaths, 
numbers,  or  other  insignia  or  emblem  such  as  are  worn  by  the  Police. 

It  shall  be  a  misdemeanor  for  any  person  not  being  a  regular  member  of  the 
Police,  established  in  any  city  of  this  State,  or  a  member  of  the  Police  force  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  or  a  Constable  of  this  State,  or  a  Police  Constable,  or  As- 
sistant Police  Constable,  or  a  Sheriff,  or  one  of  the  usual  general  Deputies  of  any 
Sheriff  of  this  State,  to  serve  any  criminal  process  within  the  said  city. 

It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  Police  force,  at  all  times  of  day  and  night, 
and  the  members  of  such  force  are  hereby  thereunto  empowered  to  especially 
preserve  the  public  peace,  prevent  crime,  detect  and  arrest  offenders,  suppress 
riots,  mobs,  and  insurrections,  disperse  unlawful  or  dangerous  assemblages,  and 
assemblages  which  obstruct  the  free  passage  of  public  streets,  sidewalks,  parks 
and  places  ;  protect  the  rights  of  persons  and  property,  guard  the  public  health; 
preserve  order  at  elections  and  all  public  meetings  and  assemblages;  prevent  and 
regulate  the  movement  of  teams  and  vehicles  in  streets,  and  remove  all  nuisances 
in  the  public  streets,  parks,  and  highways  ;  arrest  afl  street  mendicants  and  beg- 
gars ;  provide  proper  Police  attendance  at  fires  ;  assist,  advise,  and  protect  emi- 
grants, strangers,  and  travelers  in  public  streets,  at  steamboat  and  ship  landings,  and 
at  railroad  stations  ;  carefully  observe  and  inspect  all  places  of  public  amusemerU, 
all  places  of  business  having  excise  or  other  licenses  to  carry  on  any  business,  all 
houses  of  ill  fame  or  prostitution,  and  houses  where  common  prostitutes  resort  or 
reside,  all  lottery  offices,  policy  shops,  and  places  where  lottery  tickets,  or  lottery 
policies  are  sold  or  offered  for  sale,  all  gambling  houses,  cock-pits,  rat-pits,  and 
public  common  dance  houses,  and  to  repress  and  restrain  all  unlawful  or  dis- 
orderly conduct  or  practices  therein  ;  enforce  and  prevent  the  violation  of  all 
laws  and  ordinances  in  force  in  said  city;  and  for  these  purposes,  with  or  without 
warrant,  to  arrest  all  persons  guilty  of  violating  any  law  or  ordinance  for  the  sup- 
pression or  punishment  of  crimes  or  offenses. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


295 


The  Superintendent,  and  each  Captain  within  his  precinct,  shall  possess 
pojuers  of  general  Police  supervision  and  inspection  over  all  licensed  or  un- 
licensed pawnbrokers,  venders,  junk-shop  keepers,  junk  boatmen,  cartmen, 
dealers  in  second-hand  merchandise,  intelligence  office  keepers  and  auctioneers, 
witliin  the  said  city;  and  in  the  exercise  of,  and  in  furtherance  of  said  super- 
vision, may  from  time  to  time  empower  members  of  the  Police  force  to  fulfill 
such  si)Lcial  duties  in  the  aforesaid  premises  as  may  be  from  time  to  time  or- 
dained by  the  Board.  The  said  Superintendent,  and  each  Captain  within  his 
precinct,  may,  by  authority  in  writing,  empower  any  member  of  the  force,  when- 


Seventh  Regiment  Armory. 


ever  such  member  shall  be  in  search  of  property  feloniously  obtained,  or  in 
search  of  suspected  offenders,  or  evidence  to  convict  any  person  charged  with 
crime,  to  examine  the  books  of  any  pawnbroker,  or  his  business  premises,  or  the 
business  premises  of  any  licensed  vender,  or  licensed  junk-shop  keeper,  or 
dealer  in  second-hand  merchandise  or  intelligence  office  keeper,  or  auctioneer, 
or  boat  of  any  junk  boatmen.  Any  such  member,  when  thereto  authorized  in 
writing  by  the  said  Superintendent,  shall  be  authorized  to  examine  property 
alleged  to  be  pawned,  pledged,  deposited,  lost  or  stolen,  in  whosesoever  posses- 
sion said  property  may  be;  but  no  such  property  shall  be  taken  from  the  possessor 
thereof  without  due  process  or  authority  of  law.    Any  willful  interference  with 


296 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


the  said  Superintendent  or  Captain,  or  with  any  member  of  the  force,  by  any 
of  the  persons  hereinbefore  named  in  this  section,  whilst  in  official  discharge  of 
his  duty,  shall  be  punjshed  as  a  misdemeanor. 

The  Superintendent  and  Captains  and  persons  acting  by  their,  or  by  either 
of  their  orders,  shall  have  power  to  examine  the  books  of  any  pawnbroker, 
his  clerk  or  clerks,  if  they  deem  it  necessary,  when  in  search  of  stolen  property, 
and  any  person  having  in  his  possession  a  pawnbroker's  ticket,  shall,  when  ac- 
comjjanied  by  a  Policeman,  or  by  an  order  from  the  Superintendent  or  Captain, 
be  allowed  to  examine  the  property  purported  to  be  pawned  by  said  ticket;  but 
no  property  shall  be  removed  from  the  possession  of  any  pawnbroker  without 
the  process  of  law  required  by  the  existing  laws  of  this  State,  or  the  laws  and 
ordinances  of  the  city  regulating  pawnbrokers.  A  refusal  or  neglect  to  comply 
in  any  respect  with  the  provisions  of  this  section,  on  the  part  of  any  pawn- 
broker, his  clerk  or  clerks,  shall  be  deemed  a  misdemeanor,  and  be  punishable  as 
such. 

If  any  member  of  the  force,  or  if  any  two  or  more  householders  shall 
report  in  writing  under  his  or  her  signature,  to  the  Superintendent,  that  there 
are  good  grounds  (and  stating  the  same)  for  believing  any  house,  room,  or  prem- 
ises within  the  said  city,  to  be  kept  or  used  as  a  common  gaming  house,  common 
gaming  room,  or  common  gaming  premises,  for  therein  playing  for  wagers  of 
money  at  any  game  or  chance,  or  to  be  kept  or  used  for  lewd  and  obscene  pur- 
poses or  amusements,  or  the  deposit  or  sale  of  lottery  tickets  or  lottery  policies, 
it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Superintendent  to  authorize,  in  writing,  any  member  or 
members  of  the  Police  force  to  enter  the  same,  who  may  forthwith  arrest  all 
persons  there  found  offending  against  law,  but  none  others;  and  seize  all  imple- 
ments of  gaming,  or  lottery  tickets,  or  lottery  policies,  and  convey  any  person  so 
arrested  before  a  Magistrate,  and  bring  the  articles  so  seized  to  the  office  of 
the  Property  Clerk.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  Superintendent  to  cause 
such  arrested  persons  to  be  rigorously  prosecuted,  and  such  articles  seized  to  be 
destroyed,  as  the  orders,  rules,  and  regulations  of  the  Board  shall  direct. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Superintendent  of*  Police  to  detail,  on  each  day 
of  election,  at  least  two  Patrolmen  to  each  election  poll.  It  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Police  force,  or  any  member  thereof,  to  prevent  any  booth,  or  box,  or 
structure,  for  the  distribution  of  tickets  at  any  election,  from  being  erected  or 
maintained  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  of  any  polling  place  within  the 
city,  and  to  summarily  remove  any  such  booth,  box  or  structure,  or  close  and 
prevent  the  use  thereof. 

The  annual  salaries  and  compensation  of  the  members  of  the  force  who 
became  members  of  such  force  before  May  29,  1880,  shall  be  as  follows  :  Of 
the  Superintendent,  six  thousand  dollars;  of  the  Inspectors,  thirty-five  hun- 
dred dollars  each  ;  of  Police  Surgeons,  twenty-two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
each;  of  the  Captains,  two  thousand  dollars  eacli;  and  of  the  Sergeants,  six- 
teen hundred  dollars  each  ;  the  pay  of  Patrolmen  shall  be  at  the  yearly  rate 
of  twelve  hundred  dollars  each;  and  that  of  Doorman  at  the  rate  of  nine  hun- 
dred dollars  per  year  each.  The  salary  attached  to  either  of  the  following 
positions  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  here  designated  as   the  maximum  salary  of 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


such  position  when  held  by  any  person  appointed  to  the  said  Police  force  on 
or -after  May  29,  1880,  to  wit:  For  an  Inspector,  three  thousand  dollars  ;  for 
a  Captain,  eighteen  hundred  dollars;  for  a  Surgeon,  fifteen  hundred  dollars; 
for  a  Sergeant,  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  members  of  the  uni- 
formed force  of  the  Police  Department,  appointed  to  said  force  after  May 
29,  1880,  shall,  on  their  appointment,  become  members  of  what  shall  be  known 
as  the  third  grade,  at  a  salary  of  eight  hundred  dollars  per  year;  after  two 
years  of  service  in  such  third  grade  they  shall,  if  their  conduct  and  efficiency 
have  been  satisfactory,  be  advanced  to  what  shall  be  known  as  the  second  grade, 
at  a  salary  of  nine  hundred  dollars  per  year;  after  two  years  service  in  such 
grade,  they  shall,  on  like  conditions,  be  advanced  to  what  shall  be  known  as  the 
first  grade,  at  a  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars  per  year.  But  no  member  of 
such  uniformed  force  shall  be  so  advanced,  as  aforesaid,  except  after  examination 
by  and  approval  of  the  said  Board  of  Police  of  his  record,  efficiency  and  con- 
duct. The  salaries  and  pay  aforesaid  shall  be  i)aid  monthly  to  each  ])erson 
entitled  thereto,  in  modes  to  be  prescribed  by  the  rules  and  regulations,  subject 
to  such  deductions  each  month  from  the  salary  or  pay  of  members  of  the  force, 
as  the  Treasurer  shall  make  (and  which  deductions  he  is  hereby  authorized 
to  retain)  to  satisfy  fines  imposed  on  any  member  of  the  force  by  way  of 
discipline  or  punishment,  as  prescribed  by  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
Board. 

The  Commissioners  of  Police  may  designate  some  person  to  take  charge  of 
all  property  alleged  to  be  stolen  or  embezzled,  and  which  may  be  brought  into 
the  Police  office,  and  all  property  taken  from  the  person  of  a  prisoner,  and  all 
property  or  money  alleged  or  supi)osed  to  have  been  feloniously  obtained,  or 
which  shall  be  taken  into  the  custody  of  any  member  of  the  Police  force,  or 
criminal  court  in  the  city  of  New  York,  or  which  shall  come  into  the  custody  of 
any  Police  Justice,  or  officer,  shall  be,  by  such  member  or  Justice,  or  by  order 
of  said  court,  given  into  the  custody  of  and  kept  by  the  Property  Clerk  of  the 
Police.  All  such  property  and  money  shall  be  particularly  registered  by  said 
Property  Clerk  in  a  book  kept  for  that  purpose,  which  shall  contain  the  name  of 
the  owner,  if  ascertained,  the  place  where  found,  the  name  of  person  from  whom 
taken,  with  the  general  circumstances,  the  date  of  its  receipt,  the  name  of  the 
the  officer  recovering  the  same,  the  names  of  all  claimants  thereto,  and  any  final 
disposition  of  such  property  or  money.  The  said  Commissioners  may  prescribe 
regulations  in  regard  to  the  duties  of  the  Clerk  so  designated,  and  require  and 
take  security  for  the  faithful  performance  of  the  duties  imposed  by  this  section. 

Whenever  property  or  money  shall  be  taken  from  persons  arrested,  and 
shall  be  alleged  to  have  been  feloniously  obtained,  or  to  be  the  ])roceeds  of 
crime,  and  whenever  so  brought,  with  such  claimant  and  the  person  arrested,  be- 
fore some  Magistrate,  for  adjudication,  and  the  Magistrate  shall  be  then  and 
there  satisfied  from  evidence  that  the  person  arrested  is  innocent  of  the  offense 
alleged,  and  that  the  property  rightfully  belongs  to  him,  then  said  Magistrate 
may  thereupon,  in  writing,  order  such  property  or  money  to  be  returned,  and  the 
Property  Clerk,  if  he  have  it,  to  deliver  such  property  or  money  to  the  accused 
person  himself,  and  not  to  any  attorney,  agent,  or  clerk  of  said  accused  person. 


298 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


If  any  claim  to  the  ownership  of  such  property  or  money  shall  be  mad€  on 
oath  before  the  Magistrate,  by  or  in  behalf  of  any  other  person  than  the  person 
arrested,  and  the  said  accused  person  shall  be  held  for  trial  or  examination,  such 
property  or  money  Shall  remain  in  the  custody  of  the  Property  Clei  ic  until  the 
discharge  or  conviction  of  the  person  accused. 

All  property  or  money  taken  on  suspicion  of  having  been  feloniously  ob- 
tained, or  of  being  the  proceeds  of  crime,  and  for  which  there  is  no  other  claim- 
ant than  the  person  from  whom  such  property  was  taken,  and  all  lost  property 
coming  into  the  possession  of  any  member  of  the  said  Police  force,  and  all 
projierty  and  money  taken  from  pawnbrokers  as  the  proceeds  of  crime,  or  by  any 
such  member  from  persons  supposed  to  be  insane,  intoxicated,  or  otherwise 
incapable  of  taking  care  of  themselves,  shall  be  transmitted  as  soon  as  practi- 
cable to  the  Property  Clerk,  to  be  registered  and  advertised  in  the  City  Record 
for  the  benefit  of  all  persons  interested  and  for  the  information  of  the  public, 
as  to  the  amount  and  disposition  of  the  property  so  taken  into  custody  by  the 
Police. 

If  property  stolen  or  embezzled  be  not  claimed  by  the  owner  before  the  ex- 
piration of  six  months  from  the  conviction  of  person  for  stealing  or  embezzling 
it,  the  officer  having  it  in  his  custody  must,  on  payment  of  the  necessary  expenses 
incurred  in  its  preservation,  deliver  it  to  the  Commissioners  of  Charities  and  Cor- 
rection, to  be  applied  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  this  city.  All  other  property 
and  money  that  shall  remain  in  the  custody  of  the  Property  Clerk  for  the  period 
of  six  months  without  any  lawful  claimant  thereto,  after  having  been  advertised 
in  the  City  Record ior  the  period  of  ten  days,  shall  be  sold  at  public  auction  in  a 
suitable  room  to  be  designated  for  such  purpose,  and  the  proceeds  of  such  sale 
shall  be  paid  into  the  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund. 

If  any  property  or  money  placed  in  the  custody  of  the  Property  Clerk  shall 
be  desired  as  evidence  in  any  Police  or  other  criminal  court,  such  property 
shall  be  delivered  to  any  officer  who  shall  present  an  order  to  that  effect  from 
such  court.  Such  property,  however,  shall  not  be  retained  in  said  court,  but 
shall  be  returned  to  such  Property  Clerk,  to  be  disposed  of  according  to  the  pre- 
vious provisions  of  this  chapter. 

It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Police  Commissioners,  whenever  they  shall  be  noti- 
fied in  writing  by  the  Metropolitan  Association  of  Amateur  Oarsmen  that  a 
regatta  is  to  be  given  under  its  auspices  on  the  Hudson  River,  opposite  Washing- 
ton Heights,  New  York  City,  to  keep  the  course  used  for  any  such  regatta  free 
and  clear  of  all  boats  and  vessels  of  every  description  during  the  actual  time  of 
the  regatta,  which  shall  not  exceed  six  hours  in  any  one  day  ;  provided  that 
there  shall  not  be  more  than  five  regattas  in  any  one  year.  2.  That  the  course 
selected  for  such  regattas  shall  be  above  Seventy-second  Street,  and  far  enough 
up  the  river  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  any  line  of  ferry-boats  running  on  their 
regular  course,  and  trii)s.  3.  That  said  regatta  course  shall  not  exceed  in  breadth 
more  than  one-fourth  the  width  of  the  river  from  either  shore,  nor  shall  it  exceed 
more  than  three  miles  in  length. 

The  course  selected  for  any  such  regatta  shall  be  plainly  marked  out  by 
buoys  or  boats,  and  anchored  ;  such  buoys  or  boats  shall  have  a  flag  placed  upon 


01' A'  rOL/CE  PRO!  EC  TORS. 


them  so  that  they  may  he  readily  seen.  No  boat,  vessel,  or  steamboat  of  any 
description  shall  be  allowed  on  said  regatta  course  during  the  actual  time  of  any 
regatta,  except  by  the  consent  of  the  officers  in  ciiarge  of  such  regatta.  Any 
person  rowing  a  rowboat,  or  pilot  of  a  sailboat,  sailing  vessel  or  steamboat,  will- 
fully going  upon  such  regatta  course,  and  thereby  interfering  with  the  regatta, 
shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  shall  be  liable  to  a  ])enalty  of  not 


Post  Office  and  United  States  Court  Building, 
less  than  one  hundred  dollars,  or  inipriso-iment  in  the  County  Jail  for  a  time  not  to 
exceed  three  months,  or  to  both  penalty  and  imprisonment.  The  fine  or  penalty 
to  go  to  the  Police  fund.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Police  Commissioners  to 
furnish  a  sufficient  number  of  Police  to  keep  said  regatta  course  clear,  and  they 
shall  have  power  to  arrest  any  person  or  persons  going  upon  such  regatta  course 
during  the  time  of  the  regatta  in  violation  of  this  or  the  preceding  section. 


300 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Nothing  in  this  or  the  preceding  section  contained  shall  apply  to,  or  be  so  con- 
structed as  to  interfere  in  any  way  with  sailing  vessels  actually  engaged  in  com- 
merce while  proceeding  on  their  course. 

The  Board  of  Police,  upon  the  requisition  of  the  Board  of  Health,  shall 
detail  to  the  service  of  the  said  Board  of  Health,  for  the  purpose  of  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  provisions  of  the  acts  relating  to  tenements  and  lodging  houses,  not 
exceeding  thirty  suitable  officers  and  men  of  experience  of  at  least  five  years' 
service  in  the  Police  force,  provided  that  the  Board  of  Health  shall  pay  monthly 
to  the  Board  of  Police  a  sum  equal  to  the  pay  of  all  officers  and  men  so  detailed. 
These  officers  and  men  shall  belong  to  the  Sanitary  Company  of  Police,  and 
shall  report  to  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Health.  The  Board  of  Health 
may  report  back  to  the  Board  of  Police,  for  punishment,  any  member  of  the 
said  Company  guilty  of  any  breach  of  orders  or  discipline,  or  of  neglecting  his 
duty,  and  thereupon  the  Board  of  Police  may  detail  another  officer  or  man  in 
his  place,  and  the  discipline  of  the  said  members  of  the  Sanitary  Company  shall 
be  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Board  of  Police;  but  at  any  time  the  Board  of 
Health  may  object  to  the  efficiency  of  any  member  of  said  Sanitary  Company, 
and  thereupon  another  officer  or  man  may  be  detailed  in  his  place.  The  Board 
of  Police  shall  have  the  power,  and  it  shall  be  their  duty,  to  fill  all  vacancies  in 
the  Police  force  of  the  city  caused  by  the  detailing  of  said  officers  and  men  upon 
the  requisition  of  the  Board  of  Health. 

Upon  the  application  of  any  person  residing  within  the  precinct,  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  Captain,  or  other  officer  at  the  desk,  to  register  in  a  book  kept 
open  for  that  purpose,  the  name  or  address  of  any  person  desiring  or  needing 
medical  attendance,  with  the  name  or  address  of  the  person  making  such  appli- 
cation, and  without  delay  to  select  and  notify  of  such  application  one  from  the 
list  of  physicians  who  have  registered  in  the  said  precinct  as  thereby  pledging 
themselves  to  respond  to  any  call  for  medical  attendance,  and  who  have  been 
certified  by  the  Registrar  of  Vital  Statistics  of  the  Board  of  Health  as  being  in 
good  and  regular  standing,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Captain  or  other  officer 
at  the  desk,  in  the  absence  of  any  expressed  preference  by  the  applicant,  to  select 
and  notify  from  the  list  of  physicians  thus  registered,  the  name  of  the  physician 
residing  nearest  to  the  residence  of  the  said  patient  in  whose  behalf  application 
is  made. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Captain,  Sergeants,  or  other  officer  at  the  desk,  in 
such  Police  precinct  as  before  specified,  upon  registry  of  any  application  as 
described  in  the  preceding  section,  immediately  to  detail  an  officer  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  call  upon  such  physician  without  delay,  and  to  conduct  him  tor  the 
residence  of  the  patient,  also  to  verify  by  personal  inspection  or  inquiry,  the 
name  and  address  of  such  patient  as  registered  by  his  superior  officer.  Every 
officer  thus  detailed  as  messenger  shall  be  furnished  with  a  blank  certificate, 
upon  which  the  name  and  address  of  the  physician  responding  to  the  call,  the 
name  and  address  of  the  patient  attended,  and  the  date  and  hour  of  the  visit, 
shall  be  written  by  him  after  he  has  conducted  the  physician  to  the  patient's 
residence  and  verified  the  genuineness  of  the  application.  Such  certificate  shall 
be  signed  by  him  and  given  to  the  physician,  and  shall  specify  upon  its  face 


OUR  rOLfCE  PROTECTORS. 


therein  named,  is  entitled  to  the  sum  of  three  dollars  from  the  public  funds 
upoji  presentation  thereof  to  the  proper  officer,  and  indorsement  thereof  in 
writing  with  the  name  of  the  Captain  of  the  precinct.  But  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  physician  making  such  visit  to  present  such  certificate  to  the  patient  or 
his  or  her  agent  or  attendant,  and  to  request  payment  of  the  said  sum  specified; 
and  in  case  of  such  payment  being  made,  said  physician  shall  surrender  such 
certificate  to  the  person  or  persons  making  it,  and  it  shall  cease  to  be  a  claim 
upon  the  public  treasury.  In  default  of  the  immediate  payment  of  the  said 
fee  specified  in  the  said  certrficate,  by  the  patient  or  his  or  her  attendant,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Captain  of  the  Police  Precinct  in  which  the  visit  was  made 
to  indorse  it  with  his  name  ;  and  thus  indorsed  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Cashier  of  the  Board  of  Health  to  pay  at  sight  the  fee  aforesaid,  and  to  enter 
the  ])avment  in  a  l)ook  provided  for  that  pur])ose,  and  take  up  the  certificate. 
And  all  certificates  thus  redeemed  shall  be  valid  debts  to  the  amount  therein 
named,  against  the  patients  therein  named,  or  their  guardians,  which  the  said 
Board  may  order  collected  by  due  process  of  law,  provided  that  no  prosecution 
shall  be  instituted  in  cases  where  it  is  satisfactorily  shown  that  the  patient  is 
without  sufficient  means  for  the  payment  thereof. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  physician  thus  called  to  the  medical  assistance 
of  any  j)erson  within  the  Police  Precinct  in  which  he  is  registered,  to  transmit 
to  the  Registrar  of  the  Board  of  Health,  within  twenty-four  hours  after  the  call 
shall  have  been  answered,  a  full  and  accurate  statistical  exhibit  of  the  case;  speci- 
fying therein  the  age  and  sex,  and  the  employment,  profession,  or  business  of  the 
patient,  the  nature  of  the  disease,  and  the  hour  of  the  attack  when  practicable; 
the  date,  and  the  Police  Precinct  and  Ward  in  which  the  case  occurred  ;  the 
same  shall  be  signed  with  the  full  name  and  address  of  the  physician  rendering 
it,  but  the  name  and  address  of  the  patient  shall  always  be  omitted.  And  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Health  to  provide  all  physicians  thus  regis- 
tered for  night  medical  service  with  appropriate  blanks  for  the  safe  purpose  on 
their  application  therefor. 

Any  Policeman  who  shall  be  detailed  as  messenger  according  to  the  pro- 
visions hereinbefore  specified,  shall,  in  the  absence  of  preference  expressed  in  the 
application,  call  the  physician  nearest  and  most  convenient  to  the  patient's  resi- 
dence, or,  in  the  absence  of  or  refusal  from  any  cause,  of  the  latter,  the  physician 
next  nearest,  and  so  on,  and  there  shall  be  no  delay  or  waiting  for  such  physician 
to  return  ;  and  any  member  of  the  force  neglecting  to  comply  with  this 
provision  shall  be  subject  to  trial  and  fine,  or  dismissal  from  the  service 
by  the  Board  of  Police  in  the  same  manner  as  for  other  offenses  cognizable  by 
the  said  body.  And  any  physician  thus  registering,  who  sliall  twice  refuse  or  neg- 
lect, without  reasonable  excuse,  to  answer  a  call  made  according  to  the  provisions 
of  the  three  preceding  sections,  shall  be  subject  to  have  his  name  erased  from  the 
list,  upon  proper  evidence  thereof  submitted  to  an  executive  officer  who  shall  be 
appointed^by  the  Registrar  of  Vital  Statistics  of  the  Board  of  Health,  and  shall 
be  under  his  immediate  supervision. 

The  Captains  of  the  several  Police  Precincts  shall  cause  the  names  and  ad- 
dresses of  such  physicians  as  have  been  duly  certified  by  the  Registrar  of  Vital 


302 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Statistics  to  be  plainly  and  legibly  written  or  printed  on  a  bulletin  provided  for 
that  purpose,  which  bulletin  shall  be  placed  at  a  convenient  point  near  the  Cap- 
tain's desk,  and  kept  open  to  the  inspection  of  all  persons  within  the  precinct 
desiring  to  see  the  same.  They  may,  if  in  their  judgment  it  shall  be  necessary  to 
the  public  convenience,  cause  the  bulletins  of  physicians  herein  specified  to  be 
posted  in  the  hotels  and  district  telegraph  offices  within  their  respective  precincts, 
but  any  applicant  applying  at  such  hotels  or  telegraph  offices,  or  desiring  the  ser- 
vices of  any  messenger  other  than  a  member  of  the  Police  force  detailed  for  the 
purpose,  shall  employ  such  messenger  at  his  own  expense,  and  shall  be  liable  for 
any  expenses  incurred  in  communicating  with  the  Police  Precinct. 

The  period  during  which  the  aforesaid  physicians  shall  be  held  to  be  subject 
to  call  shall  be  between  the  hours  of  ten  in  the  evening  and  seven  in  the  morning, 
from  October  i  to  March  31,  inclusive,  and  between  the  hours  of  eleven  in  the 
evening  and  six  in  the  morning  from  April  i  to  September  30,  inclusive. 

Next  follows  an  exposition  of  the  law  in  relation  to  the  Police  Pension  Fund, 
which  will  be  treated  of  in  a  separate  chapter.  The  Act  then  continues  to  de- 
fine the  duties  and  j^owers  of  the  Police  Department,  as  follows: 

Every  owner  of  a  steam  boiler  or  boilers  in  use  of  the  city  of  New  York 
shall,  annually,  and  at  such  convenient  times  and  in  such  manner  and  such  form 
as  may  by  rules  and  regulations  to  be  made  therefor  by  the  Board  of  Police 
be  provided,  report  to  the  said  Board  the  location  of  such  steam  boiler  or  boilers, 
and  thereupon,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  practicable,  the  Sanitary  Company,  or  such 
member  or  members  thereof  as  may  be  competent  for  the  duty  herein  described, 
and  may  be  detailed  for  such  duty  by  the  Board  of  Police,  shall  proceed  to 
inspect  such  steam  boiler  or  boilers,  and  all  apparatus  and  appliances  connected 
therewith;  but  no  person  shall  be  detailed  for  such  duty  except  he  is  a  practical 
engineer,  and  the  strength  and  security  of  each  boiler  shall  be  tested  by  hydro- 
static pressure  ;  and  every  boiler  or  boilers  so  tested  shall  have,  under  the 
control  of  such  Sanitary  Company,  such  attachments,  ajjparatus,  and  appliances 
as  may  be  necessary  for  the  limitation  of  pressure^lock,  and  secured  in  like 
manner  as  may  be  from  time  to  time  adopted  by  the  United  States  Inspectors 
of  Steam  Boilers,  passed  July  25,  1866,  and  they  shall  limit  a  pressure  of  steam 
to  be  applied  to  or  upon  such  boiler,  certifying  each  inspection  and  such  limit 
of  pressure  to  the  owner  of  boiler  inspected,  and  also  to  the  engineer  in  charge 
of  same;  and  no  greater  amount  of  steam  or  pressure  than  that  certified  in  the 
case  of  any  boiler  shall  be  applied  thereto.  In  limiting  the  amount  of  pres- 
sure, wherever  the  boiler  under  test  will  bear  the  same,  the  limit  desired  by 
the  owner  of  boiler  shall  be  the  one  certified,  but  all  steam  users,  manufac- 
turers, or  corporations  possessing  the  guaranteed  certificates  unrevoked  in  full 
life  of  any  fire  insurance  company  now  incorporated  or  hereafter  incorporated, 
or  of  any  company  organized  or  hereafter  organized,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
guaranteed  steam  boiler  inspections,  and  they  shall  have  complied  with  the  insur- 
ance laws  of  the  State,  having  duly  filed  a  statement  with  the  Superintendent  of 
Insurance  or  other  authorized  officer,  of  its  condition,  and  duly  paid  license  fees 
and  taxes,  shall  be  exempt  from  such  inspections. 


OUR  POL /CI'.  PROTECrORS. 


303 


Anv  company  referred  to  in  tlie  last  preceding  section  which  has  com- 
plied therewith,  shall,  at  least  once  in  six  months,  make  and  file  returns,  under 
o«th,  with  the  Board  of  I'olice,  of  all  inspections  made  by  them  of  steam 
boilers  and  of  all  certificates  issued  by  them;  and  those  at  the  time  of  making 
said  return  either  in  full  force,  unrevoked  or  canceled.  Each  and  every  com- 
pany so  authorized  and  making  insurances  antl  failing  to  make  such  returns  as 
aforesaid,  shall  pay  the  penal  sum  of  fifty  dollars  for  each  and  every  failure  or 


Broadway,  South  from  Post  Office. 


neglect  to  make  and  file  said  returns,  the  same  to  be  recovered  by  suit  to  be 
brought  by  the  Board  of  Police. 

The  Board  of  Police  shall  preserve  in  proper  form  a  correct  record  of  all 
inspections  of  steam  boilers  made  under  its  direction,  and  of  the  amount  of 
steam  or  pressure  allowed  in  each  case,  and  in  cases  where  any  steam  boiler  or 
the  ajjparatus  or  appliances  connected  therewith  shall  be  deemed  by  the  Board, 
alter  inspection,  to  be  insecure  or  dangerous,  the  Board  shall  prescribe  such 


0['R  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


changes  and  alterations  as  may  render  such  boilers,  apparatus  and  appliances 
devoid  of  danger.  And  in  the  meantime  and  until  such  changes  and  alterations 
are  made,  and  such  appliances  attached,  such  boiler,  apparatus  and  appliances 
may  be  taken  under  the  control  of  the  Board  of  Police,  and  all  persons  pre- 
vented from  using  the  same,  and,  in  cases  deemed  necessary,  the  appliances, 
apparatus  or  attachments  for  the  limitation  of  pressure,  may  be  taken  under  the 
control  of  the  said  Board  of  Police.  And  no  owner  or  agent  of  any  steam 
boiler  shall  employ  any  person  as  engineer  without  having  a  certificate  as  to  the 
qualification  from  practical  engineers,  to  be  countersigned  by  the  Commissioners 
of  Police. 

Any  ])erson  applying  or  causing  to  be  applied,  to  any  steam  boiler,  a  higher 
pressure  of  steam  llian  tliat  Kmitcd  for  the  same  in  accordance  with  the  jjro- 
visions  of  this  chapter,  and  any  person  violating  the  provisions  of  the  last 
preceding  section,  shall  be  guilty  of  misdemeanor.  In  case  any  owner  of  any 
steam  boiler  in  the  said  city  shall  fail  or  omit  to  have  the  same  reported  for 
inspection  as  provided  by  law,  such  boiler  may  be  taken  under  control  of  the 
Board  of  Police,  and  all  persons  prevented  from  using  the  same  until  it  can  be 
satisfactorily  tested  as  hereinbefore  provided  for,  and  the  owner  shall,  in  such 
case,  be  charged  with  the  expense  of  so  testing  it. 

The  Board  is  hereby  authorized,  in  addition  to  the  Police  force  now 
authorized  by  law,  to  appoint  a  number  of  persons,  not  exceeding  two  hundred, 
who  may  be  designated  by  any  company  which  may  be  operating  a  system  or 
signaling  by  telegraph  to  a  central  office  for  Police  assistance,  to  act  as  Special 
Patrolmen  in  connection  with  such  telegraphic  system.  And  the  person  so  ap- 
pointed shall  in  and  about  such  service  have  all  the  powers  possessed  by  the 
members  of  the  regular  force,  except  as  may  be  limited  by  and  subject  to  the 
supervision  and  control  of  the  Board  of  Police.  No  person  shall  be  appointed 
as  such  Special  Patrolman  who  does  not  possess  the  qualifications  which  may  be 
required  by  the  Board  of  Police  for  said  special  service,  and  the  person  so  appointed 
shall  be  subject  in  case  of  emergency  to  the  duty  as  part  of  the  regular  Police  force. 
The  Board  of  Police  shall  have  power  to  revoke  any  such  appointment  or  appoint- 
ments at  any  time,  and  every  person  so  appointed  shall  wear  a  badge  and 
uniform,  to  be  furnished  by  such  company  and  ap])roved  by  the  Board  of  Police. 
Such  uniform  shall  be  designated  at  the  time  of  the  first  appointment  under  this 
section,  and  shall  be  the  permanent  imiform  to  be  worn  by  the  said  Special 
Police.  The  pay  of  such  Special  Patrolmen  and  all  expenses  connected  with 
their  services,  shall  be  wholly  paid  by  such  company  or  companies,  and  no  ex- 
penses or  liability  shall  at  any  time  be  incurred,  or  paid  by  the  Board  of  PoUce 
for,  or  by  reason  of  the  services  of  the  persons  so  as  aforesaid  appointed. 

An  Act  was  passed  on  April  21,  1884,  amendatory  of  the  Consolidation  Act, 
the  leading  features  of  which  are:  The  Treasurer  to  appoint  a  Deputy  Treasurer; 
in  case  of  absence  or  inabilty  to  perform  his  duties,  the  Treasurer  to  be  respon- 
sible for  the  acts  of  the  Deputy;  the  Board  of  Police  to  deduct  and  withhold 
pay  for  absence  for  any  cause,  absence  without  leave,  sickness,  or  other  disal)ility, 
etc.,  not  to  exceed  one-half,  except  incases  of  absence  without  leave.  No  leave  of 
absence  exceeding  twenty  days  in  any  one  year,  to  be  granted,  except  that  the  mem- 


OUR  POLICF.  PROIECrORS. 


ber  waived  and  released  not  less  than  one-half  of  salan .  The  salaries  of  members 
ap]_)ointed  on  and  after  January  i,  1885,  to  be  as  follows:  Superintendent,  six 
thousand  dollars;  Inspectors,  three  thousand  live  hundred  dollars;  Surgeons, 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars;  Captains,  two  thousand  dollars;  Patrolmen, 
appointed  on  and  after  January  i,  1885,  known  as  third  grade,  one  thousand 
dollars;  after  one  year's  service  in  such  grade,  if  conduct  and  efficiency  have 
been  satisfactory,  such  Patrolman  to  be  advanced  to  the  second  tirade,  and  re- 
ceive an  annual  salary  of  one  thousand  one  hundred  dollars;  after  one  year's 
service  in  the  second  grade,  on  like  conditions,  to  be  advanc  ed  to  the  first  grade, 
at  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars. 

Schedule  of  arrests  made  for  lottery  and  ])olicy  violations  and  gambling 
during  the  years  1880,  1881,  1882,  1883  and  1884: 


1 

PRECINCT. 

Arrests. 

Dis- 
clicir^ccl 
l>y  Mag- 
istrate. 

Held 

by  Mag- 
istrate. 

Tried . 

Con- 
victed. 

Acquil'd. 

Pending. 

51 

14 

37 

10 

8 

2 

27 

133 

57 

76 

35 

30 

5 

41 

16 

3 

13 

4 

4 

9 

4 

4 

13 

7  

29 

16 

7 

7 

9 

8  

27 

10 

17 

I 

I 

•  t. 

16 

9  

28 

15 

13 

7 

5 

2 

6 

165 

104 

61 

6 

6 

55 

25 

8 

17 

3 

2 

14 

7 

4 

3 

. . 

4 

33 

2 1 

12 

5 

4 

7 

14  

86 

45 

41 

3 

3 

38 

15  

83 

18 

05 

14 

14 

51 

14 

5 

9 

I 

I 

8 

17  

77 

30 

47 

9 

7 

38 

13 

8 

5 

I 

I 

4 

19  

14 

6 

8 

2 

2 

6 

60 

42 

18 

18 

39 

17 

22 

I 

I 

2 1 

23 

9 

14 

I 

I 

13 

23  

4 

4 

25  

I 

I 

26   

4 

I 

3 

3 

27  

105 

64 

41 

;6 

15 

25 

28  

22 

10 

12 

2 

2 

ID 

29  

95 

39 

56 

5 

5 

5' 

30  

I 

I 

31  

3 

3 

33  

3 

3 

189 

30 

159 

69 

53 

90 

5 

I 

1  ^ 

18 

6 

\  ■ 

13 

210 

30 

1 80 

38 

1  ^« 

142 

1587 

628 

959 

241 

,  211 

30 

722 

3o6 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


An  Act  passed  April  22,  1884,  declared  that  "  On  and  after  the  first  day  of 
Ja/iuary,  1885,  the  grade  and  pay  or  compensation  of  members  of  the  Police 
force  who  are  Patrolmen  in  all  cities  of  this  State,  having,  according  to  the  last 
census,  a  population  exceeding  eight  hundred  thousand,  shall  be  as  follows:  All 
such  members  who  are  Patrolmen  on  said  first  day  of  January,  1885,  and  who 
shall  have  served  three  years  or  upwards  on  said  force,  shall  be  members  of  the 
First  Grade;  all  such  members  who  have  served  on  such  force  for  less  than  three 
years,  and  more  than  one  year,  shall  be  members  of  the  Second  Grade;  and  all 
other  members  who  are  Patrolmen  then  on  said  force  shall  be  members  of  the 
Third  Grade;  and  all  persons  appointed  Patrolmen  after  said  first  day  of  January, 
1885,  shall,  on  their  appointment,  become  members  of  the  Third  Grade.  When- 
ever any  member  of  the  Third  Grade  shall  have  done  service  therein  for  one  year, 
he  shall  be  advanced  to  the  Second  Grade;  and  whenever  any  member  of  the 
Second  Grade  shall  have  done  service  therein  for  one  year  he  shall  be  advanced 
to  the  First  Grade;  but  no  such  Patrolman  shall  be  advanced  as  aforesaid  except 
after  examination  by,  and  approval  of  the  Board  of  Police  or  Police  Commis- 
sioners, of  such  city,  of  his  record,  efficiency  and  conduct.  The  annual  pay  or 
compensation  of  the  members  of  the  Police  force  who  are  Patrolmen  as  afore- 
said, shall  be  as  follows:  For  members  of  the  First  (irade  at  the  rate  of  twelve 
hundred  dollars  each;  for  members  of  the  Second  Grade  at  the  rate  of  eleven 
hundred  dollars  each;  for  members  of  the  Third  Grade  at  the  rate  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars  each.  The  pay  or  compensation  of  aforesaid  shall  be  paid  monthly 
to  each  person  entitled  thereto,  subject  to  such  deductions  for  or  on  account  of 
lost  or  sick  time,  sickness,  disability,  absence,  fines  or  forfeitures,  as  the  Board 
of  Police  may,  by  rules  and  regulations,  from  time  to  time,  prescribe  or  adopt." 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


FIRST  INSPECTION  DISTRICT. 

Superintendent  VVii.i.iam  Murray. — A  JJkii.liant  Record. — What  a  Po- 
liceman MAY  Become  by  Honesty,  Perseverance  and  Aiulitv. — A  Model 
Police  Oekicial. — Methodical,  Keen,  and  Devoted  to  his  Profession. — 
The  First  Precinct;  Captain  Cakfry. — "The  Iron  Man." — The  most 
Important  Police  District  in  the  World. — Fourth  Precinct;  Captain 
Webb. — Sixth  Precinct;  Captain  McCullagh. — Seventh  Precinct;  Cap- 
tain Hedden. — Tenth  Precinct;  Captain  Allaire. — Eleventh  Precinct; 
Captain  Meakim. — Thirteenth  Precinct;  Captain  Petty. — Fourteenth 
Precinct;  Captain  Murphy. — Seventeenth  Precinct;  Captain  McCul- 
lagh.— Eighteenth  Precinct;  Captain  Clinchy.-Twenty-first  Precinct; 
Captain  Ryan. — Twenty-sixth  Precinct;  Sergeant  Stewari'. 

CUPERINTENDENT  WILLIAM  MURRAY  is  an  officer  whose  career 
^  illustrates  how,  by  honesty,  perseverance,  and  ability,  a  Patrolman  may  be- 
come the  highest  officer  of  the  force.  He  is  a  native  of  New  York  City,  and  was 
born  in  the  year  1844.  In  1861  he  joined  the  Ellsworth  Zouaves  (Eleventh  New 
York  State  Volunteers),  and  was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Hull  Run.  He 
joined  the  Police  force  in  1866,  and  went  to  the  Third  Precinct,  which  was  then 
under  the  command  of  Captain  James  Greer.  A  few  days  after  joining  the  force  he 
made  some  very  clever  arrests,  one  of  them  being  a  negro  named  Jake  Joralemon, 
who  was  a  notorious  burglar,  and  who  had  used  a  revolver  in  one  of  his  exploits 
at  Newark  on  a  woman  named  Mrs.  Ward,  a  clothier's  wife  in  that  place.  The 
Governor  of  New  Jersey  and  the  Mayor  of  Newark  offered  a  reward  (the  former 
six  hundred  dollars  and  the  latter  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars)  for  his  capture. 
Then  followed  the  arrest  of  Worth,  for  blowing  open  the  safe  in  Messrs.  Steiner's 
tea  store  in  Vesey  Street. 

The  routine  of  official  duties  is  about  as  follows:  He  reaches  Iiis  office 
at  Police  Headijuarters  at  eight  a.  m.  His  first  care  is  to  assort  the  mail  and 
next  to  examine  the  returns  from  the  various  precincts,  noting  any  irregularities 
or  errors  that  may  have  been  made,  together  with  the  charges  of  serious  felonies 
made  against  prisoners.  Visitors  are  admitted  to  his  office  at  half-past  nine  a.  m., 
when  their  grievances  and  complaints  are  listened  to  and  disposed  of  according 
to  the  nature  of  each  case.  The  reports  of  District  Inspectors  are  next  in  order. 
These  reports  contain  an  account  of  the  operations  of  the  force  for  the  ])revious 
twenty-four  hours.     The  Inspectors  then  are  instructed  in  regard  to  Police 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


matters  in  their  districts.  The  Superintendent  daily  refers  his  reports  to  the 
Board  of  Police  on  any  Police  matters  which  may  have  come  before  him  since 
the  previous  meeting  of  the  Board.  A  consolidated  report  is  next  prepared  and 
forwarded  to  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners,  setting  forth  the  work  done 
by  each  member  of  the  Department  for  the  preceding  twenty-four  hours.  This 
consolidated  report  contains  a  variety  of  detailed  information,  such  as  giving  a 
list  of  sick  or  absent  members,  those  who  are  absent  from  duty  without  leave, 
those  who  had  their  night  off,  etc.  The  remainder  of  the  day  up  to  five  p.  M.  is 
occupied  in  listening  to  citizens'  complaints  of  all  kinds,  in  telegraphing  instruc- 
tions to  the  precincts,  and  such  other  duties  as  the  occasion  may  demand. 

The  Superintendent  quits  work  at  six  o'clock,  and  goes  home  to  dinner. 
As  a  rule  he  spends  some  portion  of  his  time  visiting  the  Police  precincts  and 
station  houses  at  night,  that  he  may  see  for  himself  if  the  members  of  the  force 
are  properly  performing  their  duty,  that  the  laws  are  being  enforced,  and  that 
business  pertaining  to  the  station  houses  is  being  transacted  in  accordance  with 
the  prescribed  rules  of  the  Department. 

After  several  other  clever  captures.  Patrolman  Murray  was  appointed 
Roundsman  on  the  first  of  October,  and  one  year  later  he  was  raised  to  the  rank 
of  Sergeant,  in  which  capacity  he  served  in  the  Eighth,  Sixteenth,  and  Fifteenth 
Precincts.  While  in  the  latter  station  he  arrested  the  men  who  had  robbed 
Matty  Dancer.  Dancer  always  kept  his  money  and  bonds  at  his  house,  No.  50 
West  Eleventh  Street,  and  the  burglars,  getting  scent  of  this,  one  day  gained  ad- 
mission during  his  absence,  pretending  that  they  were  plumbers.  Mrs.  Dancer  was 
gagged,  and  the  burglars  carried  off  an  enormous  quantity  of  bonds  and  green- 
backs, amounting  at  the  time,  it  was  said,  to  two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
Sergeant  Murray  recovered  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  bonds,  which  was 
part  of  this  haul.  For  this  burglary  John  Farrell  and  his  wife  were  sentenced  to 
ten  years  in  State  Prison. 

Shortly  after  this.  Sergeant  Murray,  in  conjunction  with  the  late  Inspector 
McDermott,  made  a  raid  on  the  gambling  house  of  The.  .Allen,  in  Bleecker 
Street,  and  captured  all  the  gambling  implements. 

Sergeant  Murray  was  made  Captain  on  the  second  of  October,  1876,  and 
was  assigned  for  duty  to  the  Fourth  Precinct. 

The  following  is  a  portion  of  the  testimony  elicited  by  the  Roosevelt 
Committee: 

"William  Murray,  being  duly  sworn,  testified: 

By  the  Chairman: 

Q.  What  is  your  name  ? 

A.  William  Murray. 

Q.  What  ])osition  do  you  hold  ? 

A.  Inspector  of  Police  in  the  Police  Department  of  this  city. 

Q.  How  long  have  you  held  that  position  ? 

A.  About  seven  years. 

Q.  How  long  have  you  been  on  the  Police  force  ? 

A.  Nearly  eighteen  years. 

By  Mr  Russell  : 

Q.  Before  you  became  Inspector  what  was  your  position  ? 


Appointed  Superintendent  June  9,  1885. 


OUR  POr.lCE  PROTECTORS. 


A.  Captain. 
Q.  How  long  ? 
•  ""A.  Plight  months. 

Q.  And  before  that  you  were  a  Sergeant  ? 

A.  Yes,  sir. 

Q.  How  long  ? 

A.  Six  or  seven  years. 

Q.  And  before  that  a  Roundsman  how  long  ? 

A.  AI)out  a  year,  I  think. 

Q.  And  before  that  a  Patrolman  how  long? 

A.  Well,  the  remaining  number  of  years;  I  think  five  years. 

Q.  Then  you  have  reached  your  present  position  by  the  strictest  applica- 
tion of  civil  service  rules  ? 

A.  I  have,  sir;  I  so  consider  it. 
By  Colonel  Bliss: 

Q.  When  you  were  j)romoted  from  Cai)tain  to  Inspector,  do  you  remember 
any  particular  service  ? 

A.  For  doing  that  that  has  never  been  done  in  the  Police  Department  by  an 
Inspector,  by  securing  nearly  five  hundred  years  of  convictions  in  the  State 
prison — doing  that  that  has  never  been  done  before  or  since  by  a  Captain  of 
Police. 

Q.  You  were  promoted  on  your  record  ? 

A.  Solely;  I  say  to  you,  gentlemen,  I  was  not  a  candidate  or  an-  applicant 
for  the  position  of  Inspector  on  the  Police." 

While  he  was  Captain  in  the  Fourth  Precinct,  in  eight  months  he  made 
arrests  and  procured  convictions  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  five  hundred 
years.  The  important  services  which  he  rendered  to  society  in  hunting  down 
male  and  female  abortionists  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 

Mary  Varley,  a  sister  of  the  notorious  "Reddy,  the  blacksmith,"  lived  at 
No.  56  James  Street.  A  number  of  burglars  deposited  their  plunder  in  her 
house.  The  manoeuvres  of  these  men  did  not,  however,  escape  Captain  Mur- 
ray's vigilance.  He  went  to  Mary  Varley's  house  one  day  and  discovered  stolen 
property  to  the  amount  of  ten  thousand  dolhirs.     Mary  was  sent  to  State  Prison. 

In  the  year  1875  the  inhabitants  of  Long  Island  were  in  a  state  of  the 
greatest  alarm  owing  to  the  number  of  masked  burglaries  which  were  taking 
jilace  almost  every  day.  On  the  night  of  December  22,  1875,  six  masked  bur- 
glars entered  the  houses  of  Mr.  M.  L.  Hillier,  a  Wall  Street  broker,  and  Mr. 
Henry  Green,  at  Astoria,  and,  holding  pistols  to  the  heads  of  the  frightened  in- 
mates, ransacked  the  premises,  and  carried  off  everything  portable  that  they  could 
lay  hands  on.  A  few  days  afterwards  John  Robert.s,  John  James  alias  Fatty  " 
Farrell,  Jerry  McCarthy  alias  "  Carrol,"  James  Reilly  alias  "Juggy,"  and  John 
Schmidt  were  arrested  in  New  York  by  Capt.  William  Murray.  One  of  the 
prisoners  got  for  his  share  in  the  burglaries  thirteen  dollars  in  money  and  a  sil- 
ver pencil  case,  but  not  being  of  a  literary  turn  of  mind,  he  pawned  the  pencil 
case.  Half  an  hour  afterwards  the  pencil  case  was  in  Capt.  Murray's  hands. 
With  this  clue  the  Captain  went  to  work,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  the  thieves. 
I  he  people  of  Astoria,  and  in  fact  the  whole  community,  in  the  vicinity  of  New 
York  and  Brooklyn,  were  so  pleased  at  the  capture  of  the  burglars  that  a  testi- 
monial was  presented  to  Captain  Murray  for  his  energetic  action.  All  the 
prisoners  were  convicted  and  sent  to  State  Prison.    The  Police  Commissioners- 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


at  their  meeting  also  passed  highly  complimentary  resolutions  to  Capt.  Murray 
for  these  arrests. 

Thomas  Belton,  a  trusted  employee  of  Messrs.  H.  B.  Claflin  h.  Company, 
had  for  years  been  a  systematic  tliief.  He  stole  about  fifty  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  needles  and  thread.  Capt.  Murray  learned  that  a  dealer  in  such  articles 
named  Hall  was  able  to  undersell  other  dealers  at  prices  that  made  it  impossible 
for  them  to  make  any  profit.  Capt.  Murray  also  ascertained  that  Belton  left 
Claflin's  at  dinner  time,  and  paid  visits  to  Hall's  establishment,  where  he  was  de- 
tected delivering  bundles  of  goods.  Belton  was  arrested,  and  was  sent  to  State 
Prison. 

Thomas  Cusack  murdered  his  wife  at  Rose  Street  on  March  6,  1877.  He 
escaped,  but  was  captured  an  hour  afterward  by  Capt.  Murray.  The  prisoner, 
when  placed  on  trial,  denied  all  knowledge  of  what  had  occurred,  but  admitted 
that  he  was  very  drunk,  therefore  could  not  know  what  he  was  about.  He  was 
sentenced  to  State  Prison  for  seven  years. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  September,  1877,  Superintendent  Walling  received  a 
telegram  from  Boston  giving  a  detailed  list  of  United  States  and  other  bonds 
that  had  been  stolen  on  the  fifteenth  of  the  same  month  from  the  Cambridge- 
port,  Massachusetts,  Bank.  The  bonds,  in  all,  amounted  to  sixty  thousand  dol- 
lars. A  close  watch  was  kept  by  the  Police  in  New  York,  as  the  thieves  were 
supposed  to  have  gone  there  to  dispose  of  their  plunder.  A  reward  of  three 
thousand  dollars  was  offered  for  the  return  of  the  United  States  Bonds,  and 
one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  return  of  the  Railroad  Bonds.  In- 
spector Murray  had  for  some  days  noticed  several  suspicious-looking  characters 
enter  and  come  out  of  a  house  in  East  Twenty-ninth  Street.  He  accordingly 
went  there  and  arrested  George  C.  Briggs,  Langdon  W.  Moore,  Rebecca  Moore, 
and  Elizabeth  Hill.  On  searching  the  premises  a  large  collection  of  burglars 
tools  were  found.  They  consisted  of  sectional  steel  jimmies,  ratchet  drills,  braces 
and  bits,  sledges,  and  several  cans  of  powder,  combination  safe  locks,  several 
pairs  of  rubber  overshoes,  and  a  number  of  other  instruments  for  blowing  open 
bank  safes.  The  prisoners  were  taken  the  next  morning  to  Essex  Market  Police 
Court  before  Justice  Smith,  and  remanded,  to  enable  the  Inspector  to  obtain  the 
necessary  evidence  for  their  conviction.  Langdon  Moore  alias  Charley  Adams, 
was  afterwards  recognized  as  one  of  the  greatest  bank  robbers  in  the  States,  he 
only  having  been  discharged  a  year  previously  for  robbing  a  bank  in  New  York 
State.  George  C.  Briggs  was  identified  as  Thomas  H.  Leroy,  a  Boston  bank 
burglar.  Elizabeth  Hill  said  she  was  Leroy's  wife,  and  Rebecca  Moore  clainied 
to  be  Adams'  wife.  A  sister  of  Charley  Adams'  wife  had  made  a  statement  to 
the  Boston  Police  that  she  saw  Adams  and  Leroy,  when  they  were  leaving  that 
city,  jjacking  three  trunks.  This  clue  led  to  their  arrest  in  New  York.  The 
only  evidence  against  the  women  was  that  they  had  been  in  the  house  in  com- 
pany with  the  male  prisoners,  and  they  were  discharged.  Briggs,  it  was 
proved  at  his  trial,  had  exchanged  baggage  checks  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  by 
that  means  obtained  possession  of  a  trunk  containing  ten  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  jewelry,  which  belonged  to  Messrs.  Ailing  &  Co.,  jewelers  at  Worcester 
and  New  York.    A  number  of  previous  convictions  were  proved  against  Briggs, 


0[rR  rOL/CE  PROTECTORS. 


and  he  was  sentenced  to  five  years  in  State  Prison,  and  Moore  alias  Adams, 
wasjsent  to  Boston  to  stand  his  trial  there  for  stcalinj;  eiglit  thousand  dollars 
\\\  Ijonds. 

On  I'riday,  the  twenty-fifth  of  January,  1878,  William  R.  Ailing,  of  the 
firm  of  Ailing  Bros.  &  Co.,  jewelers,  of  No.  170  15roadway,  antl  Mr.  Hayes,  of 
the  firiu  of  Wheeler,  Parsons  i]^  Hayes,  jewelers,  of  No.  2  Maiden  Lane,  called 
on  the  Police  Commissioners  at  Headquarters,  and  presented  the  following  letter: 

"To  THK  Bo.\RI)  OK  POLICK.  : 

"  Centlkmen  :  The  manufacturing  jewelers  and  wholesale  dealers  in 
watches  and  jewelry  of  the  city  of  New  York,  appreciating  the  service  and 
fidelity  of  Inspector  Murray,  desire  to  present  to  him  a  gold  watch  and  chain 
and  the  accom])anying  testimonial,  and  have  designated  the  undersigned  as  their 
committee  to  make  such  presentation,  and  to  request  your  ])ermission  for  the 
Inspector  to  receive  the  same.        Yours  respectfullv, 

"  W.  R.  Ai.LiN(-,, 
"  Henrv  H.wks, 

"  Committee." 

Messrs.  Ailing  and  Hayes  had  taken  along  witli  tiiem  a  handsomely 
engrossed  testimonial,  and  a  gold  watch  and  chain  valued  at  one  thousand  dollars, 
which  they  presented  to  Inspector  Murray.   The  testimonial  was  as  follows: 

"  The  manufacturers  of  jewelry  and  wholesale  dealers  in  watches  and  jew- 
elry in  the  city  of  New  York,  desiring  to  recognize,  as  a  trade,  the  valuable  and 
skillful  services  rendered  to  them  and  to  the  whole  community  by  Inspector  of 
Police  ^\'illiam  Murray,  in  the  discovery  and  capture  of  criminals,  and  especiallv 
the  robbery  of  Messrs.  Ailing  Bros.  &  Co.,  the  undersigned,  manufacturers  of 
and  wliolesale  dealers  in  watches  and  jewelry,  cordially  and  earnestly  imite  in 
tendering  to  Inspector  Murray  this  testimonial  of  tlieir  esteem  and  of  their  high 
appreciation  of  the  fidelity,  energy,  and  skill  which  he  has  at  all  times  displayed 
in  the  efficient  discharge  of  his  difficult  and  perplexing  duties." 

The  testimonial  was  signed  by  forty  of  the  most  prominent  watchmakers 
and  jewelers  of  New  York. 

The  following  is  the  inscription  on  the  watch:  "  Presented  to  Ins]iector 
Willam  Murrav  bv  manufacturers  and  dealers  in  watches  and  jewelry  in  the 
citv  of  New  York  as  a  testimonial  of  his  integritv,  zeal  and  efficiency.  Januarv, 
1878." 

The  Police  Commissioners  sanctioned  the  presentation  of  the  watch  and 
testimonial. 

During  the  labor  riots  in  1877,  at  which  time  millions  of  dollars'  worth  of  rail- 
way property  was  burned,  the  Socialists  of  New  \'ork  con\ened  a  meeting  to  be 
held  at  Tompkins  S([uare.  They  were  refused  permission  l)y  the  Police  to  par- 
ade;  but,  nevertheless,  they  announced  their  intention  to  do  so.  They  formed 
in  line  to  march  to  Tentii  Street.  Inspector  Murray,  at  the  head  of  five  hun- 
<lred  men,  dispersed  the  crowd  of  ten  thousand,  and  thus  saved  New  York  from 
the  mob. 

"  Wash  "  Geary,  a  brother  of  Ed.  Goody,  (who  was  recently  sentenced  to 
State  Prison  for  a  butcher  cart  robbery)  was  arrested  for  stealing  a  quantity  of 
silk  from  H.  B.  Claflin  &  Co.  Oakey  Hall,  who  had  just  returned  from  Europe, 
defended  the  prisoner.     Nobody  being  able  to  swear  positively  that  they  saw 


312 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS,. 


the  silk  in  the  bales  from  which  they  had  been  purloined,  the  prisoner  was 
acquitted,  although  it  was  well-known  that  the  bales  were  shipped  as  silk,  and 
were  so  marked  on,  the  ship's  manifest. 

A  man  named  Roberts,  who  was  also  employed  by  Messrs.  Claflin  &  Co.  as 
superintendent  in  the  silk  department,  had  stolen  silks  which  Superintendent  Mur- 
ray discovered  were  conveyed  to  the  house  of  Jake  Falkenberg,  at  No.  i6o  Riv- 
ington  Street.  He  followed  them  one  evening,  and  when  they  got  the  box  into 
the  house  he  jumped  in  and  found  seven  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  silk. 
Roberts  confessed  to  having  taken  fifty  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  silk.  He  was 
sent  to  State  Prison  for  five  years. 

Superintendent  Murray's  record  is  a  long  and  interesting  one.  Suffice  it  to  say 
that  he  has  unmasked  more  crime,  and  fastened  the  guilt  on  the  perpetrators 
thereof,  than  any  man  in  the  force,  with  the  exception  of  Inspector  Byrnes. 

Superintendent  Murray  is  a  methodical,  keen  officer,  and  as  devoted  to  his 
profession  as  he  is  to  his  family,  and  that  is  saying  a  great  deal.  He  lives  comfort- 
ably but  unostentatiously,  at  Seventy-eighth  Street  and  Lexington  Avenue. 

Superintendent  Murray  succeeded  Superintendent  Walling  June  9,  1885. 
By  act  of  the  legislature  (Chap.  364,  Sec.  307,  Laws  of  1885)  the  Board  of  Police 
Commissioners  were  empowered  to  retire  any  members  of  the  Police  force — who 
had  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years — u])on  a  pension.  Under  this  clause  Super- 
intendent Walling  could  be  removed  from  office.  He  chose  to  resign.  For  a 
long  time  previously  Superintendent  Murray  had  been  looked  upon  as  the 
coming  man.  His  distinguished  services  and  conspicuous  talents  left  him  with- 
out a  rival  for  the  place.  The  Board  was  not  behindhand  in  appreciating  these 
facts.  No  other  name  was  submitted,  the  claims  of  no  other  official  considered, 
although  the  Department  is  not  lacking  in  the  timber  out  of  which  able  super- 
intendents are  fashioned;  but,  with  prompt  unanimity,  the  Commissioners  called 
Inspector  William  Murray  to  assume  the  chief  executive  control  of  the  Police 
force.  The  new  Superintendent,  with  his  accustomed  energy,  soon  demonstrated 
that  he  was  master  of  the  situation,  and  he  went  about  remodeling  certain 
Police  matters  after  his  own  ideas  His  first  important  move,  three  days  after 
he  assumed  control,  was  to  abolish  the  old  system  of  District  Inspection,  and  to 
cause  the  Inspectors  to  be  aids  to  the  Superintendent,  with  their  offices  located 
at  Police  Headquarters.  The  more  the  management  was  centralized.  Super- 
intendent Murray  declared,  the  better  for  the  efficiency  of  the  force.  The 
change  was  also  manifestly  in  the  interest  of  economy.  The  new  system  is  prac- 
tically a  return  to  the  old  one  which  was  abolished  by  General  Smith.  The 
salaries  of  the  men  detailed  to  Inspection  District  offices  amounted  to  forty-two 
thousand  four  hundred  dollars  per  year.  The  men  who  had  been  so  emjjloyed 
were  sent  to  do  duty  in  the  several  precincts,  to  the  dismay  of  the  six  Sergeants, 
twelve  Patrolmen,  and  two  Doormen,  who  liad  enjoyed  "soft"  places  under  the 
old  regime.  His  next  move  was  to  call  all  the  Captains  and  the  three  Inspectors 
before  him  at  Police  Headquarters.  There  he  laid  down  certain  sensible  and 
practical  rules  for  their  guidance,  and  issued  instructions  that  the  Captains  should 
refrain  from  calling  at  Police  Headquarters,  and  remain  in  their  respective  pre- 
cincts, except  when  they  were  specially  summoned  to  the  Central  Office.  He 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


313 


warned  the  Captains  tlial  thcv  would  he  held  accountable  for  order  in  their 
respective  precincts,  and  for  the  efficiency  of,  and  proper  i)atroling  In,  the  men 
under  them.  He  also  issued  instructions  with  a  view  to  the  suppression  of 
gambling  and  the  parading  of  streets  by  women  of  immoral  character.  The 
effect  of  all  this  soon  became  apparent  in  the  demeanor  and  efficiency  of  the 
force.  Every  man,  from  the  humblest  Doorman  to  the  highest  in  command, 
was  imbued  with  new-born  energy  and  a  more  praiseworthy  ambition  to  do  his 
full  duty  by  the  public  and  the  Department.  The  new  Superintendent  had 
imparted  a  portion  of  his  own  enthusiasm  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the  PolicCj 
force.  They  worked  together  for  the  common  weal  with  a  cheerful  alacrity 
which  demonstrated  the  fact  that  they  knew  and  felt  that  the  transfusion  of  new 
blood  at  the  fountain  head,  as  was  expected,  would  be  followed  by  a  corres- 
])onding  degree  of  official  industry  throughout  the  subordinate  branches  of  the 
Department,  and,  as  a  natural  consequence,  the  most  beneficial  results  were  made 
apparent  from  the  beginning.  Superintendent  Murray,  it  is  conceded,  is  nothing 
if  not  thorough  and  practical.  He  is  every  inch  a  Policeman  of  the  modern 
school.    He  is  the  right  man  in  the  right  place. 

THE  POLICE  PRECINCTS. 

The  First  Precinct. — The  First  Precinct  is  bounded  by  Battery  Place, 
Bowling  Green,  Broadway,  Fulton  Street,  the  east  track  on  the  East  River  front, 
and  the  Castle  Garden  and  Buttery  fronts.  The  station  house  is  in  Old  Slip, 
at  Front  Street.  It  is  a  model  structure  in  every  sense,  and  an  ornament  to  the 
city.  It  is  the  most  modern  Police  building;  was  finished  in  1884,  and  the  com- 
mand was  moved  in  from  No.  54  New  Street,  which  was  a  better  station  house 
than  some  which  are  yet  erected.  It  cost  about  eighty  thousand  dollars.  Na- 
thaniel D.  Bush  was  the  architect,  and  its  site  is  that  of  the  old  Alms  House  or 
P'ranklin  Market,  where  P^ighteen  Hose  Company  "  Franklin,"  under  Foreman 
Hallin  Chesebrough,  M-as  stationed,  the  old  First  Precinct  Station  House  being 
up-stairs.  The  staff  of  this  command  are:  Captain,  Charles  W.  Caffrey,  an  officer 
with  twenty-six  years  service  ;  Sergeants,  John  J.  Fitzgerald,  Andrew  McClin- 
tock,  Patrick  Gates  and  Arthur  Rork.  Fitzgerald  was  appointed  in  1863;  was 
made  a  Roundsman  in  1869,  and  reached  the  present  rank  in  February,  1871. 
McClintock  became  a  Patrolman  in  1862,  Roundsman  in  1865,  and  Sergeant 
in  1872.  Gates  was  appointed  in  1865,  became  Roundsman  two  years  later, 
and  was  promoted  in  1870.  Rork's  dates  are  Patrolman  1862,  Roundsman 
1865,  and  Sergeant  1867. 

The  First  Precinct  contains  more  than  the  usual  proportion  of  the  sub- 
stantial, representative  wealth  of  the  country,  and  the  management  of  the  Police 
system  of  a  business  centre  such  as  this  brings  with  it  a  considerable  amount  of 
responsibility.  In  the  selection  of  a  Captain  for  such  an  important  post,  the 
Commissioners  have  chosen  the  present  incimibent,  who  is  a  man  of  experience 
and  sagacity,  who  knows  every  nook  and  corner  of  the  precinct  like  a  book,  and 
is  familiar  with  the  business  community  of  that  section  for  a  long  number  of 
years. 

This  precinct  has  twenty  day  i)osts  and  forty  night  posts,  and  its  (ore-:  ot 


3^4 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Patrolmen  should  be  one  hundred  men,  but  sickness  and  men  put  on  detailed 
duties,  reduce  it  to  about  eighty  men.  James  Oates  and  Charles  Hagan  are  the 
Precinct  Detectives.  The  detailed  men  are:  E.  A.  Burgoyne^  Ordinances; 
Richard  Ganly,  Barge  Office;  Harvey  S.  Holly,  Custom  House;  Francis  Hagan, 
Register's  Office;  William  Cotter,  Staten  Island  Ferry;  Daniel  S.  Arnold,  Wall 
Street  Ferry;  Lawrence  C.  Daly,  South  Ferry;  William  Goodwin  and  Peter 
O'Donnell,  Fulton  Ferry. 

Captain  Charles  W.  Caffry  was  born  in  Provost  Street,  now  Franklin,  in 
the  year  1822.    He  is  the  son  of  the  principal  of  a  school  remarkable  for  hav- 


New  First  Precinct  Station  House,  Old  Slip,  Corner  Front. 


ing  taught  the  three  R's  to  a  number  of  well-known  down  town  New  York 
brokers.  The  Captain  served  his  time  to  the  carpentry  business,  and  was  very 
successful  in  his  trade  till  the  panic  of  1857  brought  about  a  change  in  his 
fortunes.  While  engaged  in  the  building  of  a  house  in  Abingdon  Square,  he, 
together  with  a  number  of  others  in  the  same  business,  failed.  After  this 
he  joined  the  Police,  not  as  a  dernier  rcssort,  but  because  he  always  had 
an  instinctive  liking  for  a  military  or  semi-military  life.  He  was  detailed  for 
duty  in  the  first  place  to  the  Si.\teenth  Precinct,  in  the  year  1858.  The  authori- 
ties appreciated  his  services  so  much  that  before  the  lapse  of  twelve  months  he 
was  appointed,  successively  Roimdsman,  Sergeant,  and  Acting  Captain  in  the 
same  year.    On  the  twenty-eighth  of  April,  i860,  he  was  sent  to  the  Broadway 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


3'5 


Squad  as  a  Sergeant,  but  wishing  for  a  change  he  applied  for  permission  to  j(jin 
the^Army-  '  he  Commissioners  answered  his  application  by  again  promoting  him 
to  a  full  Captaincy  in  the  Fifteenth  Precinct.  In  July,  1859,  ^^^^  ordered  to 
the  Twentieth  Precinct,  which  was  one  of  the  most  notorious  j)laces  in  the  city  at 
that  time.  Speaking  of  Captain  Caffrey,  one  of  the  Commissioners  said  :  "  It 
is  our  duty  to  clean  out  the  cut-tiiroats  of  that  Ward  (the  Seventeenth),  and 
Caffrey  is  the  man  that  will  do  it  to  perfection."  Captain  Caffrey  remained 
here  until  1872,  when  he  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Precinct.  The  capture 
of  James  Buchanan,  for  murdering  Widow  Shanks  in  i86i,  was  a  \ery  clever 
piece  of  work.  The  bloody  finger  marks  on  the  door,  which  had  escaped  the 
detectives'  attention,  were  noted  down  by  Captain  Caffrey,  and  he  immediately 
wrote  a  note  for  the  evening  papers,  knowing  that  the  news  wovdd  travel  as  fast 
as  the  murderer.  As  a  consecpience  of  this  the  assassin  was  captured  at 
Susquehanna.  There  was  great  excitement  when  Captain  Caffrey  returned  to 
the  city  with  his  prisoner,  and  the  men  christened  liim  the  "  Iron  ^^an,"  for 
displaying  such  courage  and  determination. 

This  is  the  most  important  Police  District  in  the  world.  No  officer  of 
Police  commands  men  who  have  as  many  billions  and  vast  commercial  and 
financial  interests  to  watch  over  as  Captain  Caffrey.    Treachery  on  the  part  of 


Floor  Plan,  New  First  Precinct  Station  House. 

one  of  his  Patrohnen  for  a  couple  of  hours  would  enable  criminals  to  possess 
themselves  of  booty  amounting  to  millions.  Besides  the  Sub-Treasury,  the 
Assay  Office,  the  Stock  Exchange,  the  Custom  House,  and  scores  of  money 
brokers  and  dealers  in  bullion,  there  are  the  following  banking  institutions  in 
the  First  Precinct:  American  Exchange  Bank,  Bank  of  Commerce,  Bank  of  New 
York,  Bank  of  the  Republic.  Chase  Bank,  Chatham  Bank,  City  Bank,  Conti- 
nental Bank,  First  National  Bank.  Fourth  National  Bank.  Fulton  Bank.  Gallatin 
Bank,  Hanover  Bank,  I^eather  Manufacturers'  Bank.  Mechanics'  Bank,  Mer- 
chants' Bank,  Phcrnix  Bank,  Seventh  Ward  Ikmk,  the  Third  National  Bank,  the 
Union  Bank,  and  the  ITnited  States  Bank,  and  National  Bank,  the  Seamen's 
Savings  Bank;  and  the  following  State  Banks:  Bank  of  America.  Bank  of  North 
America,  State  of  New  York.  Corn  Exchange,  German  American,  Manhattan 
Company,  New  York  Produce  Exchange,  St.  Nicholas,  and  Seaboard.  Brokers' 
offices  are  numbered  by  the  hundred,  and  all  the  exchanges  from  the  vast  and 
magnificent  Produce  Exchange  are  here.  An  emigrant  first  lands  in  this  pre- 
cinct at  Castle  Garden,  and  within  its  boundaries  are  the  Barge  Office  and 
Battery,  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  termini  of  the  Elevated  Railroads,  and 


3i6 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


the  Consulates  of  the  Argentine  RepubHc,  Bolivia,  Brazil,  Chili,  Columbia, 
Corea,  Costa  Rica,  Denmark,  Ecuador,  France,  Germany,  Great  Britain,  Greece, 
Guatemala,  Hayti,  Italy,  Liberia,  Monaco,  the  Netherlands,  Nicaragua,  Norway, 
Peru,  Portugal,  Russia,  St.  Domingo,  Salvador,  Siam,  Spain,  Sweden,  Switzer- 
land, Turkey,  Uruguay,  and  Venezuela.  Mementoes  of  the  great  fires  of  half  a 
century  ago  are  to  be  found  in  several  parts  of  the  district.  Two  sensations, 
in  the  Police  acceptation  of  the  term,  have  occurred  in  this  precinct,  but  there 
have  been  several  incidents  of  more  than  ordinary  moment.  Many  recall  with 
a  shudder  the  horrors  of  the  thirty-first  of  July,  187 1,  when  the  boiler  of  the 
ferryboat  "Westfield"  blew  up  at  the  Staten  Island  pier,  and  how  that  calm  and 
lovely  Sunday  ended  in  general  mourning  for  the  fate  of  the  men,  women,  and 


Captain  Charles  W  Caffry. 

children  who  were  killed,  maimed,  or  disfigured.  This  accident  ended  directly 
or  indirectly  the  lives  of  more  than  eighty-five  ])ersons.  Another  thrilling  event 
occurred  in  Burling  Slip  on  the  fifth  of  April,  1877.  John  Jewett  &  Son  occu- 
pied the  warehouse.  No.  182  Front  Street,  as  manufacturers  of  white  lead. 
Orville  D.  Jewett  was  a  member  of  the  firm,  but  there  was  mutual  dissatisfaction, 
and  the  papers  for  his  withdrawal  from  it  had  been  drafted.  At  a  quarter  past 
ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  a  hand  grenade  exploded  in  the  private  office  on  the 
second  floor  in  Burling  Slip,  and  pistol  shots  were  fired.  George  W.  and 
Orville  D.  Jewett,  his  nephew,  were  killed,  and  Mr.  Joseph  A.  Dean  was  seriously 
injured.  In  spite  of  overwhelming  evidence  tending  to  show  that  Orville  D. 
Jewett  threw  the  bomb,  and  shot  himself  with  a  pistol,  the  verdict  of  the 
Coroners's  jury  was  vague,  to  say  the  least  if  it. 

Thf.  Fourth  Precinct.— The  limits  of  the  Fourth  Precinct  are  :  Fulton 
Street,  Broadway,  Park  Row,  Centre  Street,  Chambers  Street,  Chatham  Street. 


OUR  POLICK  PKOIKC'rORS. 


3>7 


Chatham  Square,  Catharine  Street,  and  the  east  railroad  track  on  the  East 
River  front.  The  station  house  is  at  Nos.  9  and  11  Oak  Street.  It  was  l)uilt 
in  1870  on  the  site  of  one  of  the  oldest  station  houses  in  New  York,  and  is  a 
comfortable  structure;  but  the  approaches  to  it  are  narrow,  and  it  is  weak  in  a 
strategical  sense.  The  officers  of  the  command  are:  Captain,  Robert  O.  Webb; 
and  Sergeants,  Richard  F.  Magan,  Peter  Ryan  and  Jcihn  Kelly.  Magan  was 
made  a  Policeman  in  1870,  became  a  Roimdsman  in  1873,  '^'^^  ^^"^^  promoted 
ten  years  later.  Ryan  was  appointed  twenty-three  years  ago,  was  made  Rounds-* 
man  in  1863,  and  obtained  rank  fi\  e  years  later.  Kelly  has  been  on  the  force 
twelve  years;  he  was  a])pointed  Roundsman  in  1882,  and  the  ne.\t  year  rose  to 
his  present  rank. 


Captain  Rohekt  O.  Webc  was  appointed  on  the  Metrojjolitan  Police  on 
February  7,  1861,  and  assigned  to  the  Seventh  Precinct.  He  was  promoted  to 
be  Roundsman,  and  sent  to  the  Ninth  Precinct  on  August  28,  1862,  where  he 
served  during  the  draft  riots.  He  was  serving  as  Roundsman  in  the  First 
Precinct  when  he  resigned  in  August,  1865.  Three  years  later  (August  3, 
1868)  he  was  re-a])pointed  on  the  force  and  assigned  to  the  Seventh  Precinct. 
He  was  promoted  Roundsman  on  July  11,  1871,  and  transferred  to  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Precinct;  made  Sergeant  August  21,  1873,  and  sent  to  the  Tenth  Pre- 
cinct.   He  attained  his  present  rank  on  May  25,  1880. 

This  precinct  has  nineteen  day  posts  and  thirty-eight  night  posts.  It  has 
ninety-nine  Patrolmen,  but  details  and  sickness  reduce  the  effective  force  to 
about  eighty  men.  Edward  Shalvey  and  (Gilbert  Carr  are  precinct  detectives, 
Thomas  Maher  is  detailed  to  Park  Row,  George  Logan  to  Hunters'  Point  Ferry, 


Captain  Robert  0.  Webb. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Mark  F.  Healy  is  at  the  Catharine  Street  Ferry,  George  Connor  and  John 
Cirennan  to  Roosevelt  Street  Ferry,  Wolf  Levy  to  Chatham  and  Chambers 
Streets,  Edward  McCabe  to  Fulton  and  Nassau  Streets,  Edward  G.  Walling  to 
the  Tax  Office,  Edmund  Ryan  on  Corporation  Ordinances,  J.  J.  Nolan  to  the 
Catholic  Protectory,  John  Kiernan  to  Inspector  Murray's  office. 

The  Fourth  Precinct  takes  under  its  wings  the  majority  of  the  newsjjajjer 
offices,  Fulton  Market,  the  New  York  terminus  of  the  Brooklyn  Bridge,  the 
"  Swamp,"  where  the  leather  merchants  most  do  congregate,  and  vast  mercantile 
and  commercial  interests.  Within  its  limits  are  much  squalor,  misery,  and  ex- 
ceeding prosperity.  Towards  its  Broadway  boundary  it  takes  in  some  important 
dry  goods  houses.  The  old  Second  Precinct  Station  House,  at  No.  49  Beek- 
man  Street,  still  stands.  It  is  now  the  office  of  the  Corporation  Attorney;  and 
when  the  gambler  Duryea  was  hacked  by  Eph.  Simmons — the  policy  dealer  in 
Liberty  Street,  his  body  riddled  with  knife  thrusts  by  Simmons,  who  broke  his 
ankle  in  slipping  in  the  blood  of  his  enemy — he  was  taken  there.  The  Fourth  Pre- 
cinct furnishes  many  a  newspaper  story.  Dating  from  the  fatal  explosion  and 
fire  in  Hague  Street,  innumerable  tales  of  horror  have  been  told  across  its 
station  desk.  There  was  the  fire  four  years  ago  at  No.  35  Madison  Street,  a 
"  rookery,"  by  which,  through  the  carelessness  of  a  plumber,  ten  persons  lost 
their  lives  in  a  few  minutes.  On  the  thirty-first  of  January,  1882,  the  Potter 
Building,  at  Park  Row  and  Beekman  Street,  was  burned  down,  and  desi)ite  the 
efforts  of  citizens.  Police  and  firemen,  four  persons  lost  their  lives.  The  fatal 
crush  on  the  Brooklyn  Bridge  shortly  after  it  was  opened  is  remembered 
with  a  shudder.  Newspapers  sometimes  furnish  gossip  themselves,  witness 
the  slaying  of  Richardson  by  McFarland  in  the  Tribune  office,  fifteen  years 
ago. 

The  Sixth  Precinct. — The  Sixth  Precinct  is  bounded  by  Chambers  Street, 
Chatham  Street,  Chatham  Square,  the  Bowery,  Hester  Street,  Centre  Street, 
Howard  Street,  and  Broadway.  The  station  house  is  at  Nos.  19  and  21  Eliza- 
beth Street.  It  is  the  finest  in  the  city  except  the  First  Precinct  Station  House, 
and  is  a  handsome,  roomy  structure,  admirably  adopted  to  Police  purposes.  The 
officers  are:  Captain  John  McCullough,  w-ho  signs  his  name  McCullagh,  although 
he  says  his  father  spelled  it  like  the  great  tragedian;  and  Sergeants  John  Ryan, 
Robert  Young,  William  Thompson,  and  Edward  Colgrove.  Ryan  was  a  Police- 
man in  1869,  a  Roundsman  in  1881,  and  a  Sergeant  a  year  later.  Young  joined 
the  force  in  1866,  became  Roundsman  in  1873,  attained  rank  six  months  later. 
Thompson's  record  is:  Patrolman  1866,  Roundsman  six  months  later,  and  Ser- 
geant 1872.  Colgrove,  the  senior  Sergeant,  put  on  the  uniform  in  i860,  became 
Roundsman  in  1862,  and  attained  his  present  position  in  1865. 

Capt.  John  McCui.I-.'vgh,  of  the  Sixth  Precinct,  is  a  young  man  of  pleasing 
appearance  and  agreeable  manners.  By  his  strict  attention  to  duty  and  his 
innate  politeness  he  has  made  a  host  of  friends.  No  stronger  corroboration  of 
this  fact  can  be  adduced  than  that  he  is  one  of  the  youngest,  if  not  the  youngest. 
Captain  on  the  force,  as  well  in  jjoint  of  years  as  in  point  of  promotion.  Cap- 
tain McCullagh  joined  the  force  in  1870,  and  was  stationed  in  the  Fifth  Precinct. 
He  was  appointed  Roundsman  in  1873  and  Sergeant  in  1876,  and  Capt;ain  in 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


3'9 


July,  1883.  He  was  engaged  in  llic  Orange  riots  in  1871,  and  also  in  the 
Tompkins  Square  riots. 

The  precinct  has  nineteen  day  posts  and  thirty-lour  night  posts,  and  its 
force  of  eighty  men  is  reduced  by  sickness  and  details  to  seventy  men.  David 
Oerrow  and  Thomas  J.  Crystal  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  William  Looney 
is  detailed  to  Cor[)oration  Ordinances. 

The  "Bloody  Sixth"  no  longer  exists,  and  much  that  was  written  about  its 
dangers  and  horrors  was  imaginary.  It  was  mainly  a  slum  of  the  city,  and 
some  parts  of  the  present  district  need  purging.  In  old  times  its  polyglot  and 
parti-colored  population  huddled  together  in  kennels,  not  fit  for  street  curs,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  Five  Points,  where  are  now  the  House  of  Industry,  the 
yard  of  the  Disinfecting  Corps  of  the  Health  Department,  and  Paradise  Park. 


Captain  John  McCullagh. 


"Slumming,"  a  cockney  recreation  which  became  fashionable  last  year,  was 
fashionable  in  New  York  a  cjuarter  of  a  century  ago.  Society  leaders  and  so- 
ciety dames  went  to  "The  Sixth  "  to  sup  on  horrors  and  experience  "sensations" 
in  the  gruesome  squalor  and  naked  vice  they  witnessed  under  the  guidance  of 
Police  officers.  Nearly  all  the  "  horrors  "  of  those  days  were  minor  affairs,  the 
outcome  of  vile  rum  and  the  most  groveling  passions,  and  in  these  days  would 
hardly  make  an  item  for  a  decent  newspaper.  Italians,  Chinamen  and  Hebrews  are 
now,  in  the  main,  the  occupants  of  the  squalid  dens  in  "the  Bend  "  in  Mulberry 
Street  and  the  lower  part  of  Baxter  Street,  and  "  elephant  hunters,"  as  "shim- 
mers" are  termed  by  the  Central  Office  Detectives — who  act  as  cicerones  now-a- 
days — are  treated  to  a  sight  of  an  opium  den,  the  "  Big  Flat "  in  Elizabeth  Street, 
and  the  stale  beer  or  "all  sort "  dives.  The  Thalia  Theatre  and  Atlantic  Gar- 
den are  in  this  precinct,  as  well  as  the  White  Street  Depot  of  the  Vanderbilt 


320 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


railroads,  and  the  historic  Tombs  Prison.  On  the  twenty-fourth  of  December, 
1872,  the  same  day  that  witnessed  the  destruction  of  the  Hippotheatron  and 
other  buildings  in  East  Fourteenth  Street,  fire  broke  out  at  Nos.  81,  83  and  85 
Centre  Street,  and  a  number  of  bookbindery  girls  were  killed,  and  property 
worth  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  thousand  dollars  was  destroyed.    The  Sixth 


Sixth  Precinct  Station  House,  19  Elizabeth  Street. 

Precinct  has  an  important  Broadway  boundary,  and  vast  manufacturing  and 
commercial  interests  on  the  Bowery,  and  in  Canal  and  Centre  Streets. 

The  Seventh  Precinct. — The  Seventh  Precinct's  boundaries  are:  Catha- 
rine Street,  Division  Street,  Scammel  Street,  Water  Street,  Gouverneur  Slip,  and 
the  east  track  of  the  railroad  on  the  East  River  front.  The  station  hou.se  at 
Nos.  245  and  247  Madison  Street  is  an  old  structure  that  needs  tearing  down  to 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


321 


make  room  for  a  better  one.  The  officers  are  :  Captain  Henry  Hedden;  and 
Sergeants,  Charles  W.  Woodward,  Myron  Allen,  Charles  O.  Sheldon,  and  Corne- 
lius Weston.  Woodward  was  appointed  in  1857  ;  Roundsman,  1861;  and  ranked 
in  1862.  Allen's  dates  are:  Patrolman,  1866;  Roundsman,  1867 ;  Sergeant,  1868. 
Sheldon's  dates  are.  Patrolman,  1873;  Roundsman,  1876;  Sergeant,  1885. 
Weston's  dates  are.  Patrolman,  1865;  Roundsman,  1867;  Sergeant,  1872. 

Captain  Henry  Hkddkn  was  born  in  Catharine  Street  in  this  city  in  1837. 
He  joined  the  force  June  16,  1857,  and  was  sent  to  the  Seventeenth  Precinct. 
He  was  made  Sergeant  in  1859,  and  transferred  to  the  Twenty-sixth  I'recinct. 
On  May  i,  1861,  he  was  sent  to  the  Fifth  Precinct;  and  in  November,  1863,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Si.\teenth  Precinc  t  as  Acting  Captain,  and  there  placed  in 


Captain  Henry  Hedden. 

command.  The  following  month  he  was  made  full  Captain.  In  the  fall  of  1866 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Twentieth  Precinct.  In  1870  he  was  sent  to  the  Fif- 
teenth Precinct,  and  later  he  was  assigned  to  the  Twenty-first  Precinct  (old 
Twenty-eighth)  in  Greenwich  Street,  and  subsequently  placed  in  command  of 
the  Third  Precinct  in  Beekman  Street,  thence  alternately  to  the  Twenty-third, 
Thirteenth,  Thirty-third  Precincts,  Street  Cleaning  Department,  Ninth  and  Thir- 
ty-second Precincts,  to  Police  Headquarters,  and  finally  to  his  present  command. 
Captain  Hedden  first  distinguished  himself  while  a  Sergeant  at  City  Hall  Station 
by  breaking  up  a  gang  of  ticket  swindlers  who  robbed  emigrants.  While  in 
command  of  the  Fifteenth  Precinct,  he,  with  the  assistance  of  Detective  Ser- 
geant Philip  Reilly,  worked  up  the  evidence  which  convicted  Ruloff,  who  was 
subsequently  hanged  at  Binghamton,  this  State,  for  the  murder  of  a  clerk  while 
perpetrating  a  burglary  in  a  dry  goods  store  at  Binghamton.    Captain  Hedden 


322 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


also,  by  his  energy  and  intelligence,  helped  to  clear  up  the  mystery  su r round mg  the 
murder  of  a  jew  peddler  in  Lydig's  Woods  in  the  Thirty-Fourth  Precinct.  Cap- 
tain Hedden  was  then  in  command  of  the  Thirty-third  Precinct.  The  murder 
had  been  committed  by  three  negroes,  who  were  arrested  and  convicted.  Cap- 
tain Hedden,  besides  these,  has  been  connected  with  almost  every  case  of  im- 
portance that  his  Precinct  Detectives  had  a  hand  in  unearthing,  but,  with  his 
characteristic  modesty,  he  claims  no  merit  on  that  score,  preferring  to  give  his 
detectives  the  entire  benefit  of  such  arrests,  not  seeking  for  notoriety  himself. 
Captain  Hedden  has  participated  officially  in  the  several  riots  that  have  taken 
place  in  the  city  since  he  joined  the  force,  and  carries  with  him  honorable  scars 
received  in  such  hand-to-hand  encounters. 

There  are  thirteen  day  and  twenty-six  night  posts  here.  The  effective  force 
is  but  sixty  men,  although  sixty-nine  are  on  the  roll.  Cornelius  Leary  and  John 
J.  Creed  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  The  detailed  officer  is  Richard  J.  Mullen, 
Corporation  Ordinances. 

The  Seventh  Precinct  covers  territory  that  was  formerly  inhabited  by  New 
York's  staid  business  men,  and  the  character  of  its  streets  is  the  same  as  it  was 
thirty  years  ago.  Some  of  the  houses  that  are  now  occupied  by  artisans  were 
the  homes  of  New  York's  business  aristocracy,  and  were  built  as  few  builders 
can  now  afford  to  construct  dwellings.  Until  recently  its  river  front  was  the 
most  important  on  the  East  Side,  but  the  new  Third  Precinct  cuts  it  off.  It  is 
what  may  be  called  a  quiet  precinct,  peopled  by  citizens  of  the  lower  middle 
class  and  petty  tradesmen.  In  scmie  of  the  quiet  streets  which  run  parallel  to  the 
East  River  it  is  Sunday  every  day  in  the  week.  It  rarely  furnishes  the  public 
with  material  for  small  gossip,  and  the  most  notable  events  of  the  past  few 
years  were  the  burning  of  Hecker's  Croton  Mills  in  Cherry  Street,  and  the  mys- 
terious burglary  in  a  Catharine  Street  pawnshop  which  set  so  many  detectives 
and  "  crooked  "  men  by  the  ears.  Catharine  Market  is  within  its  boundaries,  and 
its  river  front  is  infested  with  a  hopelessly  dishonest  class,  which  are  properly 
termed  "dock  rats"  by  the  Police,  and  "river  pirates"  by  sensational 
reporters. 

The  Tenth  Precinct. — The  Tenth  Precinct  is  included  between  the  Bowery, 
Division  Street,  Norfolk  Street,  Rivington  Street,  Clinton  Street,  and  Houston 
Street.  The  station  house  was  built  for  station  house  purposes,  and  is  yet  a  good 
one — after  sixteen  years  of  service.  It  has  a  separate  prison.  The  officers  are: 
Captain  Anthony  J.  Allaire;  and  Sergeants  Gustavus  Dahlgren,  George  W.  Warner, 
Timothy  J.  Creeden,  and  William  Kass.  Dahlgren's  dates  are  Patrolman,  1866; 
Roundsman,  1874;  Sergeant,  1866.  Warner  was  appointed  in  1868;  became 
Roundsman  1876;  and  was  promoted  last  year.  Creeden  joined  the  department 
in  1864;  was  made  Roundsman  in  1876;  and  attained  his  rank  three  years  later. 
Kass,  the  Senior  Sergeant,  was  appointed  in  1859;  was  Roundsman  in  1870;  and 
was  promoted  in  1872. 

CAPT.^.IN  Anthonv  J.  Allaire  was  born  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati  on  the  sev- 
enteenth of  February,  1829,  and  came  here  while  he  was  quite  young.  He  served 
his  time  in  this  city  as  a  blacksmith,  and  worked  for  two  or  three  years  at  that 
trade.    While  so  employed  he  joined  the  Firemen's  Brigade,  and  was  attached 


OUR  POI.ICF.  PROTKCTORS.  323 

to  Engine  Company  41.  He  was  not  long  in  this  service  when  he  was  made 
foreman,  as  a  reward  for  the  important  services  he  had  rendered. 

Capt.  Allaire  joined  the  Police  force  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  August,  i860, 
and  was  assigned  for  duty  to  the  Eighteenth  I'rccinct. 

In  May,  1861,  he  was  made  Roundsman,  and  in  tlirec  months  afterwards 
Sergeant. 

When  the  war  broke  out  he  joined  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third 
Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteers,  and  in  August,  1862,  became  Captain  of 
Company  E.  He  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Port  Hudson,  Marksville  Plains, 
Hisland,  Cross  Roads.  Vermillion,  and  several  other  engagements  along  the  Red 
River.    On  August  4,  1S64,  he  was  commissioned  Major,  and  in  December  of 


Captain  Anthony  J.  Allaire. 


the  same  year  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel.  In  1865  he  rose  to  the 
rank  of  Brigadier-General  by  brevet  for  meritorious  conduct  in  the  field. 

He  returned  to  Washington  in  1864,  and  in  a  few  minutes  after  his  arrival 
there  he  was  ordered  to  the  front  in  defense  of  the  Capitol,  which  was  threat- 
ened by  Jubal  Early,  whose  advances  Allaire  helped  to  check. 

When  peace  was  restored  in  1865,  General  Allaire  returned  to  New  York, 
and  resumed  duty  as  a  simple  Roundsman.  In  five  days  later  he  was  appointed 
Sergeant  in  the  Fifteenth  Precinct.  On  May  23,  1867.  he  was  appointed  Cap- 
tain, and  assigned  to  the  Twenty-first  Precinct.  On  July  6,  1869,  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Fourth  Precinct,  which  was  one  of  the  dangerous  localities  of 
New  York. 

Captain  Allaire's  record  is  a  long  and  interesting  one.  He  has  been  engaged  in 


324  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

so  many  notable  cases,  and  his  ability  is  so  well  understood  and  appreciated  by 
the  public  that  a  brief  summary  of  the  more  important  cases  in  which  he  was 
engaged  \vill  suffice  to  explain  his  popularity. 

He  arrested  Daniel  McFarland  for  the  murder,  in  the  old  Tribune  office,  of 
Albert  D.  Richardson,  one  of  the  editors  of  the  paper.  The  arrest  was  accom- 
plished in  this  wise:  McFarland  had  a  brother  who  kept  a  stationery  warehouse 
in  Broadway.  Warden  Finn  and  Captain  Allaire  put  their  heads  together,  and 
hit  upon  a  plan  which  proved  successful.  They  wrote  a  letter  to  the  murderer 
which  purported  to  come  from  his  brother,  asking  him  for  an  interview.  They 
imitated  the  stationer's  handwriting  so  well  that  his  brother  took  the  bait, 
and  was  caught  in  a  Union  Square  Hotel.  McFarland,  in  trying  to  get  to  his 
brother,  took  all  sorts  of  precautions  to  avoid  arrest,  but  Warden  Finn  and  Cap- 
tain Allaire  carried  out  their  plans  successfully. 

While  he  was  in  the  Fourth  Precinct,  Captain  Allaire  broke  up  the  Slaughter 
House  Gang,  whose  headquarters  were  at  a  gin-mill  kept  by  Johnny  Dobbs  at 
the  corner  of  Water  Street  and  James  Slip.  Johnny  Hope,  Patsy  Conroy, 
Denny  Brady,  and  Brickley  were  habitues  of  this  place. 

Captain  Allaire  also  broke  up  the  infamous  dens  that  were  located  in 
Chatham  Street. 

Joe  Elliot,  Charley  Becker,  and  Clem  Harrison,  notorious  forgers,  who 
passed  a  worthless  check  for  sixty  thousand  dollars  on  the  New  York  Safe  De- 
posit Bank,  were  also  arrested  by  Captain  Allaire.  Becker  turned  State's 
evidence,  and  amused  the  Court  during  the  trial  by  lithograj)hing  a  counterfeit 
sixty  thousand  dollar  check  on  a  piece  of  paper.  These  arrests  occurred  wliiie 
Allaire  was  in  the  Fourth  Precinct. 

In  1877  Captain  Allaire  was  transferred  to  the  Eighteenth  Precinct,  and 
broke  up  the  "Dutch  Mob"  which  was  composed  of  Johnny  Irving,  Sheeney 
Mike,  Dutch  Chris,  Billy  Porter,  and  Little  Freddie.  They  carried  on  their 
depredations  on  Houston,  Third,  Fourth  and  Fifth  Streets,  east  of  the  Bowery. 

Captain  Allaire  was  removed  to  Headquartc-s  in  1877,  and  was  appointed 
Instructor  to  the  force.  He  was  t-ansferred  to  the  Tenth  Precinct  in  1879,  and 
has  remained  there  since. 

There  are  fifteen  day  and  twenty-eight  night  posts  in  this  precinct.  The 
quota  of  seventy-eight  men  is  reduced,  by  details  and  sickness,  to  about  sixty. 
Etienne  Bayer  and  Richard  Sullivan  are  the  Precinct  Detectives,  and  the  detailed 
officers  are:  Michael  Harris  and  George  S.  Smock,  Corporation  Ordinances; 
Frank  Wilson,  Grand  Street  traffic;  Frank  Hughes,  Grand  Street  and  the  Bowery 
traffic  ;  Thomas  E.  Fitzpatrick  to  Inspector  Murray's  office;  Frank  J.  Fuchs  to 
the  Internal  Revenue  office. 

German  Republican  politics,  the  Grand  Street  dry  goods  trade,  and  lager 
beer,  may  or  may  not  be,  the  chief  characteristics  of  the  Tenth  Precinct.  Its 
population  is  largely  composed  of  Teutons,  while  the  typical  Hebrew  quarters — 
the  Judemtrassc  of  New  York — one  that  smites  the  nose  and  offends  the  eye,  is 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Hester  and  Essex  Streets.  "Little  Germany,"  as  the 
precinct  is  called,  is  thrifty,  odorous,  bustling  and  crowded.  There  is  less  crime 
in  the  tenement  population  of  this  precinct  than  in  any  other,  but  when  a  real 


Oi'K  rOLICE  PROTECTORS.  325 

"  Dutch  "  tragedy  occurs,  it  is  sure  to  be  a  ghastly  one.  Nothing  more  shocking 
carube  imagined  than  some  of  the  suicides  which  have  occurred  in  this  district, 
because  of  their  deliberate  planning  and  their  circumstances,  regardless  of  the 
,  carving  and  perforating  necessary  to  accomplish  the  end  decided  on.  Some  of 
'  the  crimes  for  gain  are  European  in  their  character.  Take  the  case  of  Ernest 
de  Hagnicki  or  Uhling,  who,  to  secure  a  life  insurance  policy  of  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  on  the  Merchants'  Life  Insurance  Comi)any,  in  April,  1874.  induced 
Louise  (ierms  to  sham  death;  put  her  in  a  coffin,  got  her  out  at  the  time  the 
coffin  should  have  been  closed,  put  in  bricks,  and  buried  the  coffin.    He  paid 


Eleventh  Precinct  Station  House,  Union  Market 


for  his  enterprise  by  a  long  term  in  State  Prison.  The  most  horrible  tragedy 
that  ever  occurred  in  this  city,  one  that  furnished  the  bloodiest,  most  revolting 
spectacle  of  a  murderer,  who  killed  himself  after  slaying  his  victim,  was  at 
No.  194  Orchard  Street,  where,  on  the  nineteenth  of  January,  1878,  James 
Jacques  or  J.  W.  Johnson,  a  j)rofligate  Chicagoan,  hacked  Mrs.  Anna  Surman 
with  a  razor,  pistoled  her,  and  then  shot  himself.  No  one  who  saw  the  room 
and  the  dead  persons  will  ever  forget  them.  Fires  are  frequent  in  this  precinct, 
but  are  generally  small  affairs  in  crowded  buildings,  with  the  result  of  burning 
the  inmates  out  precipitately.    The  last  great  fire  in  this  precinct  was  the 


326 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


burning,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  November,  1883,  of  the  old  Stadt  Theatre  and 
other  ljuildings,  with  a  loss  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars.  Ludlow 
Street  Jail  and  the  Essex  Market  Police  Court  and  Prison  are  in  the  precinct. 

The  Eleventh  Precinct. — The  Eleventh  Precinct  is  included  between 
Rivington  Street,  Clinton  Street,  Avenue  B,  Fourteenth  Street,  and  the  East 
River.  The  station  house,  or  quarters,  are  upstairs  in  Union  Market,  corner  of 
Sheriff  and  Houston  Streets,  where  they  have  been  for  the  past  thirty  years. 
The  rooms  have  just  been  furbished  up  at  a  cost  of  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  enough  money  has  been  spent  on  this  old  plac6  to  build  a  large  and 
commodious  station  house,  as  good  as  any  in  the  city.  The  officers  are:  Cap- 
tain, William  Meakim;  and  Sergeants  Michael  Collins,  Andrew  Dovle,  Judson 


Golden,  and  John  Kelly.  Collins  was  appointed  in  1870  ;  was  Roundsman 
nine  years,  and  won  rank  last  Spring.  Doyle's  dates  are.  Patrolman,  1861; 
Roundsman,  1867;  and  Sergeant,  1868.  Ciolden's  dates  are.  Patrolman,  1875; 
Roundsman,  1883;  and  Sergeant,  1885.  Kelly's  dates  are.  Patrolman,  1870; 
Roundsman,  1882;  and  Sergeant,  1885. 

AcTiNt;  Captain  Wii.ma.m  Mkakim,  of  the  Eleventh  Precinct,  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  CajJtain  on  April  7,  1885.  In  1868  he  became  a  Patrolman  in  flie 
Sixth  Precinct  under  Captain  Jourdan.  He  resigned  two  years  later  to  go  into 
business,  but  again  became  a  member  of  the  force  in  February,  1873.  In  1878 
he  gained  the  rank  of  Sergeant,  and  was  with  Inspector  Murray  until  after  the 
death  of  Cajitain  Cherry,  when  he  was  sent  to  take  charge  of  the  Eleventh  Pre- 
cinct. Captain  Meakim's  ability  is  unquestioned.  He  was  associated  with 
Inspector  Murray  in  a  number  of  important  criminal  cases,  and  the  detective 
instinct  is  strongly  marked  in  him. 

This  command  has  ten  day  and  twenty  night  posts.    Of  the  sixty-two  men 


Captain  William  Meakim. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


327 


on  the  rolls  about  twelve  are  sick  or  detailed.  I'he  Precinct  Detectives  are 
John  Sheridan  and  Patrick  Brennan.  The  detailed  officers  are:  James  Keenan, 
Seventh  Street  Ferry  ;  George  Grassick,  Tenth  Street  Ferry  ;  Michael  Heffer- 
man,  Houston  Street  Ferry  ;  Kdward  Hru(  ken,  St.  Francis  Hospital  ;  and 
William  Dalton,  Ordinances. 

This  command  deals  almost  w  holly  w  ith  the  poorer  classes,  and  it  has  a 
large  German  and  Hebrew  population  in  the  streets  near  Clinton  Street  and 
Avenues  C  and  D,  and  an  Irish  and  American  population  along  the  river  front. 
Within  the  precinct  are  the  mooring  quarters  of  the  Harbor  Police,  St.  Francis" 
Hospital,  the  Houston,  Seventh  and  Tenth  Street  ferries,  and  large  manufac- 
tories on  the  river  front  north  of  Houston  Street.  Besides  these,  there  is  St. 
Bridget's  Ciuirc  h,  on  tiie  spire  of  which  Father  Mooney,  on  the  day  of  the 
German  jubilation  over  the  humiliation  of  the  French  nation,  caused  to  be 
placed  French  tri-colors  in  testimony  of  the  valor  of  the  vancjuished,  and  re- 
turned a  characteristic  answer  when  a  committee  from  the  socialistic  celebrants 
in  Tompkins  Square  waited  on  him  and  re])resented  tiiat  they  could  not  be  re- 
sponsible for  the  consecjuences  if  the  flags  remained.  They  did  remain,  and  the 
priest  was  not  molested  or  subjected  to  further  bullying.  Crimes  of  note  are 
rare  in  this  precinct.  Now  and  then  a  newspaper  affects  to  believe  that  the 
"  Long  Hairs  "  or  "Short  Hairs"  or  some  other  "gang"  has  the  district  in 
terror,  and  magnifies  a  squabble  between  some  graceless  idlers,  but  the  Police,  as 
in  other  precincts,  have  the  loafing  element  under  control.  Union  Market  is 
under  the  station  house. 

The  Thirteenth  Precinct. — The  boundaries  of  the  Thirteenth  Precinct 
are  Gouverneur  Slip,  Water  Street,  Scammel  Street,  Division  Street,  Norfolk 
Street,  Rivington  Street,  and  the  East  River.  The  station  house  is  at  No.  178 
Delancey  Street,  and  may  be  considered,  so  far  as  some  of  its  walls  go — it  has 
frequently  been  reconstructed — as  one  of  the  oldest,  if  not  the  oldest  in  the  city. 
It  was  a  watch-house  long  before  1848,  when  it  is  recorded  as  a  station  house; 
and  Hose  Company  No.  4,  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department,  occupied  that  por- 
tion now  devoted  to  the  desk  and  assembly  room.  The  officers  are:  Captain, 
Jeremiah  Petty;  and  Sergeants,  Theron  T.  Thompson,  Thomas  Lancer,  Philip  M. 
Griffith  and  Wm.  Strauss.  Thompson's  dates  are:  Patrolman  1862,  Roundsman 
1886,  and  Sergeant  1868.  Lancer  joined  the  force  ten  years  ago;  was  Rounds- 
man in  1882,  and  attained  rank  in  January,  1884.  Griffith's  dates  are:  Patrol- 
man 1858,  was  shortly  after  made  Roundsman,  and  was  promoted  in  1863. 
Strauss's  dates  are:  Patrolman  1873,  Roundsman  1875,  and  Sergeant  18S5. 

C.-vptain  Petty  joined  the  Police  force  in  1840.  He  was  then  what  was 
called  a  "chance  man,"  that  is,  a  man  who  goes  to  the  station  and  waits  to  see 
if  anything  will  turn  up  upon  which  he  may  be  detailed.  He  was  then  put  on 
the  regular  Patrol  force,  under  Captain  Fenton,  at  the  Tombs,  who  occupied  the 
(piarters  there  that  are  now  the  offices  of  Warden  Finn.  Policemen,  at  that  time, 
went  on  duty  every  alternate  night  at  sunset,  and  left  off  at  daybreak.  They 
were  paid  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a  day.  They  slept  in  the  Tombs  the  nights 
they  were  on  duty,  and  went  to  their  own  homes  the  nights  they  were  off. 
"The  Police  force,  in  my  younger  days,"  says  Captain  Petty,  "was  mostly 


328 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


composed  of  native  Americans.  Our  beats  did  not  extend  above  Canal  Street.  My 
beat  was  on  Water  Street,  and  Peck  Slip  to  James'  Slip — the  very  worst  portion 
of  the  city.  The  neighborhood  was  then  full  of  houses  of  ill-fame.  The  num- 
ber of  men  on  the  Police  was  not  more  than  twenty-five  or  thirty  for  the  lower 
part  of  the  city. 

"  One  night  my  post  was  on  Canal  Street.  I  shall  never  forget  the  sight 
that  I  saw  at  the  corner  of  Baxter  Street  (which  was  then  called  Orange  Street). 
I  heard  a  woman  shouting  '  Murder,'  and  I  went  into  the  house.  There,  in  a 
cellar,  was  a  woman  half  drunk;  she  said  she  had  been  beaten  by  her  husband. 
He  was  a  cripple,  and  was  lying  on  some  dirty  straw  on  the  cellar  floor.  The 
•walls  were  covered  with  the  slime  of  lizards.     I  tried  to  get  the  man  up,  but  he 


Captain  Jeremiah  Petty. 


could  not  stand  without  crutches.  1  examined  his  feet,  and  found  that  he  had 
been  frostbitten.  The  flesh  had  rotted  off,  and  the  bones  were  sticking  out. 
He  was  half  drunk.  It  was  a  sickening  sight.  After  cautioning  the  man  to  keep 
quiet,  I  left  the  place  for  fear  I  should  faint,  and  that  the  lizards  would  crawl 
over  my  body. 

"I  joined  the  Leatherheads  in  1845.  During  that  time  the  legislature 
passed  a  bill,  one  of  the  provisions  of  which  was,  that  it  was  optional  with  the 
city  government  to  adopt  it.  The  Common  Council  refused  to  pass  it,  but,  in- 
stead, passed  an  ordinance  forming  the  Municipal  Police.  I  was  then  appointed 
Assistant  Captain,  with  a  salary  of  six  hundred  dollars  a  year,  and  was  a  resident 
of  the  Fourteenth  Ward.  I  got  the  ])osition  through  the  intercession  of  John 
J.  Giles,  who  was  then  Treasurer  of  the  Fire  Department,  and  a  real  estate 
agent." 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


329 


Captain  Petty  was  bom  in  tlic  year  1S14,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  went 
to,»vhat  was  called  a  "pay  s(iiool,"  that  is,  the  scholars  paid  from  two-and-a- 
half  to  five  dollars  a  ipiarter  for  tuition.  'I'here  were,  besides  these,  free  schools 
in  New  York  at  the  time. 

During  the  Fernando  Wood  riol  he  was  a  clerk  in  the  Registry  office.  In 
July,  1857,  he  was  api)ointed  Patrolman,  and  assigned  to  tiic  Tenth  Precinct.  He 
was  appointed  Sergeant  in  1858,  and  sent  to  the  City  Hall,  and  remained  there 
until  1 86 1.    He  was  then  transferred  from  the  First  to  the  Fourteenth  Precinct. 


Thirteenth  Precinct  Station  House,  178  Delancey  Street. 

Captain  Petty  has  been  a  teetotaller  for  the  last  forty-seven  years. 

During  the  draft  riots  he  was  stationed  in  the  Fifth  Precinct,  and  was  the 
first  to  enter  the  .\rmory,  which  the  rioters  were  pillaging.  "  \Ve  clubbed  them." 
says  Captain  Petty,  describing  the  scene,  "as  far  as  the  top  of  the  stairs,  and 
they  went  headlong  down  to  the  bottom.  Some  of  the  rioters  jumped  from  the 
second  and  third  stoiy  windows.  When  we  were  in  the  streets  we  were  sur- 
rounded by  ten  or  fifteen  thousand  people.  Bricks  were  thrown  down  on  us, 
and  I  really  believe  if  the  military  did  not  fire  on  the  mob,  the  mob  would  have 
killed  us." 


330 


OUR  POLICE  PROIEC'JORS. 


During  the  Orange  riots  Captain  Petty  was  on  duty  in  plain  clothes,  and 
arrested  three  or  four  persons  for  carrying  firearms.  He  went  on  duty  on  a 
Monday  afternoon  and  did  not  have  any  sleep  until  the  Friday  following. 

In  1872  Captain  Petty  was  presented  with  a  gold  shield  by  some  citizens  in 
the  Fifth  Ward.  The  inscription  on  the  shield  was  as  follows:  "  Presented  to 
Captain  Jeremiah  Petty,  in  acknowledgment  of  his  long  services,  and  the  faith- 
ful and  impartial  performance  of  his  official  duties." 

Captain  Petty,  for  his  years,  is  one  of  the  most  vigorous  and  clear-headed 
men  in  the  department.  This,  perhaps,  is  owing  to  the  fact  that,  for  a 
long  number  of  years,  he  has  been  a  total  abstainer  from  all  sorts  of 
stimulating  or  intoxicating  beverages,  besides  being  very  methodical  in  all  his 
habits. 

This  precinct  has  twelve  day  and  twenty  night  posts.  The  quota  of  fifty- 
six  men  is  reduced  to  about  forty-five  by  details  and  sickness.  John  McCauley 
and  Patrick  English  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  The  detailed  men  are: 
Lafay  Schulum,  Grand  Street  Ferry;  and  Bartholomew  J.  Owens,  Ordinances. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Thirteenth  Precinct  are  those  of  the  Tenth  and 
Eleventh  Precincts.  It  takes  in  the  "Hook"  and  its  predatory  loungers,  the 
oyster  trade  of  the  East  River  at  Grand  Street,  much  commerce  in  coal  and 
marble  on  the  river  point,  the  Grand  Street  Ferry,  and  some  of  the  largest  fur- 
niture and  flour  manufactories.  The  Hebrew  jjopulation  is  large,  and  few  crimes 
of  note  are  committed.  Except  on  Grand  and  Clinton  Streets  its  mercantile 
interests  are  small. 

The  Fourteenth  Precinct. — The  limits  of  the  Fourteenth  Precinct  are 
Broadway,  Howard  Street,  Centre  Street,  Hester  Street,  the  Bowery,  and  Bleeck- 
er  Street.  The  station  house  is  at  No.  205  Mulberry  Street,  next  to  the 
House  of  Detention.  It  is  a  fair,  modern  structure,  with  a  separate  prison,  but  it 
cannot  be  called  a  healthy  building,  as  both  Captain's  and  Sergeants'  quarters 
are  at  times  unpleasant.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  Michael  J.  Murphy;  and 
Sergeants,  Thomas  N.  James,  Marcus  Horbelt,  Michael  Lamey  and  John  F. 
Maloney.  James,  the  senior  Sergeant,  dates  back  to  1858.  He  was  Roundsman 
in  1859,  and  Sergeant  in  1862.  Horbelfs  dates  are:  Patrolman  1859,  Rounds- 
man 1871,  and  Sergeant  1876.  Lamey  was  appointed  in  1861,  made  Roundsman 
in  1869,  and  got  rank  in  1872.  Maloney  joined  the  force  in  1864,  became 
Roundsman  three  years  after,  and  has  been  a  Sergeant  since  1869. 

The  creation  of  the  new  Sixth  Precinct  cut  from  the  Fourteenth  Precinct 
some  of  the  most  important  of  the  dry  goods  houses  and  manufactories  In 
Broadway,  Canal,  and  Centre  Streets,  but  it  has  still  to  look  after  millions  on 
millions  of  invested  capital  in  the  large  Broadway  stores,  some  of  which  carry  a 
stock  of  one  million  dollars  or  over,  and  a  multitude  of  shops  on  Grand  Street 
and  the  Bowery.  Its  resident  po])ulation  is  mainly  the  working  class,  and  it  has 
an  Italian  colony  of  the  better  class  in  Crosby  Street,  and  one  of  the  worst 
class  in  Jersey  Street.  Within  its  boundaries  is  Niblo's  Garden  Theatre.  This 
precinct  is  remarkable  for  the  large  dry  goods  fires  that  occurred  almost  on  the 
same  ground  in  1854,  1876,  and  1879.  The  first  involved  Nos.  440  to  454 
Broadway  on  the  twentieth  of  December,  1854,  and  the  loss  was  put  down  at  only 


33" 


Floor  Hm. 


332 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


seventy  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  The  next,  on  February  8,  1876,  took 
in  Nos.  440  to  458  Broadway,  and  houses  in  Grand,  and  Howard,  and  Crosby 
Streets.  The  loss  was  one  million  seven  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  dollars  and  forty-nine  cents,  and  several  persons  were 
injured.  At  the  fire  of  January  14,  1879,  a  loss  of  one  million  three  hundred 
and  twenty-one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  seventy-three  dollars  and  five  cents 
was  sustained  at  Nos.  458  to  472  Broadway,  and  Nos.  134  to  136  Grand  Street, 
and  one  man,  a  fireman,  was  killed.  Niblo's  Garden  was  destroyed  by  fire  May 
6,  1872,  when  the  loss  was  sixty-one  thousand  dollars,  and  the  Metropolitan 
Hotel,  of  which  it  is  an  annex,  has  been  on  fire  several  times.  Within  its  limits 
are  the  headquarters  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  Centre  Market,  and  Police 


Captain  Michael  J.  Murphy. 


Headquarters,  and  the  Sanitary  Bureaus,  and  the  House  of  Detention  for  Wit- 
nesses, old  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  the  Vicar  General's  residence,  and,  the 
Houston  Street  Convent.  At  Grand  and  Centre  Streets  is  the  old  and  historic 
Odd  Fellows'  Hall. 

Captain  Murphy  was  born  in  1844,  and  in  his  youth  was  a  clerk.  He 
was  appointed  on  the  force  in  August,  1868.  His  dates  are:  1869,  a  Rounds- 
man, 1870,  a  Sergeant;  1872,  a  Captain.  Having  attained  the  lattef  rank,  he 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Seventh  Precinct.  He  held  command  also  suc- 
cessively in  the  Eleventh,  Twenty-eighth,  Twenty-first,  and  Thirty-first  Precincts. 
Captain  Murphy  is  a  man  of  superior  intelligence  and  experience,  and  his 
record  stands  A  No.  i. 


OUR  POLICE  PRO'J'ECTORS. 


333 


This  precinct  has  twelve  day  and  twenty-four  night  posts.    Its  force  of 
sixt^-foiir  men  is  on  the  average  about  fifty-five.    John  Brennan  and  James  J. 
Hart  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.     The  detailed  officers  are:  James  Moran» 
,  Excise;  George  R.  Jacobs,  Ordinances;  Sullivan  II.  r.,itos,  Centre  Market;  and 
Jacob  Lay  Burean,  of  Elections. 

The  Seventeenth  Precinct. — The  boundaries  (jf  tlic  Scvuntcenth  Pre- 
cinct are  Houston  Street,  Avenue  B,  Fourteenth  Street,  Fourth  Avenue,  and 
the  Bowery.  The  station  house  is  at  Nos.  79  and  81  First  Avenue,  and  dates 
back  to  1853,  when  the  command's  headquarters  were  removed  from  Third 
Street  and  the  Bowery.  It  is  an  old  structure,  the  cells  are  underground,  and 
the  demand  for  a  new  station  house  must  be  met  before  many  years  have 
passed.  Very  little  repairing  or  alteration  has  been  done  to  this  station  house 
since  it  was  erected.  The  officers  are  :  C'aptain,  John  H.  McC'ullagh  ;  and 
Sergeants,  Joseph  Haggerty,  Jacob  Welsing,  George  Little,  and  John  (Gallagher. 
Haggerty  joined  the  force  in  1861,  was  Roundsman  in  two  years,  and  was  pro- 
moted the  next  year.  Welsing's  dates  are:  Patrolman  1870,  Roundsman  1874, 
and  Sergeant  1876.  Little  was  a  Patrolman  from  1865  to  1877,  and  three 
months  after  he  was  made  Roundsman  he  got  rank.  Gallagher  was  a  Patrol- 
man in  1868,  a  Roundsman  in  1877,  and  Sergeant  in  1881. 

Capt.\in  John  H.  McCui.l.agh,  of  the  Seventeenth  Precinct,  was  born  in 
the  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  January,  1H42,  and  came  to  this  (  ountry  when  he 
was  only  eleven  years  of  age.  His  family  went  to  reside  at  Irvington-on-the- 
Hudson,  where  the  future  Captain  attended  school.  While  there  he  was  promi- 
nent in  all  athletic  sports  and  games.  During  the  draft  riots,  in  1863,  he  made 
the  acquaintance  of  several  members  of  the  Police  force,  and  resolved  to  join 
them.  When  McCullagh  visited  Headquarters  with  a  letter  of  introduction, 
the  Superintendent  told  him  to  wait  until  his  beard  grew,  and  that  he  was  only 
yet  a  boy.  But  in  a  few  days  afterwards  he  received  his  appointment  as  Patrol- 
man and  was  assigned  to  the  Fifth  Precinct,  then  in  charge  of  Captain  Jere- 
miah Petty..  After  two  years'  service  in  this  district  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Twentieth  Precinct,  under  Captain  Walling.  Here  McCullagh  distinguished 
himself.  The  desperate  ruffians  known  as  the  "  Hell's  Kitchen  "  gang,  were 
constantly  committing  robberies  at  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  Depot,  and 
were  a  terror  to  everybody.  It  is  said  even  that  Policemen  were  loath  to  inter- 
fere with  them.  One  night,  on  the  arrival  of  a  train  from  the  West,  two  hogs- 
heads of  hams  were  stolen.  McCullagh,  hearing  of  the  robbery,  went  cautious- 
ly down  towards  the  depot.  On  the  way  he  encountered  a  notorious  thief, 
nicknamed  "  Dutch  Heinrich,"  and  two  of  his  companions.  Heinrich,  with  an 
oath,  precipitated  himself  on  the  officer.  A  terrific  struggle  ensued,  but  after 
a  time  the  thief  went  under.  He  was  afterwards  tried,  convicted,  and  sent  to 
State  Prison  for  five  years.  McCullagh  was  soon  afterwards  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Roundsman  and  transferred  to  the  Twelfth  Precinct,  but  his  old 
Captain  (Walling)  requested  the  Police  Commissioners  to  let  him  have  Mc- 
Cullagh back  again,  and  the  Commissioners  acceded  to  the  request.  Soon 
after  this  there  wa.s  a  reckless  Policeman,  who.  thinking  he  was  aggrieved, 
swore  that  he  would  kill  any  Policeman  who  would  have  the  temerity  to 


334 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


report  him.  One  night,  however,  McCullagh,  finding  him  off  duty,  did  report 
him.  The  Policeman  was  dismissed  the  force,  and  watched  his  opportunity  to 
be  avenged  on  McCullagh.  One  morning,  while  the  latter  was  on  duty  at  the 
corner  of  Thirty-seventh  Street  and  Ninth  Avenue,  the  dismissed  Policeman 
fired  at  him  and  wounded  him  severely.  For  a  long  time  McCullagh's  life 
trembled  in  the  balance,  but  eventually  he  recovered.  His  assailant  was  ar- 
rested and  sent  to  Sing  Sing  for  five  years. 

In  the  Orange  riots  of  1871,  McCullagh  was  shot  in  the  leg,  and  was  laid  up 
for  a  month. 

Most  and  Wesley  Allen,  two  notorious  characters,  were  arrested  by  McCul- 
lagh in  Mercer  Street  for  the  attempted  robbery  of  Colsatt  &  Company's  silk 
store.    Both  the  jirisoners  were  sentenced  to  ten  years  in  the  State  Prison. 


Captain  John  H.  McCullagh. 

Captain  McCullagh  was  also  the  principal  means  of  breaking  up  the  Panel 
House  gang  in  the  Eighth  Precinct,  at  the  head  of  which  was  "  Shang " 
Draper. 

The  Captain  has  inherited  a  nice  house  at  Irvington,  where  he  is  very  popu- 
lar with  his  neighbors.    He  is  also  a  trustee  of  the  school  at  that  place. 

This  precinct  has  fourteen  day  and  twenty-six  night  posts.  Of  the  full 
complement  of  seventy-five  men,  about  twenty  are  detailed  or  sick.  Edward 
Robinson  and  Michael  Bissert  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  Henry  Trass 
and  Thomas  Kiernan  are  detailed  on  Ordinances;  James  Kiernan  and 
George  E.  Wood  to  the  office  of  the  Commissioners  of  Charities  and  Cor- 
rection; Henry  Schwenck  and  Frank  Gunn  to  the  Cooper  Institute,  as  Day  Post 


OUR  POLICE  PKOTECTORS. 


33S 


No.  15;  Peter  Farley  to  Tompkins  Market,  as  Day  Post  No.  16;  George  Marsh  to 
the  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary  and  Home  of  the  Holy  Family,  as  Day  Post  No.  17. 

The  Seventeenth  Precinct  watches  over  a  crowded  tenement  house  popula- 
tion. It  is  asserted  that  the  most  populous  block  in  the  city  is  here.  This  is 
the  home  of  the  Bohemian  colony,  and  there  are  many  Germans  in  the  district. 
It  takes  in  the  German  part  of  the  Bowery,  and  within  its  limits  are  Tompkins 
Market  and  the  Sixty-ninth  Regiment  Armory,  Cooper  Institute,  the  Bi])Ie 
House,  Grace  Chapel,  Theiss's  Alhambra,  the  headquarters  of  the  Commission- 
ers of  Charities  and  Corrections,  Tompkins  Square,  the  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary, 
Turn  Halle,  and  other  Teutonic  resorts,  the  Marble  Cemetery,  and  the  buildings 
of  the  New  York  Historical  Society.  No  occurrence  ever  created  such  a  stir  as 
the  stealing  of  A.  T.  Stewart's  body  from  the  vault  in  the  churchyard  of  St. 
Mark's  Church  at  Ninth,  Tenth,  and  Stuyvesant  Streets  and  Second  Avenue,  on 
the  seventh  of  November,  1878.  One  of  the  fiercest  fires  on  record  was  at  the 
Hippotheatron,  in  East  Fourteenth  Street,  on  the  morning  of  December  24, 
1872,  when  Nos.  114  to  134  East  Fourteenth  Street  were  more  or  less  damaged, 
and  the  loss  over  two  hundred  and  seventy  thousand  dollars.  On  the  fifth 
of  January,  1880,  a  fire  at  Turn  Halle  ended  the  lives  of  five  i)ersons,  but  the 
damage  done  was  small.  On  the  twenty-fifth  of  July,  1876,  Sergeant  James  Mc- 
Gloin,  of  the  Fifteenth  Precinct,  pursued  Harry  King,  who  had  committed  a 
robbery,  to  Second  Avenue  and  Eighth  Street,  and  there  received  his  death 
wound.    King  is  serving  a  life  sentence. 

The  Eighteenth  Precinct. — The  Eighteenth  Precinct  comprises  the  dis- 
trict between  Fourteenth  Street,  Union  Square,  Fourth  Avenue,  Twenty-seventh 
Street,  First  Avenue,  Twenty-sixth  Street,  and  the  East  River.  The  station 
house  is  at  Nos.  325  and  327  East  Twenty-second  Street.  It  is  on  the  site  of 
the  one  burned  down  by  the  mob  in  the  draft  riots  of  1863.  It  is  a  third-class 
structure  when  compared  with  more  modern  station  houses,  but  it  has  a  separate 
prison.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  William  H.  Clinchy;  and  Sergeants  Thomas 
H.  Mangin,  Michael  Fanning,  Hugh  Clark,  and  William  T.  Coffey.  Mangin 
was  a  Patrolman  in  1870,  a  Roundsman  in  1874,  a  Sergeant  in  1879.  Fanning's 
dates  are:  Patrolman  1864,  Roundsman  1869,  and  Sergeant  1872.  Hugh  Clark 
joined  the  force  in  1861,  waited  more  than  seventeen  years  to  be  Roundsman 
and  got  his  rank  last  June.  Coffey  was  appointed  in  1869,  and  ten  years  later 
was  made  a  Roundsman.    In  May  last  he  was  promoted. 

Captain  Clinchv  was  born  in  this  city  in  1844,  and  when  quite  a  boy 
he  went  to  the  far  West,  acting  as  a  scout  and  hunter  there  for  several  years. 
He  became  a  Patrolman  in  1865,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Sixth  Precinct  for 
duty.  In  1867  he  was  promoted  to  be  a  Roundsman,  and  was  advanced  a  step 
higher  in  1869,  when  he  was  made  Sergeant.  The  following  year  he  reached  his 
present  rank,  and  was  sent  to  the  Twenty-first  Precinct;  thence  to  the  Twenty- 
fifth  Precinct,  to  the  Broadway  Squad,  the  Fourteenth,  the  Thirteenth,  and 
finally  to  the  Eighteenth  Precinct.  Captain  Clinchy  is  a  man  of  solid  literary 
attainments,  is  a  good  linguist,  and  is  self-educated. 

This  precinct  has  eighteen  day  and  thirty-seven  night  posts.  The  full  com- 
plement of  men,  ninety-six,  is  reduced  by  sickness  and  details  to  about  ninety- 


336 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


seven.  The  Precinct  Detective  is  J.  V.  B.  Corey.  The  detailed  officers  are:  John 
O'Neill,  Fourteenth  Street;  Thomas  Gibbons  and  Thomas  O'Reilly,  Ordinances; 
George  Clinchy,  Stuyvesant  Park;  VV.  P.  Leaman,  Gramercy  Park;  Patrick  Flan- 
agan, Twenty-third  Street  Ferry;  George  F.  Lewis,  Inspector  Murray's  Office; 
Jacob  B.  Kern,  Gramercy  Park,  and  M.  C.  Yaeger,  Twenty-third  Street  Railroads. 

The  responsibilities  of  the  Police  of  the  Eighteenth  Precinct  are  divided 
among  the  slums  of  the  east  side  and  the  rich  residents  of  such 
quarters  as  Gramercy  Park,  Stuyvesant  Square,  and  the  lower  end 
of  Madison  Avenue.  This  precinct  takes  care  of  Tammany  Hall,  the 
Academy  of  Music,  Steinway  Hall,  Irving  Hall,  the  headquarters  of  the 
Department   of   Parks,  Tony    Pastor's  Theatre,  and   the  East  Twenty-third 


Captain  William  H.  Clinchy. 

Street  Ferry,  the  Ashland  House,  the  Hotel  Dam,  the  Clarendon  Hotel,  the 
Westminster  Hotel,  the  Florence  Apartment  House,  Trinity  Church,  St.  George^s 
Church,  All  Souls'  Church,  and  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York.  Last  yea'r 
the  St.  George's  Flats,  in  East  Seventeenth  Street,  near  Stuyvesant  Park,  were  de- 
stroyed by  fire  with  a  loss  of  seventy  thousand  dollars.  The  fire  was  remarkable 
because  the  house  was  advertised  as  positively  and  absolutely  fire-proof,  and  was 
barely  tenanted.  In  December,  1869,  Florence  Scannell,  an  Alderman,  was 
wounded  in  an  election  row  in  a  liquor  saloon  at  Twenty-third  Street  and  Second 
Avenue,  and  he  died  in  Bellevue  Hospital.  John  Scannell,  his  brother,  made 
John  Donohue  responsible  for  his  brother's  death,  and  after  trying  to  kill  him 
in  the  street,  deliberately  .slew  him  in  the  pool  rooms  in  front  of  the  Brower 
House. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


337 


The  Twenty-first  Precinct. — The  Twenty-first  Precinct's  boundaries 
are  Twenty-sixth  Street,  First  Avenue,  Twenty-seventh  Street,  Fourth  Avenue, 
Park  Avenue,  Forty-second  Street,  and  the  East  River.  The  station  house  is 
at  No.  i6o  East  Thirty-fifth  Street,  and  has  been  much  tinkered  since  1855. 
In  1864  a  building  in  its  rear  was  added  to  it  ;  the  cells  are  underground  ;  the 
quarters  are  cramped,  and  it  is,  on  the  whole,  a  fourth-class  structure.  The 
officers  are:  Captain,  Thomas  M.  Ryan;  and  Sergeants,  John  Fitzgerald,  Philip 
Cassidy,  Frederick  W.  Martens  and  George  P.  Osborne.  Fitzgerald's  dates 
are  Patrolman  1865,  Roundsman  1874,  and  Sergeant  1876.  Cassidy  was 
Patrolman  in  1870,  Roundsman  in  1877,  and  Serg'^ant  in  1881.    Martens,  in 


Twenty-First  Precinct  Station  House,  160  East  Thirty-Fifth  Street. 

1883,  when  he  was  made  Roundsman,  had  been  nine  years  on  the  force.  Last 
April  he  was  promoted.  Osborne  was  appointed  in  1870,  became  Roundsman 
in  1876,  and  got  his  rank  last  January. 

Captain  Thomas  Meagher  Ryan,  of  the  Twenty-first  Precinct,  has  done 
good  service  in  his  time.  Previous  to  his  appointment  to  the  district  which 
he  now  commands,  breaches  of  the  law  were  numerous,  and  gangs  of  young 
"  toughs  "  made  themselves  a  terror  to  the  peaceably  disposed  inhabitants  ;  but 
Captain  Ryan's  advent  struck  terror  into  those  ruffians  when  he  assumed  the 
Captaincy  of  the  Twenty-first  Ward.  He  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland 
about  twenty-eight  years  ago,  and  obtained  a  situation  with  the  Adams  Ex- 
press  Company.     Here   his  punctuality  and  faithful   performance  of  duty 


338  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

attracted  the  attention  of  his  employers,  and  through  the  President  of  the  Com- 
pany, Mr.  William  B.  Dinsmore,  who  took  a  great  interest  in  the  young  man, 
Ryan  was  appointed  a  Policeman  on  November  12,  1863.  He  was  assigned  to 
the  Eighteenth  Precinct,  and,  after  several  years  of  steady  attention  to  duty,  he 
was  appointed  Roundsman  on  December  16,  1870,  in  the  same  precinct  in 
which  he  served  as  Patrolman.  He  was  appointed  Captain  on  September  13, 
1878,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Sixteenth  Precinct.  After  two  or 
three  changes,  he  was  finally  located  in  his  present  precinct. 
The  following  are  some  of  the  arrests  made  by  him  : 

Peter  Fenrich,  arrested  December  15,  1880,  for  the  celebrated  diamond 
robbery.    Sentenced  to  Sing  Sing  for  five  years. 


Captain  Thomas  Meagher  Ryan. 


Thomas  Foster,  for  presenting  a  pistol  at  a  druggist's  wife.  Sentenced  to 
fifteen  years  imprisonment. 

On  the  night  of  September  24,  1881,  Thomas  Kennealy,  Michael  Mc- 
Guirk,  James  Nolan,  Peter  Henry,  and  Edward  Gates  stopped  an  old  laborirfg 
man  named  Felix  Smith  at  Fourteenth  Street,  near  First  Avenue,  and  forcibly 
took  from  him  his  hard-earned  wages.  Each  of  them  was  sentenced  to  five 
years  in  State  Prison. 

John  McManus,  for  the  killing  of  Michael  Kerwin  in  a  saloon,  on  the 
sixteenth  of  ]une,  1873.    McManus  was  sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  life. 

William  Burke,  James  McKcon,  Thomas  Roberts,  and  William  Walpole,  for 
robbing  a  gentleman  named  Walter  Cook,  in  Twenty-seventh  Street,  on  Novem- 
ber 25,  1882.  They  were  arrested  twelve  hours  afterwards  from  description, 
and  sentenced  to  State  Prison  for  five  years. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


339 


This  command  has  fourteen  day  and  twenty-eight  night  posts.  Of  its  seventy- 
one  men  about  a  dozen  are  sick  or  detailed.  George  Connor  and  Bernard  Ma- 
larkey  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  The  detailed  men  are:  Richard  Cahill, 
Ordinances;  John  Spencer,  Bellevue  Hospital;  Patrick  Nealis,  Dock  of  Commis- 
sioners of  Charities  and  Correction;  Terence  Gallagher,  Thirty-fourth  Street 
Ferry;  Michael  C.  Donohue,  St.  John's  College,  Fordham. 

The  Twenty-first  Precinct  runs  to  aristocracy  on  its  western  border,  and  to 
S(iualor  and  petty  crime  as  the  East  River  is  approached.  'I"hc  Police  here  have 
to  deal  with  a  ruffianly  element  east  of  Third  Avenue,  and  a  uniformed  officer 
is  fire  game  for  the  young  thugs  who  infest  the  district.  It  is  not  exaggeration 
to  say  that  on  some  posts  a  Patrolman's  safety  lies  in  his  ability  to  handle  his 
locust  and  pistol  in  cases  of  emergency,  and  there  arc  endless  records  in  the  sta- 
tion house  of  minor  brawls  with  more  or  less  serious  results  to  the  unruly,  and 
sometimes  to  the  members  of  the  force.  West  of  Third  Avenue,  on  Murray 
II ill,  are  aristocratic  residences,  and  there  are  some  of  the  most  luxurious  man- 
sions in  the  city  along  Park  Avenue.  In  the  precinct  are  St.  Stei)hen's  Roman 
Catholic  Church,  the  Cirand  Union  Hotel,  Pottier  &:  Stymus'  furniture  manufac- 
tory, and  the  houses  in  the  vicinity  of  Prospect  Place  of  some  of  the  best  and 
most  worthy  Hebrew  families.  This  precinct  guards  the  principal  ferry  to  the 
Long  Island  Railroads,  and  Bellevue  and  the  Manhattan  Eye  and  Ear  Hospitals, 
and  the  Dock  of  the  Commissioners  of  Charities  and  Correction.  An  event 
remembered  to  this  day  was  the  killing  of  Police  Officer  Smedick  by  John  Real 
fifteen  years  ago.  Real,  despite  strenuous  efforts  to  save  him,  was  hung  August  5, 
1870.  On  the  tenth  of  October,  1881,  the  Fourth  Avenue  car  stable,  at  Thirty- 
third  Street  and  Fourth  Avenue,  and  a  storage  warehouse  and  other  buildings, 
were  destroyed  by  fire.     The  loss  was  eight  hundred  and  two  thousand  dollars. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Precinct. — The  territory  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Precinct 
is  bounded  by  Mail  Street,  Broadway,  Chambers  Street,  Centre  Street,  and  Park 
Row.  This  is  the  City  Hall  Squad,  and  its  quarters  are  in  the  south-east  cor- 
ner of  the  City  Hall.  Formerly  it  was  the  Railroad  and  Steamboat  Squad, 
until  Col.  Joel  B.  Erhardt,  in  1876,  organized  the  Steamboat  Squad,  and  placed 
Roundsman  James  K.  Fuller  in  command.  Before  the  Nineteenth  Sub-Precinct 
was  organized,  a  detail  of  officers  from  this  precinct  did  duty  where  the  Grand 
Central  Depot  now  stands,  and  at  the  Harlem  and  New  Haven  Depots  at  Fourth 
Avenue  and  Twenty-seventh  and  Twenty-eighth  Streets,  where  is  now  the 
Madison  Square  Garden.  Nearly  all  the  members  of  this  command  do  only 
day  duty,  so  that  there  is  but  one  day  post  and  two  night  posts  to  a  force  of 
fifty-six  men,  reduced  by  sickness  and  details  to  about  forty-eight  men.  The 
officers  of  the  command  are :  Sergeant  Stewart  ;  and  Sergeants,  Edward 
Carpenter,  appointed  1869,  made  Roundsman  1872,  and  promoted  1876; 
George  P.  Kass,  appointed  1862,  made  Roundsman  1866,  and  promoted 
1869;  and  James  Gaynor,  appointed  1862,  made  Roundsman  wSjo,  and  pro- 
moted 1872. 

Sergeant  Joseph  Stewart,  upon  the  promotion  of  Captain  Steers  to  an 
Inspectorship,  was  transferred  from  Tremont  Police  Station  to  take  command  of 
the  Twenty-sixth  Precinct  in  the  City  Hall. 


340 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Inspector  Henry  V. 


Steers, 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


34' 


Inspector  Henry  V.  Steers  was  born  in  Sing  Sing  in  1832,  and  came  to 
N(?V  York  City  when  he  was  only  seven  years  old.  He  served  his  api)renticesliip  to 
the  ship  building  trade,  and  worked  at  this  business  for  years.  He  joined  the  force 
in  1857  and  went  to  the  Thirteenth  Precinct.  He  was  promoted  Roundsman 
in  i860,  and  assigned  for  duty  to  the  Seventeenth;  in  1865  he  was  made 
Sergeant,  and  in  1874  Captain  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Precinct,  and  was  transferred 
to  the  Thirty-second  in  1878.  During  the  riots  of  1863  and  187  i  Captain  Steers 
took  a  prominent  part,  and,  witii  a  few  Policemen,  cleared  the  boulevards  of 
riotous  mobs.  Gangs  of  desperadoes,  previous  to  Captain  Steers  going  there, 
made  night  hideous  by  their  depredations.  Steers  singled  out  the  leader  of  this 
gang — who  was  a  desperate  bully — and  thrashed  him.  This  struck  terror  into  the 
group,  and  peaceful  citizens  hailed  his  advent  with  delight.  They  presented 
him  with  a  shield,  bearing  the  following  inscription: 

"  Presented  to  Captain  Steers,  in  acknowledgment  of  his  ability  and  zeal 
as  an  officer,  by  the  citizens  of  the  late  town  of  West  Farms,  now  the  Thirty- 
fourth  Precinct.    New  York  City,  December  4,  1874." 

Shortly  after  this  Captain  Steers  was  presented  with  a  gold  watch.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Knickerbocker  Club,  and  was  the  recipient  of  a  handsome 
club  from  the  members.  The  club  is  made  of  black  ebony,  tipped  at  tlic  bottom 
with  ivory,  and  mounted  at  the  top  with  an  exquisitely  worked  ivory  eagle,  and 
near  tlie  handle  is  a  wide  circle  of  gold  with  this  inscription: 

"  Presented  to  Captain  Steers  by  the  Knickerbocker  Club  of  West  Farms. 
May  2,  1872." 

When  the  change  took  place  from  the  Metropolitan  to  tiic  Municipal, 
Steers  was  the  last  Sergeant  of  the  Metropolitan  Police.  While  he  was  a  Pa- 
trolman, Captain  Steers  saved  seven  persons  from  drowning,  and  on  one  occasion 
nearly  lost  his  life. 

He  was  made  Inspector  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  March,  1885,  in  place  of 
the  late  Inspector  Thorne.  Sergeant  Joseph  Stewart  was  transferred  from 
Tremont  to  command  the  City  Hall  Squad. 

The  detailed  officers  are:  Peter  Groden  and  Ignatz  Baumgarten,  Castle 
Garden;  John  B.  Wood,  Comptroller's  office;  George  Davis,  City  Paymaster's 
office;  David  Harvey,  Police  Headquarters;  William  Sims,  Superior  Court; 
Roundsman  Charles  O.  Sheldon,  Telegraph  office,  Police  Headquarters;  and 
Robert  Quackenbush,  Special  Detective.  The  force  is  on  duty  daily,  Sundays 
excepted,  as  follows:  Caslle  Garden,  seven  men;  Carts,  four;  Hacks,  two;  Junk- 
shops,  two;  Pawnshops,  one;  Runners,  one;  Express,  one;  Venders,  two; 
Brooklyn  Bridge  entrance,  one;  Reserve  Force,  two;  Intelligence  Offices,  one; 
License  Office,  two;  Permit  Office,  one;  Post-office,  one;  Court  House,  one; 
Vestibule,  City  Hall,  one;  Chamber  of  Board  of  Aldermen,  cne;  Blasting,  one; 
House  Duty,  two;  Park  Patrol,  four. 


342 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


SECOND  INSPECTION  DISTRICT. 


The  Late  Inspector  Thorne. — A  Veteran  Officer  whose  Experience  was 
Coeval  With  the  Existen  ce  of  the  Police  Department. — Intelligence, 
Energy  and  Zeal.— A  Notable  Record. — Fifth  Precinct;  Captain 
Eakins. — Eighth  Precinct;  Captain  McDonnell. — Ninth  Precinct;  Cap- 
tain CoPELAND. — Fifteenth  Precinct;  Captain  Brogan. — Sixteenth  Pre- 
cinct; Captain  McElwain. — Twentieth  Precinct;  Captain  Washburn. — 
Twenty-fifth  Precinct;  Captain  Garland. — Twenty-seventh  Precinct; 
Captain  Berghold. — Twenty-ninth  Precinct;  Captain  Williams. 

nPHE    Second    Inspection    District    includes    the    Fifth,  Eighth,  Ninth, 


Sixteenth,  Twentieth,  Twenty-fifth,  Twenty-seventh,  and  Twenty-ninth 
Precincts,  and  the  Jefferson  Market  Police  Court,  known  as  the  Second  District 
Court.  Until  recently  it  was  under  the  command  of  a  veteran  officer,  the  late 
Inspector  Thomas  W.  Thorne. 


The  late  Inspector  Thorne  was  born  in  Ulster  County,  in  the  town  of 
Malborough,  this  State,  on  June  lo,  1823.  He  came  to  New  York  when  he  was  a 
boy,  and  remained  in  this  city  until  1837,  when  he  went  to  Newburgh,  Orange 
County,  this  State.  He  there  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  re- 
turned to  New  York  in  1840.  He  gained  the  position  of  master  carpenter  at 
the  Arsenal  under  the  late  General  John  Stewart  during  the  time  the  arsenal 
was  being  built  in  Central  Park.  He  was  appointed  on  the  Police  by  the  first 
Commissioners,  to  wit:  Mayor  Westervelt,  Recorder  Tillou,  and  City  Judge 
Beebe.  In  1853  he  was  made  Sergeant,  in  1857  Captain,  and  in  1861  In- 
spector. On  April  20,  1872,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  General  Term  of 
the  Supreme  Court.  He  did  duty  in  the  following  precincts:  Patrolman, 
Roundsman,  and  Sergeant  in  the  Thirteenth  ;  Sergeant  in  the  Seventh  and 
Eleventh  ;  Captain  in  the  Fourth,  Sixteenth,  Twenty-first,  Twenty-sixth  ;  In- 
spector in  the  First,  Second,  Third  and  Fourth  Districts.  He  was  made 
Inspector  in  1872,  and  had  charge  of  the  Street  Cleaning  Department  for  two 
years  and  a  half.  During  his  whole  time  on  the  force  he  shows  but  two 
days  sick  time.  During  the  Astor  Place  riots  he  had  charge  of  the  magazine 
used  there.  He  was  in  the  dead  rabbit  riots,  the  draft  riots,  and  also  had 
charge  of  the  force  that  went  to  assist  Superintendent  Walling  during  the  Orange 
riots.  He  commanded  the  force  of  the  Fourteenth  Precinct  to  intercept  the 
Communists'  gathering  at  Tompkins  Square. 

The  identity  of   the  murderers  of  the  peddler  in  Lydeck's  Woods,  near  West 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


343 


Farms  Village,  in  1875,  would  in  all  probability  have  never  been  revealed  but 
for  the  active  services  rendered  by  Inspector  Thorne,  who,  at  the  time,  was  Dis- 
trict Inspector  in  the  Twenty-third  Ward.  His  handling  of  the  case  led  to  the 
arrest  of  three  negroes  who  were,  in  lime,  convicted  of  the  murder,  and  hanged. 

Inspector  Thorne  was  only  two  or  three  days  on  the  force  when  his  Cajjlain 
detailed  him  on  a  watch  stealing  case.  He  recovered  the  property,  and  tiie  C  aj)- 
tain,  who  was  highly  gratified,  said:  "You  have  done  enough  of  work  for  one 
day,  and  you  had  better  go  home  and  rest  yourself." 

He  was  made  Captain  just  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  was  stationed  at 
the  Fourth  Precinct,  and  continued  tliere  for  one  year.  He  was  then  sent  to  the 
Twenty-sixth  Precinct  (City  Hall)  and  was  there  during  tlie  draft  riots,  and  was 
on  duty  the  night  that  the  mob  made  a  demonstration  to  sack  the  Tribune  office. 
He  had  only  fifty  men  under  his  command,  and  with  these  he  dispersed  a  mob 
of  seven  thousand  who  had  collected  on  the  City  Hall  Square.  The  mob  was 
armed  with  hay-sticks  and  pistols;  the  Police  had  only  their  clubs. 

In  1853  there  was  a  gang  of  thieves'  known  as  the  butcher  cart  or  hog 
thieves,  who  had  their  headquarters  at  the  corner  of  Tompkins  and  Rivington 
streets.  Their  business  was  to  steal  from  stores  or  trucks  anything  that  could  be 
carried  by  two  persons — such  as  a  tub  of  butter,  put  it  into  a  cart  and  go  off 
with  it.  They  changed  from  that  to  assaulting  paymasters  and  clerks  in  banks, 
and  robbing  them.  The  original  gang  consisted  of  Warmsby,  Ingram,  Burke, 
Goody,  Mannix,  Cosgrove,  Purcell  and  McDonnell.  They  pretended  to  be 
butchers,  and  sold  what  is  called,  in  butchers'  parlance,  small  meat,  around  the 
streets.  Inspector  Thorne  had  cause  to  arrest  these  thieves  several  times.  One 
night,  being  on  post  in  Grand  Street  at  the  corner  of  Columbia,  and  not  being 
observed,  he  saw  five  of  the  gang  place  themselves  near  by,  and  heard  them  hold 
a  conversation  about  twelve  tubs  of  butter  they  had  stolen,  and  how  they  had  to 
dispose  of  them.  The  next  morning  the  Inspector  proceeded  to  the  place  where 
he  suspected  the  butter  was  concealed,  found  it,  and  arrested  the  five  thieves,  who 
were  completely  surprised,  as  they  could  form  no  idea  how  their  secret  had 
leaked  out.  The  prisoners  were  bailed,  but  after  the  owners  of  the  butter  were 
found,  Judge  Walsh,  who  was  then  Police  Magistrate,  ordered  the  Inspector  to 
re-arrest  the  prisoners. 

He  found  them  in  a  slaughter  house  in  Tompkins  Street,  and  took  them  to 
the  court  in  their  own  cart,  by  making  them  believe  it  was  for  the  purpose  of 
closing  the  case.  When  they  got  there  and  were  arraigned,  one  of  their  num- 
ber said:  "Thorne,  this  is  a  shame.  The  idea  of  bringing  us  in  our  own  cart 
to  the  station  house  and  charging  us  with  robbery  !"  They  were  all  sent  to 
State  Prison. 

The  depredations  of  thieves  on  the  North  River  created  great  consternation 
among  the  inhabitants  who  lived  on  the  river  front.  Officer  Smith  and  In- 
spector Thorne  were  detailed  to  look  after  them.  The  task  was  a  most  dan- 
gerous one.  Five  men  had  broken  open  the  cabin  of  a  vessel  lying  at  a  North 
River  pier,  and  stolen  money  and  other  property.  When  discovered,  they  took 
to  a  boat,  followed  in  like  manner  by  the  Police,  who  chased  them  over  to  the 
Brooklyn  side,  the  fugitives  firing  on  their  pursuers  several  times.    In  the  morning 


344 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


they  were  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  and  the  Police  boat  was  at  the  side  of  the 
wharves,  a  circumstance  not  known  to  the  thieves,  who  were  again  chased,  this 
time  to  the  foot  of  Third  Street,  East  River,  where  they  were  captured. 

While  Inspector  Thorne  was  Captain  in  the  Fourth  Precinct  there  was 
there  a  notorious  gang,  all  of  them  having  done  time.    They  were  the  brothers 

Dobbs  (two),  Harry  Craven,  Barclay,  the  man  who  was  supposed  to  have 

killed  Gefferts  in  Sing  Sing;  Sam  Madden,  Big  Brady,  Dan  Kelly,  Aleck  Har- 
rington, English  Harry,  and  "  Big  Doyle,"  who  were  committing  at  that  time 
all  the  burglaries  in  warehouses  in  New  York. 

Dan  Kelly  and  young  Jack  Wright,  in  company  with  another,  entered  the 
offices  of  the  New  Haven  Steamboat  Company,  and  after  breaking  open  the  safe, 
succeeded  in  getting  twenty  thousand  dollars.  They  were  captured,  and  upon 
examination  Wright  told  Inspector  Thorne,  that  on  the  third  floor,  counting  off 
so  many  bales,  he  would  find  the  stolen  money  secreted  in  that  bale.  This  led 
to  the  recovery  of  the  money.  Kelly  was  sent  to  State  Prison  for  three  years. 
Jack  Wright  jumped  his  bail.  Four  years  later  the  Inspector  arrested  Dan 
Kelly,  Aleck  Hampden,  Big  Harry,  Pete  Doyle,  and  others.  Dan  Kelly  was 
again  sent  to  State  Prison,  Aleck  Hampden  and  Big  Harry*  got  bailed.  Pete 
Doyle  had  judgment  suspended,  and  about  two  years  afterwards  he  picked 
pockets  and  got  two  years  in  State  Prison. 

In  the  year  1867  a  young  man  named  James  Brown  complained  to  Inspector 
Thorne  that  he  had  been  robbed  of  his  valise  and  some  other  property  by  a  man 
who  had  got  into  his  good  graces  at  the  ferry.  The  man  who  had  robbed 
Brown  was  arrested.  Brown  remained  at  the  station  in  the  night  time  because  he 
had  no  home.  On  being  sent  back  the  next  night  to  the  station  house,  he  de- 
posited some  Government  bonds  with  the  Inspector.  Brown  was  put  in  a  back 
room  to  sleep.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  he  came  out  in  the  ofnce  and 
complained  that  he  had  been  robbed  of  his  pocketbook  and  some  four  hundred 
dollars  in  money.  The  Sergeant  told  him  that  he  must  be  mistaken.  Previous  to 
this,  a  seafaring  man  of  apparently  respectable  appearance  had  come  into  the 
station  house  for  lodging,  and  was  given  permission  to  remain  in  the  sitting- 
room  till  morning.  On  Brown's  complaint  that  he  had  been  robbed,  the  Ser-. 
geant  went  back,  searched  the  seafaring  man  and  the  room,  and  not  finding 
anything,  the  Sergeant  made  up  his  mind  that  Brown  had  made  a  mistake. 
Shortly  after  this  the  sailor  came  out  and  thanked  the  Sergeant  for  his  night's 
lodging,  and  said  that  as  it  was  now  daylight  he  would  go.  The  Sergeant  jumped 
over  the  railings,  searched  him  again,  and  found  Brown's  pocketbook,  contain- 
ing four  hundred  dollars.  The  question  then  came  into  the  Inspector's  mind, 
"  How  did  Brown  come  by  so  much  money  and  property  ?"  He,  thereupon, 
began  to  look  over  the  papers,  and  by  this  means  found  that  two  months  pre- 
viously a  house  at  Saddle  River  had  been  robbed  of  bonds  of  the  denomination 
of  one  hundred  dollars  each,  giving  the  numbers  of  the  bonds.  On  examination, 
it  was  further  discovered  that  these  numbers  corresponded  with  the  numbers  on 
the  bonds  taken  from  Brown.  Without  making  any  further  bother  in  the  affair, 
the  two  men  who  had  robbed  Brown  were  convicted  and  sent  to  State  Prison. 
The  following  morning  the  Inspector  took  Brown  along,  and  started,  as  he 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


345 


(Brown)  supposed,  for  the  German  steamer  in  Hoboken,  but,  in  reality,  to  Sad- 
dle River,  N.  J.  About  three  miles  up  the  mountain  they  came  to  the  house 
that  had  been  robbed,  and  the  inmates  immediately  recognized  Brown  as  the 
thief.  Brown  had  treated  them  with  base  ingratitude.  'I'hey  had  taken  him 
into  the  house  out  of  pity,  for  he  said  he  was  destitute.  During  their  absence 
at  a  festival  the  young  scoundrel  robbed  them.  The  last  the  Inspector  saw  of 
Brown  was  when  that  worthy  was  tied  to  an  ox  cart,  which  was  followed  by  a 
Constable,  with  a  heavy  club  swinging  in  his  hand. 

One  afternoon  a  young  fellow  came  to  the  station  house  and  said  liiat  tlic 
second  mate  of  the  ship  Lady  Bohn  had  stolen  some  three  hundred  dollars 
worth  of  nautical  instruments  from  him.  This  was  on  Friday  night.  The 
vessel  was  to  sail  at  one  o'clock  on  Saturday.  The  boy  had  some  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  sterling  due  to  him  as  apprentice,  and  as  the  vessel  was  going 
to  sail,  he  had  either  to  abandon  his  money  or  his  property.  The  Inspector 
took  the  case  before  Judge  Hogan,  and  asked  him  to  give  the  prisoner  an  ex- 
amination, and  he  did  it  right  then  and  there.  It  was  now  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  The  case  was  immediately  explained  at  the  District  Attorney's  office. 
That  official  ordered  an  officer  to  go  to  the  Tombs  and  bring  down  the  prisoner. 
The  indictment  was  drawn;  the  Inspector  took  the  prisoner  before  the  Grand 
Jury;  he  was  indicted,  tried  and  convicted,  and  as  the  clock  struck  twelve,  was 
sentenced  to  three  years  in  State  Prison.  The  boy  got  his  property,  and  sailed 
in  the  good  ship  Lady  Bohn  on  the  same  day. 

Inspector  Thorne  arrested  two  thieves  one  afternoon  at  the  corner  of 
Chambers  and  Chatham  Streets,  with  an  officer  who  had  been  wounded  and  was 
considerably  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  and  took  the  two  thieves  to  the 
station  on  suspicion  that  they  were  trying  to  rob  the  officer.  On  examining  the 
prisoners  at  the  station  house  there  were  found  on  one  of  them  a  watch  valued 
at  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  a  gold  chain  with  Masonic  emblems 
on  it.  The  property  was  advertised  very  largely,  but  no  owner  could  be 
found,  and  it  was  suspected  that  the  man  to  whom  the  watch  and  chain  had 
belonged  had  probably  been  made  away  with.  Meantime  it  was  ascertained 
that  one  of  the  emblems  attached  to  the  chain  belonged  to  a  Masonic  society. 
There  being  no  evidence  against  the  prisoners,  they  were  then  discharged.  The 
day  that  they  were  discharged  a  naval  officer  appeared  in  front  of  the  Police 
desk,  and  said  that  the  Inspector  had  his  watch,  and  the  man  described  it.  He 
said  he  had  been  off  on  a  China  station;  on  the  night  of  his  return  home  he  went 
to  the  Bowery  Theatre,  came  out  between  the  acts,  and  remembered  nothing 
after  that  until  he  awoke  the  next  morning,  and  found  himself  sitting  in  a 
doorway  with  his  property  and  money  all  gone.  When,  on  his  return,  he  went 
to  visit  his  Chapter  at  Philadelphia,  they  told  him  he  had  lost  his  mark  and 
his  watch,  and  that  Inspector  Thorne  had  the  property.  The  man  got  his 
watch  and  chain,  and  the  thieves  were  re-arrested,  and  were  sent  to  State  Prison 
for  five  years. 

While  Inspector  Thorne  was  Captain  in  the  Fourth  Precinct,  in  the  early 
part  of  1863,  a  sailor  came  in  and  threw  down  a  handkerchief  containing  twelve 
hundred  dollars  in  gold  on  the  desk,  and  said:    "I  want  you  to  keep  that  for 


346 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


me."  The  Inspector  took  the  money  and  gave  the  owner  a  receipt  for  it,  and 
told  him  to  come  when  he  was  sober  and  he  would  return  it  to  him.  The  sailor 
left,  and  not  returning,  a  search  was  made  by  the  Police  for  the  olJ  fellow.  He 
was  found  at  the  end  of  a  week  in  a  dance  house,  having  had  what  he  called  a 
good  time  of  it.  When  he  returned  to  the  station  house  he  said:  "  I  am  going 
home;  I  live  in  Sullivan  County.  The  last  fime  I  was  in  New  York  I  had  seven 
hundred  dollars,  and  I  was  cleaned  out  in  one  night.  I  have  had  all  the  fun  I 
wanted  now,  and  I  will  go  home  to  my  poor  old  mother  and  give  her  my  money." 
The  Inspector  advised  him  to  get  a  leather  belt  and  put  his  money  into  it.  He 
did  so  and  went  on  his  way  rejoicing.  About  a  fortnight  afterwards  a  man  was 
brought  into  the  station  house  so  drunk  that  it  was  thought  that  he  was  dead. 
On  looking  at  him  the  Inspector  recognized  his  old  friend,  the  sailor.  Upon 
opening  his  clothes  the  leather  belt  was  found  on  him  with  some  four  hundred 
dollars  in  it.  He  had  given  all  the  money  to  his  mother  with  the  exception  of 
that  sum. 

When  the  leading  agitators  of  the  trades  unions  called  a  mass  meeting  to 
convene  at  the  hall  of  the  Cooper  Institute  shortly  after  the  bloody  Cincinnati 
riots,  to  pass  resolutions  of  sympathy  with  those  rioters,  Inspector  Thorne,  who, 
in,  the  absence  of  Superintendent  Walling,  was  the  acting  Superintendent,  took 
such  prudent  precautions  in  suppressing  any  riotous  demonstrations,  that  the 
meeting  passed  over  without  any  breach  of  the  public  peace. 

Inspector  Thome's  death  took  place  unexpectedly  on  March  21,  1885.  He 
had  been,  as  usual,  attending  to  his  official  duties,  when  he  was  taken  suddenly 
ill,  and,  before  his  wife  could  liave  been  summoned,  he  breathed  his  last.  His 
funeral  was  largely  attended  by  contingents  from  the  Police  force,  private  per- 
sonal friends,  and  his  grief-stricken  family  and  sorrowing  relatives. 


The  vacancy  caused  by  his  death  was  filled  the  day  after  his  interment  by 
the  appointment  of  Captain  Steers  as  Inspector.  This  appointment  was  made 
solely  on  the  ground  of  merit,  in  recognition  of  the  services  of  a  brave  and 
efficient  officer.  Inspector  Steers'  appointment  was  made  provisional,  pending 
the  decision  of  the  question  whether  the  Civil  Service  rules  required  that  he 
should  be  subjected  to  an  examination,  which  he  subsequently  passed. 

The  Fifth  Precinct. — The  Fifth  Precinct  is  bounded  by  Warren  Street, 
west  track  of  the  West  Street  Railroad,  Canal  Street,  and  Broadway.  The  sta- 
tion house  is  at  Nos.  19  and  21  Leonard  Street.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the 
city,  and  was  originally  dwelling  houses.  The  chief  officers  of  the  command  are: 
Captain,  Joseph  B.  Eakins ;  and  Sergeants,  Miles  DeShays,  Patrick  H.  Doran, 
Edward  R.  Delamater  and  A.  J.  Thompson.  De  Shays  became  a  Policeman  in 
1862,  a  Roundsman  four  years  later,  and  was  made  Sergeant  next  year.  Doran's 
dates  are:  Patrolman  1864,  Roundsman  1869,  and  Sergeant  1873.  Delamater 
came  on  the  force  in  1862,  was  made  Roundsman  in  1864,  and  obtained  rank  in 
1868.  Thompson  is  the  senior  Sergeant.  He  donned  the  uniform  in  1859,  was 
made  Roundsman  in  1864,  and  was  promoted  to  his  present  rank  in  1866. 


OUR  PO/./CF,  PROTECTORS. 


347 


Captain  Joseph  B.  Eakins  is  less  heard  of  in  public  or  in  the  newsjjapers 
thaif  any  Captain  on  the  force,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he  is  in  command 
of  one  of  the  most  important  precincts  in  the  city,  which  includes  the  greater  part 
of  "the  dry  goods  district."  This  is  because  Captain  Eakins  is  a  very  modest 
man.  He  is  popular,  energetic,  and  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  official 
superiors.  His  dates  are:  Appointed  on  the  force,  March  i,  1866;  made 
Roundsman,  December  6,  1868  ;  a  Sergeant,  March  21,  1872  ;  and  was  promoted 
Captain  October  19,  1876. 

This  precinct  has  nineteen  day  posts  and  thirty-eight  night  posts.  Its  full 
complement  is  ninety-seven  men,  but  details  and  sickness  reduce  it  to  eighty  men. 
Edward  Handy  and  James  Dunn  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.     Thomas  P'oley 


is  detailed  to  special  night  duty  ;  Dcrmott  Farley  to  Ordinances  ;  Thomas  Gar- 
land, Frederick  Gilbert,  and  George  A.  Phillips  to  the  Chambers  Street  Ferry; 
T.  A.  Moore  to  the  Desbrosses  Street  Ferry  ;  Cornelius  Sullivan  to  West  Broad- 
way and  Chambers  Street,  one  of  the  worst  crossings  in  New  York  ;  Charles  S. 
Pike  to  the  Laight  Street  Depot;  Dennis  McCarthy  to  the  West  Street  cars,  to 
prevent  blockades  and  regulate  the  enormous  stream  of  traffic  there  ;  Thomas 
Carlin  to  squad  duty  ;  and  Antonio  Perazzo  to  the  Central  Office  on  confidential 
duty  as  Italian  interpreter  and  detective. 

As  an  illustration  of  what  a  fire,  getting  headway  in  this  command,  can 
do  in  the  way  of  depleting  the  pockets  of  underwriters,  take  the  remarkable 
conflagration  of  the  seventeenth  of  January,  1879,  when  business  interests  in 
Worth,  Thomas,  Duane,  Church,  and  Leonard  Streets  suffered  to  the  extent  of 


Captain  Joseph  B.  Eakins. 


348 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


one  million  nine  hundred  and  seventy-six  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  dollars  and  seventy-eight  cents.  Another  fire,  on  the  eleventh  of  April,  1875, 
at  Nos.  57  and  59'Worth  Street,  swept  away  property  worth  two  hundred  and 
forty-seven  thousand  dollars. 

In  a  mercantile  sense,  the  Fifth  Precinct  is  almost  as  important  as  the 
First  Precinct.  It  embraces  nearly  all  the  dry  goods  district — the  quarter  so 
dreaded  by  firemen — the  southern  terminus  and  depot  of  the  Hudson  River 
Railroad,  the  large  grocery  houses,  the  public  stores.  Chambers  Street  Hospital, 
much  of  the  produce  business,  and  several  bonded  warehouses.  At  one  time 
no  precinct  was  so  overrun  with  burglars  as  this,  and  some  of  the  depredations 
were  serious,  but  Captain  Eakins  has  been  singularly  fortunate  since  he  has 
been  here,  and  a  burglary  is  a  rare  occurrence.  The  annals  of  crime  in  this 
command  furnish  the  example  of  the  miserable,  hopeless  sot,  thief  and  vaga- 
bond, Jack  Reynolds,  and  his  idle  boast  "  Hanging  is  played  out."  Thanks  to 
Father  Duranquet,  before  Reynolds,  on  the  sixth  of  April,  1870,  met  his  fate 
for  murdering  the  poor  shoemaker  in  West  Broadway,  he  saw  his  error  and  died 
a  repentant  sinner. 

The  Eighth  Precinct. — The  Eighth  Precinct  is  bounded  by  Canal 
Street,  Broadway,  Houston  Street,  and  the  west  track  of  the  railroad  in  West 
Street.  The  station  house  at  No.  128  Prince  Street  covers  historical  ground, 
and  the  walls  enclose  old  structures.  One  was  a  watch-house,  and  the  other 
the  quarters  of  Engine  Company  No.  11,  Volunteer  Fire  Department,  of  which 
"  Jack  "  Wildey  was  foreman.  The  building  has  never  been  a  healthy  one,  and 
a  more  substantial  and  better  built  house  is  sorely  needed.  The  cells  under- 
ground are  dungeons,  both  damp  and  noisome.  The  officers  are  :  Captain, 
Charles  McDonnell  ;  and  Sergeants,  Thomas  H.  B.  Carpenter,  William  H. 
Chrystie,  Patrick  McNally  and  Frank  W.  Robb.  Carpenter  joined  the  force  in 
1 86 1,  was  Roundsman  in  1864,  and  was  promoted  next  year.  Chrystie  has 
been  a  Policeman  more  than  twenty  years;  he  became  Roundsman  in  1864,  and 
Sergeant  in  1867.  McNally  was  appointed  in  1864,  waited  six  years  to  be 
a  Roundsman,  and  some  years  later  attained  rank.  Robb's  dates  are:  Patrol- 
man 1866,  Roundsman  1869,  and  Sergeant  1870. 

Captain  McDonnell — "Lightning  Charley,"  of  the  Eighth  Precinct, 
was  born  at  No.  130  Anthony  (now  Worth  Street),  and  went  to  school  in  City 
Hall  Place.  At  a  very  early  age  he  tried  to  earn  his  own  living  by  selling  news- 
papers. The  late  sheriff,  Matthew  T.  Brennan,  Judge  Dowling,  and  other  promi- 
nent Democrats,  look  a  great  interest  in  the  young  lad  when  they  saw  that'  he 
was  so  industrious  and  bright,  and  he  was  appointed  to  the  Police  force  in 
January,  1863.  He  was  detailed  for  duty  to  the  old  Twenty-eighth  Precinct 
(now  part  of  the  Eighth),  under  Captain  Steers,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  Captain  to  the  Eighth  Precinct,  and  was 
shortly  afterwards  transferred  to  the  Twenty-eighth  Precinct.  While  here  a 
man  named  Sheridan  killed  a  German  in  a  mysterious  manner,  at  the  corner  of 
Thirty-seventh  Street  and  Second  Avenue,  and  within  two  hours  he  was  cap- 
tured by  "Lightning  Charley." 

He  also  was  instrumental  in  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  the  three  negroes, 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


349 


Thompson,  Ellis  and  Weston,  who  murdered  a  peddler  named  VVeisberg,  in 
Westc  hester  County.    The  three  negroes  were  hanged. 

A  man  named  Hamilton  murdered  his  mistress  in  Centre  Street  by  inflict- 
ing several  horrible  stab  wounds  on  her  head  and  body.  He  was  arrested  the 
same  evening  by  Captain  McDonnell. 

When  he  returned  to  the  Eighth  Prec:inct,  Capt.  McDonnell  made  a  vigorous 
war  on  the  several  dens  of  infamy  in  that  locality,  and  made  a  great  clearance 
of  them.  He  also  arrested  Hester  Jane  Haskins,  a  notorious  abductor  of  girls 
for  infamous  purposes. 

Charles  Augustus  Manning.  Henry  Williams,  and  George  Williams,  who 
burglarized  the  residence  of  Mr.  SewcU,  a  lawyer  of  West  Forty-fifth  Street, 


Captain  Charles  McDonnell. 


were  hunted  down  by  Captain  McDonnell  after  a  four  days'  search.  He  had 
them  arraigned  the  next  day,  and  the  day  after  they  were  each  of  them  sen- 
tenced to  eighteen  years  in  State  Prison. 

One  afternoon  a  poor  woman,  who  lived  in  South  Fifth  Avenue,  was 
discovered  murdered  and  lying  in  a  pool  of  blood  in  her  miserable  garret.  The 
Captain  put  his  wits  to  work,  and  that  very  night  arrested  her  unnatural  son, 
who  was  proved  afterwards  to  be  the  murderer. 

A  free  fight,  in  which  razors,  daggers,  and  pistols  were  used,  occurred  one 
Saturday  night  between  rival  negro  clubs.  After  great  difficulty  Capt.  McDonnell 
quelled  the  disturbance.  He  made  several  arrests,  and  among  others,  a  negro 
named  Saunders,  who  was  sent  to  State  Prison.  After  his  release  he  met  Capt. 
McDonnell  in  the  street,  and,  with  an  oath,  attacked  that  officer.    Several  other 


35° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


negroes  joined  in  the  assault  on  Capt.  McDonnell,  but  he  managed  to  keep  them 
at  bay  with  his  club  until  some  white  men  came  to  his  rescue. 

A  few  nights  after  the  shooting  of  Ned  O'Ealdwin,  the  Irisn  giant  and 
pugilist,  a  man  came  to  the  Police  station,  and  delivered  himself  up  to  Capt. 
McDonnell,  saying  that  it  was  no  use  to  conceal  anything  from  him,  as  he  (the 
Captain)  would  be  sure  to  find  the  murderer  out. 

A  very  amusing  occurrence  took  place  one  evening  while  the  Captain  was 
sitting  in  his  office.  The  door  was  suddenly  opened,  and  a  big  black  bear 
sauntered  slowly  in.  He  stood  on  his  hind  legs,  and  looked  wistfully  at  the 
Captain.    The  bear  belonged  to  an  Italian  who  was  under  arrest,  and  the 


Eighth  Precinct  Station  House,  128  Prince  Street. 

animal  had,  by  a  strange  coincidence,  strayed  in  as  if  in  search  of  his  master.  The 
bear  was  locked  up  in  the  cell  with  his  master,  to  the  great  delight  of  both. 

During  a  drunken  quarrel  at  57  Thompson  Street,  a  negro  named  "Jim" 
Jackson  killed  two  white  women.  He  was  arrested  and  convicted.  After  his 
release  from  prison  he  opened  a  disreputable  saloon  in  the  same  street.  Capt. 
McDonnell  made  a  raid  on  the  place.  Jackson  resisted  his  arrest  so  savagely 
that  he  had  to  be  clubbed  into  submission.  He  was  subsequently  convicted, 
and  sent  a  second  time  to  prison. 

This  precinct  has  nineteen  day  posts  and  thirty-six  night  posts.  The  quota 
of  men,  eighty-seven,  is  reduced  by  details  and  average  sickness  to  seventy-five. 


OUR  POLICE  J'ROI'ECTORS. 


35' 


Thomas  Moran  and  John  A.  Savercool  arc  the  Precinct  Detectives.  Augustus 
Brbwning  is  detailed  to  ordinance  duty,  and  Louis  McCord  to  Inspector  Mur- 
ray's office. 

The  Eighth  Precinct  takes  in  a  most  important  Broadway  front,  necessitat- 
ing unceasing  vigilance  to  jjrevent  burglaries;  hardly  less  important  interests  in 
Mercer,  Greene,  Wooster,  and  Canal  Streets,  and  South  Fifth  Avenue,  the  French 
colony,  the  bulk  of  the  colored  i)opulation,  the  Spring  Street  Market,  mercan- 
tile marine  interests  on  West  Street,  some  squalor,  less  iniquity  and  vice  than  in 
former  years,  and  the  homes  of  many  of  the  better  class  which  are  in  the  streets 
that  run  east  from  ^'arick  Street.  It  is  not  many  years  since  that  the  mantle  of 
the  "  Bloody  Si.\th  "  appeared  to  have  fallen  on  the  Eighth  Precinct  for  mighty 
risks,  immoral  resorts  which  made  one  street  a  by-name  for  vicious  negroes,  and 
resorts  for  sporting  men  and  i)oliticians,  notably  Mitchell's  at  the  corner  of 
Broadway  and  Houston  Street,  furnished  many  a  story  that  set  tongues  wagging. 
Now  nearly  all  has  changed.  The  district  has  been  so  far  as  is  possible  or  can 
be  reasonably  expected,  ])urged  of  the  vicious  classes,  the  resorts  have  moved 
up-town,  and  the  colored  element  is  under  control.  It  is  rare  that  any  event 
which  might  not  occur  in  the  best  regulated  jjrecinct  crops  u]),  ami  the  conuner- 
cial  and  mercantile  importance  of  the  district  is  increasing  daily.  The  dry 
goods  district  is  spreading  north  from  the  Fifth  Precinct,  and  at  no  time  within 
the  past  few  years  have  not  builders  been  at  work  erecting  substantial  rtores 
where  once  stood  frame  houses,  which,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  were  immoral 
resorts.  One  of  the  stirring  incidents  of  late  years  was  the  fall  of  the  old 
"  rookeries  "  at  Nos.  53  and  55  Grand  Street,  and  the  killing  of  eight  jjersons. 
On  the  first  of  February,  1883,  Pier  No.  36,  North  River,  used  by  the  Inman 
Line,  was  burned,  with  a  loss  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars.  A 
substantial  structure  replaces  it.  Fireman's  Hail,  in  Mercer  Street,  is  in  this 
precinct. 

The  Ninth  Precinxt. — The  boundaries  of  the  Ninth  Precinct  are 
Houston  Street,  Hancock  Street,  Bleecker  Street,  Carmine  Street,  Sixth  Avenue, 
Fourteenth  Street,  and  the  centre  line  of  Thirteenth  Avenue  and  Eleventh 
Street,  and  the  west  track  of  the  railroad  in  West  Street.  The  station  house  is 
at  No.  94  Charles  Street.  It  was  built  for  station  house  purposes,  but  it  has 
been  altered  and  repaired,  and  is  cramped  and  unhealthy,  and  the  cells  are 
underground.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  Theron  S.  Copeland;  and  Sergeants, 
John  A.  Croker,  John  Kellaher,  William  Porcher,  and  James  B.  Wilson.  Cro- 
ker  was  a  Policeman  in  1862,  a  Roundsman  four  years  later,  and  a  Sergeant  in 
1872.  Kellaher  joined  the  force  in  1861,  became  Roundsman  in  1874,  and  attained 
his  rank  in  1876.  Porcher  has  been  in  the  department  twenty-six  years.  He 
became  Roundsman  in  1865,  and  has  worn  a  Sergeant's  uniform  fourteen  years. 
Wilson  is  Porcher's  senior,  so  far  as  Police  duty  goes,  nine  months.  In  1862  he 
became  Roundsman,  and  three  years  later  was  promoted. 

Captain  Theron  S.  Copeland  was  born  in  Albany,  this  State,  in  i83i,and 
moved  to  New  York  City  in  1835.  He  was  appointed  a  Patrolman  in  1855,  and 
was  made  Roundsman  in  July,  1857;  was  promoted  to  the  next  rank  in  March, 
1858,  and  went  a  step  higher  in  October,  1862.    He  has  performed  duty  in  the 


352 


OUR  POLICE  PKOTKCTORS. 


Sixth,  Seventh,  Ninth,  Eleventh,  'I'hirteenth,  Twenty-second  and  Twenty-fifth 
Precincts.  By  reason  of  Captain  Copeland's  superior  knowledge  of  military 
tactics,  gained  by  serving  in  the  National  Guard  and  at  a  military  school,  he  was 
detailed  by  the  Police  Board  to  instruct  the  force  in  military  tactics.  For  this 
purpose  he  was  assigned  to  the  Central  Ofifice,  were  he  remained  for  a  period  of 
sixteen  years,  five  of  which  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  class  of  instruction,  and 
for  two  years  aid  to  the  Superintendent.  He  succeeded  so  well  in  this  branch 
of  the  service  that  when  the  draft  riots  occurred  in  July,  1863,  the  Police  force 
I  of  this  city,  by  their  knowledge  of  military  tactics  and  discipline,  were  able  to 
meet  and  overcome  the  rioters,  who  outnumbered  them  a  hundred  to  one,  and 
earned  for  themselves  a  world-wide  renown.    Captain  Copeland  has  participated 


Captain  Thereon  S.  Copeland. 


in  nearly  all  of  the  prominent  Police  events  that  have  taken  place  since  he  joined 
the  force.  In  recognition  of  his  services  in  the  draft  riots  the  Police  Board 
awarded  him  special  honorable  mention,  a  like  distinction  being  bestowed  on  1iini 
by  the  Board  for  the  part  he  took  in  the  Orange  riots  of  187 1.  In  1862  he  was 
sent  in  command  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  officers  and  men  to  Riker's  Island, 
to  quell  a  mutiny  that  had  broken  out  among  a  large  crowd  of  men  who  were 
quartered  there.  He  was  also  sent  in  command  of  fifty  men  to  (juell  a  similar 
disturbance  at  Camp  Washington,  Staten  Island,  and  subsequently  to  Tarrytown 
to  suppress  rioting  while  men  were  being  drafted  for  the  war.  On  the  application 
of  General  Bowen,  Captain  Copeland  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  mili- 
tary service  as  Adjutant,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  Second  Metropolitan 
Regiment  (One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  New  York  Volunteers),  a  duty  which 


OUR  ro /./(•/■:  PRorECTOR^i. 


353 


was  performed  in  thirty  days.  The  regiment  proved  to  he  one  of  the  best  in  the 
h^vice,  many  of  the  ex-members  of  the  Police  force  serving  in  its  ranks.  Cap- 
tain Copeland  has  made  a  number  of  important  arrests,  and  has  been  several 
times  injured  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty. 

There  are  seventeen  day  and  thirty-four  night  posts  in  this  precinct.  The 
force  is  eighty-seven  men,  reduced  to  about  sixty-eight  by  sickness  and  details. 
John  Flanagan  and  James  B.  Ayers  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  The  detailed 
men  are:  A.  M.  De  Nyse,  Christopher  Street  Ferry;  Charles  E.  Bush,  Jefferson 
Market;  Robert  W.  Pitcairn,  Corporation  Ordinances  ;  and  Robert  Kelly, 
Special  Duty. 

The  Ninth  Precinct  was  at  one  time  the  stronghokl  of  the  native  .Ameri- 
cans. To-day  more  people  of  the  middle  class  own  or  occupy  their  own  houses, 
tlespite  the  tendency  to  coalesce,  or  herd  in  flat,  apartment  or  tenement  houses, 
than  in  any  other  precinct.  Its  streets  are  cpiiet,  cobble-stoned;  and  its  inicjui- 
ties,  according  to  the  Police  record,  few.  It  guanls  the  Jefferson  Market, 
Police  Court  and  Prison,  which  are  of  the  few  architectural  ornaments  of  the 
city.  Gansevoort  Market,  which  within  a  year  will  be  one  of  the  most  im])ort- 
ant  markets  for  provisions  in  the  city,  Sl  Vincent's  Hospital,  and  a  section  of 
upper-tendom  in  West  Fourteenth  Street.  Its  West  Street  front  embraces  im- 
portant interests,  and  within  its  boundaries  are  the  walls  of  the  old  State 
Prison.    Few  events  of  magnitude  occur  here. 

The  Fifteenth  Precin'ct. — The  P"ifteenth  Precinct's  boundaries  are  : 
the  Bowery,  Fourth  Avenue,  Fourteenth  Street,  Si.xth  Avenue,  Carmine  Street, 
Bleecker  Street,  Hancock  Street,  Houston  Street,  Broadway  and  Bleecker 
Street.  The  station  house  is  at  Nos.  251  and  253  Mercer  Street,  which  were 
dwelling  houses  turned  into  a  station  house,  when  the  station  house  was  in 
.\mbrose  H.  Kingsland's  stable  opposite.  This  stable  was  the  quarters  of 
Engine  Company  No.  4,  of  which  Excise  Commissioner  John  J.  Morris  was 
foreman;  and  it  afterwards  became  the  quarters  of  Engine  Company  No.  33, 
afterwards  moved  to  Great  Jones  Street.  The  building  is  in  fair  order,  and 
has  a  separate  prison.  The  officers  are  :  Captain,  John  J.  Brogan  ;  and  Ser- 
geants, Donald  Grant,  James  J.  Brophy,  Joseph  Douglas,  and  John  J.  Thomp- 
son. Grant's  dates  are:  Patrolman  1876,  Roundsman  1877,  and  Sergeant  1880. 
Brophy  went  on  the  force  in  187 1,  was  Roundsman  in  1876,  and  he  got  his 
rank  two  years  later.  Douglas  became  Patrolman  1868,  Roundsman  1870,  and 
Sergeant  the  same  year.  Thompson,  the  senior  Sergeant,  was  appointed  in 
i860,  and  waited  seventeen  years  to  be  Roundsman;  four  years  after  this  he 
was  promoted. 

Captain  John  J.  Brogan,  of  the  Fifteenth  Precinct,  is  a  New  Yorker,  and 
was  born  in  the  year  1844.  While  at  school  he  generally  occupied  himself  with 
drawing  on  the  black  board  deeds  of  chivalry  and  heroism,  for  which  breach  of 
discipline  he  often  received  a  flogging  from  his  schoolmaster.  He  was  appren- 
ticed at  an  early  age  to  the  theatrical  scene  painting  trade,  but  he  disliked  the 
business,  his  physical  organization  demanding  a  more  active  occupation.  Ac- 
cordingly, when  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  joined  the  Police  force,  and 
was  sent  to  the  Second  Precinct. 


354 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Captain  Brogan  was  only  a  fortnight  on  the  force  when  he  made  his  first 
arrest,  or  rather  arrests,  for  there  were  two  burglars  engaged  in  the  robbery.  As 
he  was  on  his  beat  in  Maiden  Lane,  he  noticed  the  door  of  a  f>ir  store  open. 
He  waited  and  watched.  Soon  two  desperadoes  made  their  appearance,  loaded 
with  goods.  One  of  them,  as  soon  as  he  saw  Brogan,  laid  down  his  plunder 
and  struck  at  him  with  a  jimmy.  Brogan  put  up  his  arm  to  guard  the  blow, 
but  the  jimmy  broke  one  of  his  fingers.  He,  however,  secured  his  men.  They 
were  Tom  Harris  and  Michael  Galvin.  They  were  convicted,  and  sent  to 
State  Prison. 

Soon  after  this,  while  the  remains  of  the  murdered  President  Lincoln  were 
lying  in  City  Hall,  Brogan  observed  a  well-known  thief  named  Williams  picking 


Captain  John  J.  Brogan. 

pockets  in  the  crowd.  Brogan  approached  the  ruffian,  who  fled  and  was 
followed  by  the  officer  as  far  as  the  corner  of  C:hatham  and  William  Streets. 
There  Brogan  shot  him  in  the  leg,  and  the  thief,  not  being  able  to  go  any  further, 
was  arrested. 

In  1867,  while  Officer  Brogan  was  doing  Detective  duty  at  Staten  Island,  a 
society  called  the  Ancient  Order  of  Good  Fellows  gave  a  pic-nic  on  a  Sunday 
in  that  place,  and  insisted  on  having  all  the  refreshments  they  required.  On 
some  of  the  saloon  keepers  refusing  to  supply  them,  a  riot  ensued,  but  was  very 
(juickly  (juelled,  owing  to  the  foresight  and  determination  of  Detective  Brogan. 

While  in  the  Sixth  Precinct  Captain  Brogan  made  the  arrest  of  a  very 
tough  character  named  "Country"  Nolan,  who  was  trying  to  rob  an  old  gentle- 
man in  Donovan's  Lane,  behind  Ba.\ter  Street.     A  desperate  encounter  took 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


355 


place  between  Nolan  and  the  offic  er,  hut  the  robber  at  last  was  overcome.  He 
was  sent  to  Sing  Sing. 

(leorge  Smith,  a  negro,  shot  and  killed  his  paramour,  a  while  woman,  in 
r  1879.    .After  the  murder  Smith  tried  to  conceal  himself  among  the  colored  folks 
in  the  Eighth  Ward,  and  afterwards  went  on  board  of  a  vessel  bound  south.  He, 


Fifteenth  Precinct  Station  House,  251  Mercer  Street. 


however,  could  not  escape  Captain  Brogan's  vigilance.  As  the  vessel  was  about 
to  sail,  that  officer  went  quietly  on  board  and  arrested  his  man. 

He  was  made  Captain  in  September,  1878,  and  was  ])laced  in  charge  of  the 
Fourteenth  Precinct.  He  was  shortly  afterwards  transferred  to  the  Fifteenth, 
where  he  is  at  present  stationed. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  year  1880  Captain  Brogan  and  Detective  Crowley 
saw  four  men  enter  the  store  of  James  McCreery     Company,  at  the  corner  of 


356 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Eleventh  Street  and  Broadway.  The  Captain  and  Detective  followed  them;  and 
a  regular  fiisilade  was  opened  on  both  sides.  Two  of  the  burglars  were  wounded. 
Their  names  were  Tommy  Fay,  Dutch  Fred,  Tom  Maypother,  and  John  Brown 
alias  Turk.    They  were  sent  to  State  Prison  for  five  years  each. 

Soon  after  this  a  Sergeant  of  the  regular  army  shot  and  killed  a  boy  at 
Albany.  The  Sergeant  fled,  but  Capt.  Brogan  succeeded  in  finding  him  in  this 
city. 

But  the  most  important  achievement  of  Capt.  Brogan's  Police  service  was 
the  capture  and  conviction  of  the  notorious  Mrs.  Johnson,  a  Swede,  who  used 
to  induce  young  girls  to  emigrate,  and  when  they  landed  at  Castle  Garden,  she 
took  possession  of  them  body  and  soul. 

This  precinct  has  sixteen  day  and  thirty-two  night  posts.  Eighty-one  men  are 
on  the  roll,  but  about  sixty-seven  do  duty,  sickness  and  details  reducing  the 
effective  force.  The  Precinct  Detectives  are  William  Warren  and  Thomas 
Reynolds.  The  detailed  men  are  Manuel  A.  White,  Juvenile  Asylum;  Edward 
Gilgar,  Ordinances;  John  J.  Farley.  Clinton  Place  and  Sixth  Avenue;  John  Fogarty 
Fifth  Avenue  and  Fourteenth  Street;  John  Cunningham,  St.  Joseph's  Home; 
James  McAdam,  Fourteenth  Street  and  University  Place;  and  Benjamin  Tesaro, 
Detective  and  Interpreter's  duty  at  Police  Headquarters'  Detective  Bureau. 

People  of  every  condition  are  under  the  protection  or  serveillance  of  the 
Fifteenth  Precinct.  Wooster  Street  has  its  dissolute  negroes,  Fifth  Avenue  its 
aristocrats,  Minetta  Lane  and  Bleecker  Street  their  negroes,  Waverley  Place 
and  Clinton  Place  their  boarding  houses,  Broadway,  Fourteenth  Street  and  Sixth 
Avenue  their  tradesmen.  There  is  a  little  of  everything  in  this  precinct,  but  it  is 
principally  occupied  by  either  the  respectable  or  the  wealthy  classes.  In 
this  command  are  the  Star  Theatre  and  the  Union  Square  Theatre, 
Washington  Park,  and  Grace  Church,  some  of  the  finest  stores  in  the  city, 
among  them  the  Stewart  Building,  the  University  Building,  the  Excise  Office,  the 
Bleecker  Street  Savings  Bank — one  of  the  richest  institutions  of  the  kind  in  the 
world,  the  Astor  and  Mercantile  Libraries,  the  Mission  of  the  Immaculate 
Virgin,  the  Brevoort  House,  Grand  Central,  New  York  and  other  hotels,  and 
Society  Library.  Such  a  precinct  requires  and  possesses  a  circumspect  body  of 
Police,  equal  to  any  emergency,  and  it  is  daily  mentioned  in  the  press  as  having 
furnished  at  the  Jefferson  Market,  or  Police  Headquarters,  or  the  Coroner's  office, 
some  tale  of  interest.  The  most  stirring  incidents  of  the  past  few  years  are  the 
killing  of  James  Fisk,  Jr.,  by  Edward  S.  Stokes  at  the  Grand  Central  Hotel  twelve 
years  ago;  the  burglary  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  October,  1878,  by  which  the 
Manhattan  Savings  Institution  lost  two  million  seven  hundred  and  forty-seven 
thousand  seven  hundred  dollars,  in  money  and  securities,  and  the  burning,  on  the 
sixth  of  March,  1877,  of  Jewelers  Hall,  Nos.  1,3  and  5  Bond  Street,  where  six  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars'  worth  of  property  was  destroyed.  Inspectors  Byrnes, 
Murray  and  Dilks  were  graduated  from  this  command. 

The  Sixtkknth  Precinct. — The  Sixteenth  Precinct  is  almost  a  parallelo- 
gram, whose  sides  are  Fourteenth  Street,  Seventh  Avenue,  Twenty-seventh  Street, 
and  the  North  River.  The  station  house,  at  No.  230  West  Twentieth  Street,  is  a 
very  old  one,  constructed  out  of  a  dwelling  house.    It  is  snug  and  healthy,  but 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


357 


the  cells  are  underground,  and  an  extra  story  was  added  to  the  building  seventeen 
years  ago.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  John  McEhvain;  and  Sergeants,  Daniel 
Pofhanius,  William  Blair,  James  Lonsdale  and  Oliver  H.  Tims.  Folhanuis 
was  a  Patrolman  in  1861,  a  Roundsman  in  1865,  and  a  Sergeant  in  1867.  Blair, 
the  senior  Sergeant,  joined  the  force  in  1858,  was  made  Roundsman  in  1863,  anti 
was  promoted  the  next  year.  Lonsdale  was  appointed  in  1862,  became  Rounds- 
man six  years  later,  and  got  rank  in  1869.  The  dates  of  Tims  are:  Patrol- 
man 1866,  Roundsman  1870,  and  Sergeant  1872. 

Cap  I  AIN  John  McElvvain,  of  the  Sixteenth  Precinct,  was  born  in  New  York 
in  November,  1831.  His  parents  were  well  off,  and  he  received  a  thoroughly 
good  education.  He  served  his  time  to  the  jewelry  business,  and  worked  in  one 
employment  for  several  years.  He  joincil  the  force  on  the  second  of  Septem- 
ber, 1872,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Fifteenth  Precinct.  During  his  stay  here  the 
draft  riots  broke  out,  and  he  took  an  active  part  in  (pielling  the  disturbance. 
l'"()r  his  conduct  in  these  riots  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Roundsman,  and 
was  transferred  to  the  Twenty-first,  and  afterwards  to  the  Seventeenth.  While 
here  he  was  made  Sergeant,  and  transferred  to  the  Eleventh.  He  was  after- 
wards successively  stationed  at  the  Twenty-third,  Eighteenth,  and  Twenty-ninth. 
He  was  made  Captain  in  September,  1872,  and  went  to  the  Twenty-first.  He 
was  then  transferred  to  the  Twentieth,  then  returned  to  the  Twenty-first,  then  to 
the  Twenty-third.  He  went  back  again  to  the  Twenty-first,  then  to  the  Seventh, 
and  finally  to  the  Sixteenth. 

C'aptain  McElwain  is  an  experienced,  slircwd  officer.  It  is  said  that  he  can 
toll  a  thief  at  the  first  glance. 

He  arrested  Scannel  for  the  murder  of  Thomas  Donoghue,  at  Apollo  Hall, 
November  29,  1872,  for  which  he  was  presented  with  an  elegant  gold  medal  by 
the  Commissioners.  The  medal  is  inscribed  with  the  names  of  B.  F.  Manierre, 
Thomas  Bosworth,  Thomas  J.  Barr,  and  A.  Oakey  Hall. 

During  his  Captaincy  of  the  Twentieth  Precinct  he  was  instrumental  in 
obtaining  convictions  which  amounted  in  the  aggregate  to  three  hundred  and 
twenty-three  years. 

Minnie  Davis,  the  notorious  fire  bug,  was  also  arrested  by  him,  as  also 
George  West  alias  Davis,  who,  four  days  after  his  capture,  was  amusing  himself 
breaking  stones  in  Sing  Sing  Prison. 

Captain  McElwain  was  complimented  by  Commissioner  Acton,  in  his  annual 
report  to  the  legislature,  for  his  action  in  quelling  a  disturbance  raised  by  the 
Live  Oak  Volunteers,  who  were  on  an  excursion  to  Astoria.  The  Volunteers 
went  about  that  town  ransacking  it,  and  terrifying  the  inhabitants.  There  were 
only  a  few  men  at  the  station  house  when  this  intelligence  arrived,  but  Captain 
McElwain  decided  on  at  once  going  to  Astoria.  He  concealed  himself  and  his 
men  in  the  ferryboat  until  its  arrival  at  that  place.  He  then  suddenly 
precipitated  himself  on  the  rioters,  and,  after  a  severe  struggle,  arrested  the 
ringleaders. 

While  Captain  McElwain  was  one  day  pursuing  the  notorious  cart  thief,  Wil- 
son, he  was  attacked  by  W'ilson,  and  both  fell  to  the  ground.  After  a  fearful 
struggle,  Wilson,  however,  went  under,  and  was  taken  to  the  Police  station. 


358 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


During  his  Captaincy  of  the  Twentieth  Precinct,the  citizens  presented  Cap- 
tain McElwain  with  a  very  complimentary  testimonial. 

Galvin  and  McGinn,  who  knocked  down  and  robbed  Mr.  Hanks,  the 
jeweler,  were  also  arrested  by  Captain  McElwain.  This  was  considered  a  very 
clever  capture,  as  there  was  no  clue  whatever  at  the  time  to  the  perpetrators  of 
the  outrage.  The  Captain,  for  this,  w-as  publicly  complimented  by  Recorder 
Hackett  from  the  Bench. 

"  Fagan,"  whose  proper  name  is  Isaac  Lycres,  was  a  notorious  receiver  of 
stolen  goods.  He  was  so  adroit  at  his  work  that  it  was  very  difificult  for  the 
Police  to  get  at  him.  Captain  McElwain  worked  up  the  case  so  well  that  he 
managed  to  secure  "Fagan  "  and  recover  thousands  of  dollars'  worth  of  goods. 


Captain  John  McElwain. 

This  precinct  has  eighteen  day  and  twenty-eight  night  posts.  Its  full  force 
is  seventy-three  men,  but  the  average  of  them  doing  full  duty  is  sixty-two. 
Adolph  Schmidt  and  Richard  Wilson  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  The  detailed 
officers  are:  John  Ferguson,  Truancy;  Richard  Flynn,  Ordinances;  Patrick'W. 
Vallely,  Twenty-third  Street  Ferry. 

The  Sixteenth  Precinct  Police  have  to  deal  with  both  rich  and  poor,  from 
those  who  inhabit  the  fine  residences  in  West  Fourteenth  Street  to  those  who 
lounge  about  the  lumber  yards  of  the  North  River  front,  which  represents 
three-quarters  of  the  lumber  interest  of  New  York.  It  has  the  Twenty-third 
Street  Ferry,  the  Grand  Opera  House,  the  baths  and  flat  houses  in 
West  Twenty-third  Street,  and  the  tradesmen  of  Seventh  and  Eighth 
Avenues.    The  most  stirring  event  of  late  years  within  its  boundaries  was  the 


OUR  POIJCF  PROTECTORS. 


359 


Orange  riots  of  1873,  and  the  firing  of  the  military  in  Eighth  Avenue,  near 
Twenty-third  Street.  A  score  of  persons  were  killed  outright,  and  it  is  esti- 
mated that  as  many  more  died  afterwards.  The  bodies  of  those  that  fell  in 
the  streets  were  transported  to  the  station  house,  and  laid  out  in  the  basement. 
Old  officers  of  the  command  yet  remember  the  wails  that  were  uttered  by  those 
who  came  to  claim  their  dead.  Another  tragic  event  was  the  shooting,  at  the 
Vienna  Flats,  No.  341  West  Twenty-third  Street,  of  W.  H.  Haverstick  by 
(ieorge  W.  Conkling,  brother  of  Mrs.  Uhler,  with  whom  Haverstick  jived  in 
defiance  of  decency.  This  occurred  March  19,  1883.  Since  then  Conkling  died 
out  West,  and  Mrs.  Uhler  poisoned  herself.  Another  mysterious  occurrence 
was  the  killing,  in  the  grounds  of  the  Protestant  Epi.scopal  General  Theological 
Seminary,  at  Twentieth  Street  and  Ninth  Avenue,  on  the  morning  of  July  4, 
1879,  of  John  F.  Seymour,  of  Bishop  Seymour's  family.    He  was  walking  in 


Twentieth  Precinct  Police  Station,  434  West  Thirty-seventh  Street, 
the  grounds  and  was,  it  is  supposed,  killed  by  a  small  bullet  discharged  from  a 
boy's  toy  pistol  or  rifle. 

The  Twentieth  Precinct. — The  Twentieth  Precinct  begins  at  Twenty- 
seventh  Street,  goes  along  Seventh  Avenue,  and  runs  to  Forty-second  Street  and 
the  North  River.  The  station  house  is  at  Nos.  434  and  436  West  Thirty- 
seventh  Street.  When  it  was  built,  fourteen  years  ago,  it  was  considered  a  vast 
improvement  on  any  other  that  e.xisted.  It  has  a  separate  prison,  and  is  so  well 
looked  after  as  to  be  always  wholesome  and  healthy.  The  officers  are:  Captain, 
George  Washburn;  and  Sergeants,  Andrew  J.  Thomas,  William  F. Devery,  George 
H.  Havens  and  Stephen  E.  Brown.  Thomas  has  been  on  the  force  twelve 
years.  He  was  made  Sergeant  last  year  after  doing  seven  months'  duty  as 
Roundsman.  Devery's  dates  are:  Patrolman  1878,  Roundsman  1881,  and 
Sergeant  1884.  Havens'  are:  Patrolman  in  1861,  Roundsman  in  1863,  and 
Sergeant  in  1866.  Brown  was  appointed  in  1868,  was  made  Roundsman  in 
1870,  and  three  years  later  obtained  promotion. 


360 


OlIR  POLfCF.  I'RO'J'ECTORS. 


Captain  Washburn  was  born  on  the  ninth  of  June,  1826,  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  At  the  age  of  four  years  his  parents  moved  to  Sing  Sing,  where  lie 
resided  until  he  was-  fifteen  years  old.  He  traveled  round  the  world  for  four 
years,  having  served  alternately  as  sailor  and  soldier.  In  February,  1858,  he 
was  appointed  on  the  Police,  where  he  served  until  August,  1862,  when  he  joined 
the  Metropolitan  Regiment  as  First  Lieutenant.  After  one  year's  service  he 
was  promoted  Captain,  and  fifteen  months  later  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  Major, 
which  position  he  retained  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  served  under  General 
Banks  and  General  Sheridan.  Upon  returning  from  the  war  he  was  re-appoint- 
ed a  Patrolman,  and  five  days  later  he  was  promoted  Roundsman,  and  within 
a  week  from  that  date  he  was  mad  ■  a  Sergeant,  that  btringhis  rank  on  the  Police 


Captain  George  Washburn. 

force  when  he  resigned  to  go  to  the  w;.r.  After  serving  as  a  Sergeant  for  three 
years  he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  Captain.  He  took  part  in  the  Orange  riot, 
and  was  on  that  day  second  in  command,  under  Capiain  Walling. 

This  precinct  has  thirteen  d:iy  and  twenty-eight  night  posts.  Its  full  force 
is  seventy-eight  men,  from  which  an  nverage  of  seventeen  should  be  deducted 
for  sickness  and  details.  Stey)hen  Carmirk  and  Matthew  McConnell  are  the 
Precinct  Detectives.  John  W.  King  on  Ordinances;  and  john  Mur])hv  to  the 
Offal  Dock. 

In  the  Twentieth  Precinct  there  are  few  j)ublic  buildings  of  any  note.  It  has  a 
busy  water  front,  crowded  with  repulsive  industries,  such  as  hog  and  cattle  abat- 
toirs. The  offal  dock,  and  the  terminus  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  Depot  make 
constant  traffic  along  grimy  Eleventh  Avenue.    Within  the  precinct  limits  are  the 


(H'R  rOIJCE  PROIFx  rORS. 


361 


Institution  for  the  Blind,  Manhattan  Market,  the  West  Shore  depot  and  ferry, 
lafge  gasworks,  "  Battle  Row  "  and  "  Hell's  Kitchen,"  the  resort  of  the  depraved 
adults  of  both  sexes,  and  a  hundred  other  dwelling  places  of  the  New  York 
hoodlum,  who  only  exists  in  this  district.  The  "  Tenth  Avenue  Gang  "  is  what  they 
are  wrongly  called.  They  belong  to  all  parts  of  the  city,  but  this  is  their  stronghold, 
and  their  plunder  is  from  the  freight  cars  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad.  This 
precinct  has  furnished  more  frightful  examples  of  juvenile  depravity  than  all  the 
other  precincts  together  since  1870.  One  of  the  leaders  of  the  gang  was 
"Dutch"  Harmon,  a  Clerman  freight  car  thief.  On  the  sixth  of  February,  1874, 
he  was  planning  a  depredation,  when  he  was  surprised  by  Roimdsman  Stejihen 
Carmick,  and  escaped  after  firing  at  the  officer.  On  the  eighteenth  of  that  month 
Nicholas  Schweich,  a  Hudson  River  Railroad  watchman,  was  murdered  at  his 
post  because  he  interfered  with  thieves  who  were  rol)l)ing  a  freight  car.  The 
police  say  positively  that  the  murder  was  committed  by  Harmon,  or  an  associate 
named  Dougherty.  Harmon  was  sought  for,  and  Officer  Patrick  Lahcy,  on  the 
twenty-second  of  February,  1874,  believed  that  he  had  cornered  Harmon  at  No. 
530  West  Twenty-ninth  Street,  and  fired  a  shot  though  the  door,  supposing  Har- 
mon had  his  back  to  it.  The  shot  killed  an  innocent  man  named  McNamara, 
and  Harmon  was  not  in  the  house.  He  was  caught  nine  days  later,  but  could 
not  be  convicted  for  the  murder  of  the  watchman.  Since  then  he  has  served 
two  terms  in  prison,  and  broke  his  leg  in  this  city  while  escaping  out  of  a  hack  at 
Fulton  Street.    In  the  hack  were  silks  stolen  from  a  factory  at  Union  Hill,  N.  J. 

The  Twenty-fifth  Precinct. — The  Twenty-fifth  Precinct  or  Broadway 
Squad's  daily  territory  is  Broadway  from  Bowling  Green  to  Thirty-fourth 
Street.  The  station  house  is  at  No.  34  East  Twenty-ninth  Street,  where  are 
the  quarters  of  the  Second  Inspection  District.  The  building  is  private  prop- 
erty, owned  by  the  Goelet  estate,  and  was  not  erected  for  Police  purposes,  but 
transformed  into  a  station  house  thirty-seven  years  ago,  when  the  Eighteenth 
Precinct  had  its  headquarters  there.  It  was  aftenvards  the  Twenty-first  Pre- 
cinct Station  House  and  the  Twenty-ninth  Precinct  Station  House.  .\ 
prison  was  added  in  1877.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  Ira  S.  Garland;  Sergeants, 
Washington  T.  Devoe  whose  dates  are:  Patrolman  1861,  Roundsman  1872,  and 
Sergeant  1873,  William  H.  Lefferts,  who  was  a  Patrolman  prior  to  1857,  and 
passing  the  grade  of  Roundsman,  was  promoted  in  1858. 

Captain  Ira  S.  Garland,  in  command  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Precinct,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  October  7,  1830.  AVhen  a  small  boy  his 
parents  removed  to  Sherburne,  Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  when  the  boy  was 
placed  in  the  public  school.  Having  arrived  at  man's  estate,  he  came  to  this 
city,  and  shipped  in  the  Merchant  Marine  service.  He  followed  the  sea  for 
eight  years,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  mate. 

On  April  21,  1858,  he  was  appointed  a  Patrolman  of  the  Metropolitan  Po- 
lice, and  was  assigned  to  the  Harbor  Police  on  May  22,  i860.  Six  days  after- 
wards he  distinguished  himself  by  an  act  of  bravery  which  gained  for  him 
honorable  mention  by  the  Board  of  Police,  "for  gallant  conduct  in  repressing  a 
mutiny  on  board  of  the  ship  R.  F.  Starer." 

Captain  Garland  was  promoted  to  the  grade  of  Roundsman  in  i860,  aixd  to 


362 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Sergeant  in  1862.  He  was  then  assigned  to  the  Fifth  Precinct,  and  was  sub- 
sequently transferred  to  the  Second  Precinct  (Jefferson  Market  Police  Court), 
where  he  was  placed  in  command,  and  there  remained  until  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Captain,  on  March  4,  1867,  when  he  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Fourteenth  Precinct.  He  served  alternately  in  the  following  precincts: 
First,  Seventh,  Eleventh,  Twelfth,  Eighteenth,  old  Twenty-eighth,  and  Thirtieth. 
He  was  transferred  to  the  Twenty-fifth  Precinct  on  October  3,  1876,  where  he  is 
at  present  in  command. 

While  in  command  of  the  old  Twenty-eighth,  Captain  Garland  arrested 
William  J.  Sharkey  for  the  murder  of  Robert  Dunn  alias  "Bob"  Isaacs.  Shar- 
key, who  was  convicted,  escaped  from  the  Tombs  while  under  sentence  of  death, 


Captain  Ira  S.  Garland. 


aided  by  Maggie  Jourdan,  in  whose  clothes  he  had  concealed  his  identity,  and 
so  eluded  the  vigilance  of  his  keepers. 

Aided  by  Detective  Sergeant  Von  Gerichten,  he  arrested  Hugh  Bogan, 
and  William  and  Nellie  Wilsey,  for  the  bold  robbery  in  the  day  time  of  Mrs. 
Hardy,  in  her  house  at  Varick  and  Broome  Street-s,  whom  they  tortured  by  burn- 
ing her  feet  with  a  hot  iron  to  make  her  divulge  the  place  where  she  had  her 
jewelry  concealed.  They  were  convicted  and  sentenced  to  State  Prison.  He 
also  arrested,  on  December  22,  1883,  at  Thirty-fourth  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue, 
a  German  named  Frederick  A.  Hartman,  who  had  shot  and  wounded  Augustus 
Gardiner,  a  watchman  at  the  A.  T.  Stewart  mansion.  Hartman  resisted  arrest, 
and  acted  like  a  man  bereft  of  his  reason.  He  committed  suicide  on  January 
8,  1884,  in  the  Tombs  Prison,  by  hanging  himself  in  his  cell. 


OUR  rOl.lCF.  rROTECTORS. 


This  precinct  has  forty  day  posts.  No  night  duty  is  done  l)y  its  members, 
wfio  are  required  to  he  tall  and  stalwart.  The  muster  roll  of  the  command  is 
forty-five,  but  there  are  generally  four  or  five  men  sick.  The  Precinct  Detective 
is  Thomas  McCormack.  The  duty  of  the  Patrolmen  of  the  Broadway  Scpiad 
lies  along  the  line  of  Broadway.  At  night  their  posts  are  covered  by  the  officers 
of  the  precincts  which  Broadway  passes  through  or  divides. 

The  Twkntv-Seventh  Precinct. — The  Twenty-seventli  Precinct  is 
bounded  by  Warren  Street,  Broadway,  Battery  Place,  Pier  i  North  River,  and 
the  west  track  of  the  railroad  in  West  Street.  The  station  house  is  at  No.  35 
New  Church  Street.  Formerly  the  building  faced  on  Liberty  Street,  bu-t  th< 
extension  of  Church  Street  cut  a  good  lot  off  the  station  house,  and,  in  1870, 


Architect  Bush  reconstructed  the  station  house,  and  made  it  almost  a  modern  one. 
The  cells  for  prisoners  are  partly  underground.  The  officers  are:  Ca])tain, 
William  C.  F.  Berghold;  and  Sergeants,  Thomas  E.  Wiilard,  Richard  Welch, 
Edward  Muret,  and  Thomas  ReiHy.  Wiilard  was  a  Patrolman  in  1866,  a 
Roundsman  in  1875,  ^"^^  ^  Sergeant  in  1876.  Welch's  dates  are:  Patrolman 
1858,  Roundsman  1869,  and  Sergeant  1870.  Muret  joined  the  force  in  1873, 
became  Roundsman  1876,  and  was  promoted  in  1880.  Reilly  was  api)ointed 
in  1866,  waited  five  years  to  be  a  Roundsman,  and  won  rank  in  1872. 

Capt.ain  William  C.  F.  Berghold  was  born  in  the  year  1838.  Rejoined  the 
Police  force  in  1864,  and  was  made  a  Roundsman  five  years  later.  In  1870  he 
was  made  Sergeant,  and  Captain  in  1878.  While  he  served  in  the  Eleventh  Pre- 
cinct he  had  a  number  of  criminals  arrested  and  sent  to  State  Prison.    He  was 


Captain  William  C.  F.  Berghold. 


364 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


sent  to  Staten  Island  in  1866,  when  a  disturbance  was  expected  in  consequence 
of  a  factory  having  been  seized  and  turned  into  an  hospital.  In  1868,  when  there 
was  some  misunderstanding  between  the  German  and  Irish  emigrants  on  Ward's 
Island,  he  was  sent  to  that  place,  and  his  coolness  and  determination  of  charac- 
ter won  for  him  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  two  nationalities  who  were 
inclined  to  be  mutinous. 

This  precinct  has  eighteen  day  and  thirty-si.x  night  posts.  Its  quota  of 
ninety-two  men  is  reduced  about  twenty  by  sickness  and  details.  The  Precinct 
Detectives  are  Thomas  Mulvey  and  William  Flynn.  The  detailed  officers  are: 
Michael  J.  Hockey,  Ordinances;  Thomas  Fay,  West  Street;  Matthew  Looram, 
Vesey  Street  ;  Thomas  Dennin,  Courtlandt  Street  Ferry;  George  Archer, 
Liberty  Street  Ferry;  Frank  D.  Weber,  Barclay  Street  Ferry;  Frederick  Probst, 
Washington  Market. 

This  command  looks  after  vastly  important  interests.  Within  its  limits  are 
Trinity  Church  and  graveyard,  St.  Paul's  Church,  St.  Peter's  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  the  Astor  House,  Washington  Market,  the  Coal  and  Real  Estate  Ex- 
changes, nearly  all  the  west  side  emigrant  boarding  houses,  several  large  cotton 
warehouses,  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company's  building,  thousands  of 
offices  in  Broadway,  the  Graphic  and  Frank  Leslie  buildings,  the  crockery, 
fireworks  and  glass  trades,  much  of  the  produce  trade,  and  some  squalor  in 
Greenwich  and  Washington  Streets.  In  it  end  the  surface  cars  of  the  Seventh 
Avenue,  Sixth  Avenue,  Eighth  Avenue  and  Broadway  Railroads.  The  most 
memorable  fire  in  it  of  recent  years  was  that  on  the  twentieth  of  December, 
1877,  when  saccharine  dust  exploded  in  Gieenfield's  candy  factory  in  Barclay 
Street,  and  ten  persons  lost  their  lives.  The  fire  did  one  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand  dollars  damage. 

The  Twenty-ninth  Precinct. — The  Twenty-ninth  Precinct  is  included 
between  Seventh  Avenue,  Forty-second  Street,  Park  Avenue,  Fourth  Avenue, 
Union  Square,  and  Fourteenth  Street.  The  station  house  is  at  Nos.  137  and 
139  West  Thirtieth  Street.  It  is  not  such  a  structure  as  the  importance  of  the 
command  warrants.  It  has  a  separate  prison,  but  the  office  is  so  small  that  at 
muster  the  men  have  to  form  three  sides  of  a  square,  and  some  of  them  are 
invisible  to  the  officer  at  the  desk.  It  has  often  been  planned  to  make  two 
precincts  out  of  this  one,  and  the  sooner  it  is  done  the  better  for  the  men  who 
have  the  outposts  at  Fourteenth  and  Forty-second  Streets.  The  officers  are: 
Captain,  Alexander  S.  Williams;  and  Sergeants,  Josiah  A.  Westervelt,  Adam  A. 
Cross,  James  M.  King,  and  Max  F.  Schmittberger.  Westervelt  was  a  Policeman 
in  1867,  Roundsman  next  year,  and  Sergeant  in  1870.  Cross  joined  the  force 
seven  years  ago,  became  Roundsman  in  1882,  and  was  promoted  last  January. 
King  has  the  record  of  being  appointed  in  1874,  and  three  years  later  he  passed 
the  grade  of  Roundsman  and  won  rank.  Schmittberger's  dates  are:  Patrolman 
1874,  Roundsman  1880,  and  Sergeant  1883. 

Captain  Alexander  S.  Williams,  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Precinct,  is  well 
known  throughout  the  States  as  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  determined  Police 
officers  in  New  York.  Captain  Williams  was  born  in  1839  in  Nova  Scotia. 
When  he  came  to  New  York  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  ship  carpenter,  and  was 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


365 


placed  in  charge  of  a  portion  of  the  docks  of  the  well  known  shipbuilders, 
\C.  H.  Webb  cV  Co.  He  afterwards  visited  Japan,  Mexico,  and  other  countries. 
He  was  the  first  white  man  to  build  a  ship  in  Japan.  After  his  return  to  Amer- 
ica, he  was  engaged  by  the  Government  to  raise  a  sunken  vessel  off  the  coast  of 
Key  West,  Florida.  He  was  then  connected  with  the  navy  yard  for  a  time. 
Having  succeeded  in  accumulating  some  money,  he  went  into  partnership  with  a 
shipbuilder,  but  a  strike  occurring,  W^illiams  was  obliged  to  dissolve  partnershi]j 
with  his  colleague.  He  applied  for  a  position  on  the  Police,  and  was  appointed 
Patrolman  in  August,  1866,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Forty-seventh  Precinct, 
Brooklyn.  He  remained  thereuntil  1868,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Broad- 
way (New  York)  Squad.     While  here  he  was  Roundsman  and  Acting  Sergeant, 


Captain  Alexander  S  Williams. 


and  was  then  sent  to  the  Mounted  Squad.  In  July,  1871,  he  was  made  Sergeant, 
and  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  September,  187 1,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Captain,  and  assigned  for  duty  to  the  Twenty-first  Precinct.  He  was  transferred 
from  there  to  the  Eighth  Precinct,  then  in  1874  to  the  Fourth^  and  in  1876  to  the 
Twenty-ninth.  He  served  four  years  in  the  Street  Cleaning  Department,  and 
finally  went  back  to  his  present  precinct,  the  Twenty-ninth.  As  a  result  of  the 
energy  and  vigilance  which  he  displayed  while  in  the  Eighth  Precinct,  he  arrested 
no  less  than  nine  murderers. 

Lockwood  alias  Cully,  a  desperate  burglar,  was  also  captured  by  Captain 
Williams,  and  over  one  hundred  burglars'  tools  were  found  in  his  possession. 

The  Florence  Saloon,  which  was  at  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Houston 
Street,  was  the  rendezvous  for  all  classes  of  criminals.    While  he  was  yet  a 


366 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Patrolman,  Captain  Williams  succeeded  in  having  this  notorious  establishment 
closed. 

Houses  of  ill-fame  and  the  meeting  places  of  dens  of  thieves  have  been 
raided  and  closed  up  by  the  score  by  this  undaunted  officer.  He  is  not  a 
favorite,  by  any  means,  with  the  criminal  classes. 

There  was  a  place  at  No.  115  Broome  Street  which  was  not  inaptly  called 
"  Milligan's  Hell."  At  all  hours  of  the  night  the  boisterous  tongues  of  roughs 
could  be  heard,  their  conversation  interspersed  with  the  most  horrible  oaths  and 
blasphemy.    The  place  was  considered  so  dangerous  that  Policemen,  it  was  said, 


Twenty-Ninth  Police  Precinct,  137  West  Thirtieth  Street. 


were  loathe  to  enter  the  place.  Captain  Williams  made  a  raid  one  night  on  the 
den  and  cleaned  out  the  place.  Once  he  has  made  up  his  mind  to  accomplish 
a  tiling,  he  will  do  it  at  any  risk. 

The  amount  of  stolen  property  recovered  by  Captain  Williams  wouid  foot 
up  a  fabulous  sum.  Pie  returned  over  six  thousand-  dollars'  worth  of  stolen 
laces  to  Herman,  I\  ans  &  Co.,  of  Broadway,  and  about  five  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  silks  to  Richards,  of  Broadway. 

During  his  Captaincy  in  the  Fourth  Ward  he  broke  up  several  of  the  low 
dives  in  Chatham,  Water  and  Pearl  Streets. 

Jewelry  and  diamonds  to  the  amount  of  seven  thousand  dollars  were  stolen 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  367 

yi  South  America  by  two  Swedes.  The  vessel  on  which  they  traveled  had 
scarcely  arrived  at  the  port  of  New  York  when  the  two  thieves  were  in  the 
clutches  of  Captain  Williams. 

During  his  command  of  the  Twenty-first  Precinct,  Captain  Williams  was 
presented  with  a  handsome  gold  shield,  bearing  the  following  inscription: 

"  Presented  to  CajHain  Alexander  S.  Williams,  in  acknowledgment  of  his 
valuable  aid  in  suppressing  the  roughs  and  defending  his  officers  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties.    New  York,  September  16,  1872." 

In  his  examination,  before  the  Roosevelt  Committee,  to  interrogatories, 
Captain  Williams  gave  the  following  responses: 

By  the  Chairman:  Q.  What  is  your  name?  A.  Alexander  S.  Williams.  Q. 
What  position  do  you  hold  ?  A.  Captain  of  Police.  Q.  How  long  have  you 
been  on  the  Police  ?  A.  Nearly  eighteen  years.  Q.  How  long  have  you  been 
Captain  ?    A.  Nearly  thirteen — thirteen  past. 

By  Mr  Russell:  Q.  You  have  been  on  the  force  how  long.  Captain  ?  A. 
Nearly  eighteen  years.  Q.  And  how  old  are  you  now  ?  A.  Forty-four.  Q. 
And  what  was  the  name  of  the  force  when  you  went  on  ?  A.  The  Metropolitan. 
Q.  And  in  what  capacity  did  you  first  go  on  ?  A.  As  Patrolman.  Q.  Where  ? 
A.  Forth-seventh  Precinct,  Brooklyn,  now  the  Seventh.  Q.  How  long  did  you 
remain  a  Patrolman  ?  A.  Less  than  five  years.  Q.  Then  what?  A.  Sergeant; 
I  was  made  Roundsman  first  off.  Q.  How  long?  A.  About  ten  minutes. 
I  was  made  Sergeant  and  put  in  charge  of  the  Thirty-third  Precinct,  which  was 
the  Mounted  Police.  Q.  How  long  did  you  remain  in  charge  of  the  Mounted 
Police?  A.  Eleven  months.  Q.  Was  that  under  the  old  Metropolitan  system  ? 
A.  Metropolitan.  Q.  Where  was  the  Thirty-third  Precinct  ?  A.  I  had  a  stable 
fitted  up  in  Forty-first  Street  and  Seventh  Avenue,  154  West  Seventh  Avenue, 
part  of  Sixth  Avenue,  and  Fourteenth  Street,  and  Lexington  Avenue  was  then 
wooden  pavement — and  it  was  to  prevent  fast  driving  on  those  streets.  Q.  Who 
were  the  Commissioners  then?  A.  Bosworth,  Manierre,  Barr,  and  Smith.  Q. 
When  did  you  become  a  Captain?  A.  May  31,  1871,  I  think,  or  1872.  Q. 
How  long  have  you  been  in  your  present  precinct  ?  A.  I  went  there  the  latter 
part  of  October,  1876,  and  remained  there  until  the  nineteenth  of  December, 
1879,  and  returned  there  on  the  sixteenth  of  June,  1881,  and  have  been  there 
until  now.  Q.  From  1879  until  1881  you  were  employed  elsewhere?  A.  Super- 
intendent of  the  Bureau  of  Street  Cleaning. 

This  important  precinct  has  twenty-seven  day  and  fifty  night  posts.  Its  full 
force  is  one  hundred  and  sixteen  men,  of  whom  about  eighteen  are  sick  or  de- 
tailed. James  K.  Price  and  John  Dunlap  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  The 
detailed  officers  are:    John  Neylan,  Tax  Office  ;  John  Mangam,  Ordinances. 

What  the  First  Precinct  is,  commercially  and  financially,  the  Twenty-ninth 
or  "Tenderloin  Precinct  "  is  socially,  and — if  the  term  may  be  coined — cosmo- 
politanly.  No  other  command  approaches  it  in  importance  as  the  centre  of 
civilization  and  all  that  makes  Nineteenth  Century  city  life  agreeable.  It  em- 
braces nearly  all  the  great  caravansaries,  parks,  clubs,  theatres  and  stores.  With- 
in it  are  the  most  frequented  streets  and  avenues,  and  at  night  city  life  for  the 


368 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


"  upper  ten  "  alone  exists  within  its  boundaries.  It  takes  in  the  Union  Square, 
Madison  Square  and  Reservoir  Parks.  Its  principal  hotels  are  the  St.  Cloud, 
Rossmore,  Grand, '  Gilsey  House,  Albermarle,  Hoffman  House,  Leland,  Fifth 
Avenue,  Glenham,  Brunswick,  Park  Avenue,  Everett  House,  St.  James,  Sturte- 
vant,  and  the  Parker  House.  Its  hospital,  the  New  York,  is  by  far  the  best  in 
the  city.  Its  clubs  are  the  American  Jockey,  the  American  Yacht,  the  Blossom, 
the  Calumet,  the  Carlton,  the  Columbia,  the  Coney  Island  Jockey,  the  Crescent, 
the  German,  the  Grolier,  the  Knickerbocker,  the  Lotos,  the  Manhattan,  the  New 
York,  the  New  York  Racquet,  the  New  York  Yacht,  the  Owl,  the  Republic, 
the  St.  Nicholas,  the  Lamli,  the  Union,  the  Union  League,  and  the  University. 
Of  the  public  buildings  it  has  the  Academy  of  Design,  the  Masonic  Temple, 
and  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  Its  theatres  and  places  of  amuse- 
ment are  the  Metropolitan  Opera  House,  the  Bijou  Opera  House,  the  Casino, 
Chickering  Hall,  Daly's  Theatre,  the  Fifth  Avenue  Theatre,  the  Fourteenth  Street 
Theatre,  Madison  Square  Garden,  the  Park  Theatre,  the  Standard,  the  Star,  Wal- 
lack's,  the  Comedy,  Eden  Musee,  Koster  &  Bial's,  and  the  Metropolitan  Concert 
Hall.  The  famous  restaurants  of  Delmonico,  Pinard  and  Clark  are  here.  And  its 
stores?  first:  Tiffany  and  Starr's  countless  attractions  in  jewelry,  watches,  gold 
and  silverware,  bricabrac  and  art  objects;  W.  &  J.  Sloane's  carpet  store;  Lord  & 
Taylor's,  Arnold  &  Constable's,  Sypher&  Co.'s,  theGorham  Manufacturing  Co.'s, 
C.  G.  Gunther's  Sons,  Park  &Tilford's,  CoUamore  &  Co.'s,  and  Brooks  Brothers'. 
Then  there  are  the  armories  of  the  Twenty-second  and  Seventy-first  Regiments  of 
the  National  Guard;  the  Fifth,  Garfield,  Lincoln  and  Sixth  National  Banks;  the 
Excelsior  and  Union  Dime  Savings  Banks;  the  Metropolis  and  Madison  Square 
State  Banks;  Calvary,  Messiah,  Tabernacle,  Madison  Avenue,  Brick,  Fourth 
Avenue,  Twenty-third  Street,  St.  Ann's,  Dr.  Ormiston's,  St.  Francis  Xavier's,  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul,  Holy  Trinity,  St.  Paul's  Lutheran,  St.  Luke's,  St.  Mark's,  St. 
Paul's  Methodist,  Covenant,  Fourth  Presbyterian,  Madison  Square,  Rutger's, 
Scotch,  Shiloh,  Westminster,  West  Twenty-fifth  Street,  Annunciation,  Christ,  Du 
St.  Esprit,  Holy  Communion,  Incarnation,  St.  Ignatius,  Trinity  Chapel,  Zion,  Fifth 
Avenue  Reformed,  Holy  Innocents,  St.  Francis  of  Assisi,  St.  Leo's,  Taber- 
nacle of  Twenty-third  Street  and  Union  Tabernacle  Churches,  and  Shearith 
Israel  Synagogue.  Its  population  is,  mainly,  the  "upper  ten,"  and  those  who 
serve  them.  It  has  a  negro  colony,  and  is  infested  with  people  who  live  viciously; 
but  the  law,  not  the  Police,  is  at  fault.  The  problem  how  to  deal  with  this  class 
is  probably  such  a  serious,  and  at  the  same  time  such  a  delicate  one,  that  before 
it  is  solved  we  shall  have  to  elect  a  special  legislature  to  deal  with  it.  Yet,  wifh 
all  its  hideousness,  this  feature  of  New  York  is  not  by  any  means  as  black  as  the 
night  haunts  of  London  or  the  principal  European  cities,  where  vice,  if  not 
licensed,  is  under  surveillance. 

As  may  be  expected,  this  command  has  furnished  many  thrilling  and  scandal- 
ous stories  to  the  public.  Hardly  a  week  passes  but  something  interesting  is 
told  over  the  desk  in  the  Thirtieth  Street  Station  House.  In  fires  its  specialty  is 
in  theatres.  The  Fifth  Avenue  Theatre  went  up  in  clouds  of  smoke  and  showers 
of  sparks  and  brands  January  i,  1873,  with  a  loss  of  one  hundred  and  ten  thou- 
sand dollars.    On  the  thirtieth  of  October,  1882,  a  few  hours  before  the  time  that 


OUR  POIJCK  PRO  7  EC  TORS. 


Mrs.  Langtry  was  to  make  her  debut  in  America,  there  was  a  fatal  fire  that  de- 
stroyed the  Park  Theatre,  and  the  loss  was  eighty  thousand  dollars;  and  on  the 
fourteenth  of  December,  1883,  the  Standard  'I'heatre  was  destroyed,  with  a  loss 
of  sixty  thousand  dollars.  On  the  tenth  of  December,  1872,  a  number  of  ser- 
vant girls  lost  their  lives  by  a  fire  which  cut  off  escape  from  their  quarters 
on  the  roof  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel.  March  8,  1877,  witnessed  a  terrible 
I)anic  in  St.  Francis  Xavier's  church.  No.  36  West  Sixteenth  Street.  Father 
Fangcake  was  preaching  a  sermon  on  "  Hell  and  the  Horrors  of  the  Damned," 
and  his  audience  were  worked  up  to  a  supreme  degree  of  interest,  when  a  boy, 
either  through  devilish  inspiration  or  from  a  belief  that  he  was  doing  well,  cried 
"Fire."  In  the  stampede  that  ensued  six  women  and  a  boy  were  trampled  to 
death  at  the  foot  of  a  corkscrew  stairway.  The  murder  of  Benjamin  Nathan,  on 
the  twenty-ninth  of  July,  1870,  in  his  mansion  opposite  the  south  side  of  the 
Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  is  one  of  themvsteries  of  the  age.  The  true  story  of  what 
occurrctl  in  tliat  second  tloor  room  on  that  bright  summer  morning  has  not  yet 
been  told.  I'he  murder  of  Mrs.  Jane  F.  De  Forest  Hull,  wife  of  Dr.  Alonzo 
Grandison  Hull,  at  No.  140  West  Forty-second  Street,  on  the  eleventh  of  June, 
1879,  by  the  negro,  Chastine  Cox,  was  the  talk  of  all  America  for  months.  Cox 
was  captured  in  Boston  through  a  reporter  named  Balch,  and  was  hanged  July 
16,  1880.  It  is  almost  certain  he  did  not  intend  to  kill  Mrs.  Hull,  but  simply  to 
silence  her.  He  did  his  work,  however,  so  surely,  tiiat  she  died,  and  lie  was  exe- 
cuted because  he  took  life  while  committing  a  felony.  A  bloodier  ending  of  a 
feud  was  probably  never  witnessed  than  that  by  which,  in  "  Shang "  Draper's 
saloon,  No.  466  Sixth  Avenue,  on  the  sixteenth  of  October,  1883,  "Johnny" 
Walsh  alias  "Johnny  the  Mick,"  and  "Johnny"  Irving,  two  noted  thieves,  lost 
their  lives.  An  associate,  William  O'Brien  alias  "Billy"  Porter,  strongly  sus- 
pected of  shooting  Walsh,  who  was  to  have  been  killed  for  Porter  by  Irving,  was. 
arrested,  but  he  escaped  conviction.  Another  celebrated  case  was  the  murder, 
at  No.  144  West  Twenty-sixth  Street,  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  December,  i88i, 
of  Fouis  Hanier,  an  inoffensive  French  saloon  keeper,  by  Michael  McGloin, 
whose  capture,  by  Inspector  Byrnes,  was  one  of  the  finest  pieces  of  detective 
work  ever  done  in  any  city.  McGloin,  on  the  ninth  of  March,  1883,  went  to  the  gib- 
bet. One  of  the  saddest  accidents  that  ever  occurred  in  this  city  was  the  falling, 
on  the  twenty-first  of  April,  1880,  of  the  west  wall  and  part  of  the  ball-room  of  the 
Madison  Square  Garden.  A  church  fair  was  in  progress,  and  a  number  of  ladies 
and  gentlemen  were  dancing  in  the  ball-room,  when  the  wall  gave  way  and  four 
persons  were  killed.  One  of  the  unpunished  murders  of  this  district  is  that  of 
Charles  P.  Miller,  "king  of  the  bunko  men,"  who,  on  the  first  of  November 
1881,  was  killed  in  "Dick"  Darling's  saloon.  No.  1 2 1 7  Broadway,  by  "  Bill  " 
Tracy,  who  was  tried  and  acquitted. 


370 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


THIRD  AND  FOURTH  INSPECTION  DISTRICTS. 


Inspector  Dilks. — Enjoying  a  rare  Privilege,  namely,  reading  his 
OWN  Obituary. — An  Officer  who  has  Distinguished  Himself  by  his 
Bravery  and  Vigilance. — A  Veteran  with  a  highly  honorable 
Record. — Second  Precinct  ;  Captain  Conlin. — Twelfth  Precinct  ; 
Captain  Hooker. — Nineteenth  Precinct; Captain  Mount. — Nineteenth 
Sub-precinct  ;  Captain  Schultz. — Twenty-second  Precinct  ;  Captain 
KiLLiLEA. — Twenty-third  Precinct;  Captain  Sanders. — Twenty-eighth 
Precinct;  Captain  Gunner. — Thirtieth  Precinct;  Captain  Siebert. — 
Thirty-first  Precinct  ;  Captain  Leary. — Thirty-second  Precinct; 
Captain  Cortright. — Thirty-third  Precinct  ;  Captain  Bennett. — 
Thirty-fourth  Precinct  ;  Captain  Robbins. — Thirty-fifth  Precinct, 
Captain  Yule. 

'  I  ^  HESE  Districts  cover  about  four  times  as  much  territory  as  the  First  and 


Second  Inspection  Districts,  but  they  are,  as  a  rule,  sparsely  settled.  The 
commands  are  reached  by  wagon  or  rail,  the  emergencies  are  few  and  of  minor 
importance,  all  things  being  considertd,  and  the  communication  by  telegraph  is 
unsurpassed.  The  districts  include  the  Nineteenth.  Twenty-eighth,  Twenty- 
third,  Twelfth,  Thirty-third,  Thirty-fourth,  Thirty-fifth,  Second,  Thirty-second, 
Thirtieth,  Thirty-first,  and  Twenty-second  Precincts,  and  the  Yorkville,  Harlem, 
and  Morrisania  Police  Courts,  which  are  known  as  the  Fourth,  Fifth,  and  Sixth  Dis- 
trict Courts  respectively.  The  districts,  which  were  consolidated,  are  under  the 
command  of  Inspector  George  W.  Dilks,  the  senior  Inspector  of  the  force. 

Inspector  George  Washington  Dilks,  of  the  Third  Inspection  District, 
was  born  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  December,  1816,  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  In 
1829  his  parents  moved  to  New  York,  and  settled  there  for  good.  In  1848,  Mr. 
Dilks  was  ai)pointed  on  the  force  as  Assistant  Captnin.  In  1853  he  was  made 
Captain  of  the  Fifteenth  Ward,  where  he  soon  distinguished  himself  by  his 
l)ravery  and  vigilance.  While  engaged  in  this  Ward,  the  City  Hall  riot  occurred, 
and,  while  he  was  leading  a  force  of  men  against  Wood's  partisans,  a  Sergeant 
named  Sebring  was  killed  by  a  blow  from  a  locust  which  had  been  thrown  at 
him.  There  was  an  extraordinary  likeness  between  Sebring  and  Dilks,  and  the 
rumor  spread  as  quick  as  lightning  that  the  intrepid  Dilks  had  been  killed. 
Dilks  had  the  rare  privilege  that  night,  while  he  was  at  supper,  of  reading  his  own 
obituarv  notice  in  the  Evening  Post.  Ned  Davenport,  an  actor,  and  an  old-time 
friend  of  Captain  Dilks,  who  was  then  playing  at  Boston,  hearing  the  news  of 


OUR  ror.icE  rROTEcroKs. 


37' 


the  latter's  alleged  death  the  next  night,  dcli\crccl  speeches  all  over  IJoston 
on  file  "death"  of  his  friend. 

In  i860  Captain  Dilks  was  made  lns|)e(  tor,  he  being  the  first  Inspector  in  the 
Dei)artnient.  He  had  the  whole  city,  Brooklyn,  and  a  part  of  Westchester  for  a 
field  of  operation.  The  Inspector,  in  his  rounds,  was  not  long  in  discovering  that 
there  were  many  evils  that  could  he  remedied  and  abuses  that  could  be  corrected  ; 
but  his  territory  was  too  extensive  and  scattered  for  one  man  to  attend  to  all. 
I'hen  the  district  was  split  into  two,  and  Captain  Leonard  was  appointed  to  the 
Second  District.  After  the  organization  of  the  present  Municipal  force,  con- 
fined to  New  York  City  alone,  the  two  districts  continued,  but  in  1874,  the  late 
Superintendent  and  Commissioner,  C.eorge  W.  Matsell,  and  Commissioner  Jolm 
R.  Voorhees,  laid  out  the  city  into  the  i)resent  four  districts. 

There  is  no  doubt  Matsell,  who  had  lost  his  old-time  snap  and  vigor,  would 
have  made  a  terril)le  mess  of  things  while  lie  was  Sujicrintendtnt,  only  In- 
si)ector  Dilks  was  in  the  ofifice  with  liim  acting  as  Deputy  Superintendent,  which 
position  he  held  for  about  five  years. 

Insjjector  Dilks  has  been  a  conspicuous  figure  in  all  the  great  riots  tiiat 
occurred  "in  New  York  since  1848. 

One  morning  during  the  longshoremen's  strike,  when  these  men  sallied  forth 
with  everything  in  the  shape  of  a  weapon  that  they  could  lay  their  iiands  on, 
Inspector  Dilks  succeeded,  after  three  days'  hard  struggle,  in  restoring  peace  and 
(piiet. 

During  one  of  the  davs  of  the  draft  riots,  while  the  mob  was  howling  for 
the  arms  which  were  stored  in  the  armory,  a  bullet  whizzed  past  the  Inspector's 
head. 

"  Mr.  Dilks,"  said  one  of  the  Police  Commissioners  on  a  well-known  occa- 
sion, "you  can  have  the  position  of  Superintendent  if  you  desire  it." 

"  I  never  looked  for  the  place  of  any  man,"  replied  Mr.  Dilks,  "and  never 
will.  Were  the  office  vacant,  I  might  consider  the  offer,  but  as  there  is  another 
there  I  don't  want  it." 

In  1849  there  occurred  the  great  Astor  Place  riot.  Macready,  the  actor,  was 
playing  at  the  Astor  Place  Opera  House.  It  seems  that  he  became  obnoxious  to 
the  friends  of  Mr.  Forest,  who  was  playing  at  the  old  Broadway  Theatre,  between 
Pearl  and  Worth  Streets.  One  night  Forest's  friends  drove  Macready  off  the 
stage.  -After  this  outrage  a  body  of  citizens  waited  on  Macready  and  requested 
him  to  continue  playing,  at  the  same  time  promising  him  protection  from  the 
mob.  Macreadv  acceded  to  their  request,  and,  on  the  night  of  his  re-appearance, 
the  riot  began  inside  and  outside  the  theatre.  Assistant  Captain  Dilks  was  in 
charge  of  a  posse  of  Police,  and.  with  the  help  of  the  military,  succeeded  in  at 
once  restoring  comparative  quiet.  Several  persons  were  arrested  and  confined 
in  one  of  the  lower  rooms  of  the  theatre,  to  whic  h  they  attempted  to  set  fire, 
but  the  activitv  of  the  Police  saved  the  place  from  destruction.  Nine  persons 
were  killed  in  this  riot,  and  hundreds  were  severely  wounded,  the  military  having 
fired  on  the  crowd. 

During  the  longshoremen's  riots,  in  1857.  Captain  Dilks  was  in  the 
Fifteenth  Precinct.    He,  in  conjunction  with  the  officers  drawn  from  the  various 


372 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


precincts,  had  a  terrible  fight,  which  lasted  for  four  days,  with  the  mob,  who  used 
hay-sticks,  cart-rungs,  clubs,  etc. 

During  the  Orange  riots  Inspector  Dilks  was  one  of  the  officers  who 
had  to  protect  the  procession  down  as  far  as  Bleecker  Street  and  the  Bowery,  and 
from  thence  to  Astor  Place. 

Inspector  Dilks  is  a  thoroughly  honorable,  efficient  and  painstaking  officer. 

This  clean-shaven,  clerical-looking  gentleman  lives  at  No.  34  West  Ninth 
Street.  He  leaves  home  between  seven  and  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and 
goes  through  the  routine  of  the  other  Inspectors  at  his  office  in  Parepa  Hall. 
The  extent  of  this  command  does  not  permit  of  his  making  regular  visits 
to  Police  Headquarters.  He  goes  there  when  his  presence  is  required.  He 
visits  his  precincts  by  rail,  car,  or  wagon,  and  it  is  almost  a  day's  journey  to 
go  to  some  of  the  outlying  districts.  Generally,  the  Inspector  lunches  in  his 
office,  and  starts  on  his  \  isits  at  one  p.  m.,  to  return  at  half-past  five  o'clock,  when 
he  settles  what  business  awaits  him  and  goes  home  to  dinner.  His  movements 
in  the  evening  are  regulated  by  events.  If  a  large  fire  occurs  beyond  the  river 
he  has  a  long  journey  before  him.  Every  fourth  night  he  is  booked  for  duty 
at  Police  Headquarters. 

The  Second  Precinct. — The  boundaries  of  the  Second  Precinct  are 
Cromwell's  Creek,  Jerome  or  Central  Avenue,  tiie  Kingsbridge  Road  to  Farmer's 
Bridge,  and  the  Harlem  River.  The  station  house  is  at  Highbridgeville.  It 
was  formerly  known  as  Mike  O'Brien's  Undercliff  Hotel,  and  it  was  altered  for 
the  W.  B.  Ogden  estate  into  a  station  house  by  the  Hon.  Andrew  H.  Green. 
This  is  known  as  a  Mounted  Police  Precinct,  and  there  are  accommodations  for 
thirty-six  mounted  and  foot  officers,  and  stables  for  horses.  There  are  five  day 
jjosts  and  eight  night  posts.  Two  of  the  day  posts  and  four  of  the  night  posts 
are  covered  by  horsemen.  Signals  can  be  sent  to  the  station  house  from  nearly 
every  part  of  the  precinct  from  signal  boxes.  The  officers  of  the  command 
are:  Captain,  Peter  Conlin;  and  Sergeants,  W.  A.  Revell,  Edward  Lucas  and 
John  McNamara.  Revell  was  appointed  eighteen  years  ago,  became  Rounds- 
man 1872,  and  Sergeant  in  1876.  He  for  some  time  commanded  the  First 
Mounted  Squad.  Lucas  was  appointed  in  1874,  became  Roundsman  in  1877, 
and  attained  his  rank  in  1880.  McNamara  was  appointed  in  1876,  was  for  a 
long  time  Special  Detective  at  Police  Headquarters,  and  was  promoted  late  in 
1883  and  in  May,  1884.  John  McGowan  and  Francis  Smith  are  the  Precinct 
Detectives.  John  Breen,  Martin  Bruns,  Thomas  B.  Holland,  William  J.  Huston, 
William  A.  Nevin,  and  William  Nelson  are  the  centaurs  who  do  day  duty  on 
horseback,  and  perform  feats  of  intrepidity  almost  daily  on  the  avenues  below 
Harlem  Bridge.  Their  horses  are  trained  to  stop  runaways,  and  are  the  pick  of 
the  stable. 

Peter  Conlin  is  a  native  of  liiis  city,  and  was  born  in  1841.  He  is  a 
brother  of  William  J.  Florence,  the  actor.  He  graduated  from  Grammar  School 
No.  34,  and  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Twelfth  New  York  Regiment  during  the 
war.  Afterwards  he  joined  the  Irish  Brigade,  as  Lieutenant,  and  eventually  was 
made  Cajjtain.  His  dates  are:  Joined  the  force  July  29,  1869;  Roundsman, 
December  6,  1872;  Sergeant,  July  19,  1876;  and  Captain,  February  8,  1884.  In 


OUR  rof./cE  PRO'rr.croRs. 


373 


his  long  years  of  service  no  cli.irge  of  misconduct  or  breach  of  discipline  was 
et  er  made  against  him. 

I'rom  early  sj)ring  to  late  in  autumn  tlie  Police  of  the  Second  I'recinct  are 
nearly  at  all  times  during  the  day  busy  with  the  thousands  who,  on  foot  or  in 
vehicles,  come  from  the  city  to  get  a  breath  of  fresh  air  by  boats  or  on  the  rail- 
roads, and  Central,  High  and  Farmers'  Bridges.  I'Or  the  wealthy  and  sporting 
classes  are  the  hostelries  of  Judge  Smith,  Gus  Sibberns  and  (iabe  Case,  and  they 
are  patronized  all  the  season  round.  The  terminus  of  the  aqueduct  has  to  be 
guarded  here,  and  the  avenues  to  Jerome  Park  and  I'leetwood  Park  are  princi- 
pally through  this  |)recinct  for  those  who  go  to  them  by  vehicle.  Highbridge- 
ville,  like  all  the  desirable  suburbs,  is  cropping  out  with  fine  villa  residences, 


Captain  Peter  Conlin. 


among  which  are  the  Mali  estate,  the  residences  of  the  Devoes,  Baileys,  Fitz- 
patricks  and  Fairchilds,  the  Ogden  estate,  the  Lee  estate,  the  H.  B.  Morris 
estate,  the  Eastman  estate,  and  the  homes  of  Hugh  N.  Camp,  Col.  E.  T.  Wood, 
Franklin  Edson.  and  L.  G.  Morris.  Some  day  it  will  be  an  aristocratic  quarter, 
because  of  its  elevation.  The  precinct  furnishes  few  events  beyond  a  run- 
away horse,  a  boating  accident,  or  a  stray  suicide  occasionally. 

The  Twelfth  Precinxt. — The  Twelfth  Precinct  comprises  the  territory 
bounded  by  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Street,  Seventh  Avenue,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-fifth  Street,  and  the  Harlem  River.  The  station  house  is  on  the  site  of  a 
very  ancient  one,  formerly  a  watch-house  and  lock-up,  Nos.  146  and  148  East 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Street.  Although  constructed  fourteen  years  ago. 
it  is  equal  in  many  respects  to  more  modern  ones,  and  has  a  sei)arate  j)rison. 


374 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  officers  are:  Captain  Henry  D.  Hooker;  and  Sergeants,  De  Los  Reynolds, 
William  W.  Sullivan,  C.  C.  Buddington  and  Matthew  Tuck.  Reynolds'  record 
is:  Patrolman  1867,  Roundsman  1870,  and  Sergeant  1872.  SuUi^-an  became 
a  Policeman  in  187 1,  was  Roundsman  in  1872,  and  got  rank  next  year.  Bud- 
dington, the  senior  Sergeant,  joined  the  force  in  1864,  was  Roundsman  four  years 
later,  and  was  promoted  in  1871.  Tuck's  dates  are:  Patrolman  1865,  Rounds- 
man 1867,  and  Sergeant  1870. 


Twelfth  Precinct  Police  Station,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Street,  Near  Third  Avenue. 

Henry  D.  Hooker  is  a  native  of  the  United  States,  and  was  born  in  1830. 
He  was  formerly  a  seafaring  man.  He  joined  the  force  in  January,  186 1 ;  was  pro- 
moted to  be  Roundsman  in  1864,  became  a  Sergeant  in  1879,  and  ^vhen  the 
Twenty-eighth  Precinct  was  divided  in  two,  he  was  made  Captain  of  the  Nine- 
teenth Sub-Prccinct,  with  the  station  house  in  the  Grand  Central  Railroad  Depot. 

This  precinct  has  fourteen  day  and  twenty-eight  night  posts,  all  too  long  ; 


OCR  POLICE  PKOlECrORS. 


375 


some  of  them  cannot  be  f:iiililully  covered.  Of  the  seventy-eight  men  on  the 
roll,  about  fifteen  are  detailed  or  incapacitated  by  sickness.  John  Irving 
and  Bernard  C.  Tompson  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  The  detailed  men  are: 
Theophilus  Holmes,  Inspector  Dilks'  office;  Henry  C.  Van  Orden,  Harlem 
Bridge;  J.  N.  Morey,  Ordinances;  \V.  H.  Lake  and  C.  D.  Allaire,  Corjjoration 
Counsel's  office;  Charles  R.  Blis.s,  Randall's  Island. 

The  Twelfth  Precinct  grows  daily.  More  third  and  fourtli-rate  houses  have 
been  put  up  here  within  the  past  five  years  than  in  any  other  command.  It  has 
the  most  important  part  of  the  New  York  City  proper,  Harlem  River  front,  and 
the  monopoly  almost  of  boating  recreation.  Little  of  its  population  is  other  than 
rc;)Utal)le    and  law-abiding,   and   at   present   manv  families  occupv  their  own 


Captain  Henry  D.  Hooker. 

houses,  and  there  are  pretentious  and  well-a])pointed  mansions  along  the  river 
front  and  on  some  of  the  avenues.  Within  its  limits  are  Mount  Morris  Park,  with 
its  cordon  of  aristocratic  villa  residences,  the  Harlem  Police  Court,  the  Mount 
Morris  Theatre,  the  termini  of  the  Second  and  Third  Avenue  Elevated  Rail- 
roads, and  the  approaches  to  the  Vanderbilt  Railroad  Bridge,  and  the  Harlem 
River  Swing  Bridge.  The  precinct  takes  in  Randall's  and  Ward's  Islands,  and 
the  most  memoralile  e\  ents  of  late  years  are  the  burning  of  the  steamer  Sea- 
wanhaka,  off  Sunken  Meadow,  June  28,  1880,  when  more  than  fifty  persons 
perished;  and  more  recently  the  partial  destruction  of  the  Insane  Asylum  on 
Ward's  Island. 

Thk  Nineteenth  Precinct. — The  Nineteenth  Precinct  lies  between  Forty- 
second  Street,  Lexington  Avenue,  Forty-ninth  Street,  Fourth  Avenue,  Fifty- 
eighth  Street,  and  the  East  River.    The  station  house  is  at  No.  163  East  Fifty- 


376 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


first  Street.  It  is  a  narrow,  but  deep  and  very  comfortable  building,  with  a  sepa- 
rate prison.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  John  J.  Mount;  and  Sergeants,  Henry 
K.  Woodruff,  Michael  M.  Rooney,  Walter  Norris,  and  John  Delar^ey.  Wood- 
ruff was  a  Policeman  in  1867,  a  Roundsman  next  year,  and  he  has  been  a  Ser- 
geant more  than  thirteen  years.    Rooney  was  appointed  in  1867,  became  a 


Nineteenth  Precinct  Police  Station,  163  East  Fifty-first  Street. 


Roundsman  in  1870,  and  next  year  was  promoted.  Norris'  dates  are:  Pa- 
trolman 1870,  Roundsman  1875,  and  Sergeant  1878.  Delaney  did  his  first 
tour  of  duty  in  1878,  was  made  Roundsman  in  1877,  and  has  been  a  Sergeant 
since  February,  1884. 

Captain  John  J.  Mount,  of  the  Nineteenth  Precinct,  joined  the  Municipal 
Police  in  1850,  in  the  Eighth  Ward.    He  was  made  a  Roundsman  in  March, 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  377 

1^51,  was  detailed  as  Dock  Master  1853,  and  remained  in  that  capacity  until 
1857,  when  the  Metropolitan  Police  was  organized.  He  was  ap[)ointcd  Ser- 
geant in  1858,  and  Captain  in  April,  1861,  and  assigned  to  the  Third  Precinct. 
Captain  Mount  was  afterwards  successively  transferred  to  the  Eleventh,  Seven- 
teenth, Fourteenth,  Seventh,  and  finally  to  the  Nineteenth  Precinct,  of  which 
he  is  now  the  respected  Captain.  Captain  Mount,  like  all  the  old-timers,  took 
an  active  part  in  (juelling  the  dead  rabbit,  draft,  and  Orange  riots. 

'i'his  precinct  has  fourteen  day  and  twenty-eight  night  posts.  Its  full  force 
is  seventy-eight,  reduced  to  about  sixty  on  an  average.  Michael  Shelly  and 
John  T.  Cuff  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  The  detailed  officers  are:  Henry  O. 
Corbitt,  Central  Office  ;  John  McDermott,  Fifty-ninth  Street  hacks  ;  Harrison 
Wilson,  Ordinances;  Daniel  O'Conner,  Orphan  Asylum. 


Captain  John  J.  Mount. 

This  precinct  deals  with  the  extremes  of  society.  The  palaces  are  on  the 
west  side  ar.d  north  of  it,  and  the  hovels  and  nuisances  on  the  east  side.  Be- 
ginning at  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty-second  Street,  and  going  north,  there  are  in 
succession  the  Temple  Emanuel,  the  Church  of  the  Divine  Paternity,  the 
Church  of  the  Heavenly  Rest,  the  Fifth  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  the  Windsor 
Hotel,  Dr.  Vermilye's  Church,  the  Buckingham  Hotel,  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral, 
the  Vanderbilt  mansions,  St.  Thomas'  Church,  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  the  Fifth 
Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  and  scores  of  millionaires'  dwellings.  There  are 
also  in  the  precinct  the  Roman  Catholic  Orphan  Asylum,  Columbia  College, 
the  Women's  Hospital,  the  Nursery  and  Child's  Hospital,  the  First  Reformed 
Church,  the  mansions  of  Madison  Avenue,  and  the  little  less  pretentious  dwellings 


378 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


on  Lexington  Avenue  and  the  cross  streets.  On  the  river  front  are  col- 
lected the  nuisances  in  the  shape  of  slaughter-houses  and  rendering  establish- 
ments, which,  with  an  east  wind  and  Hunter's  Point  chiming  in,  are  a  curse  to  the 
greater  part  of  Murray  Hill.  The  Police  are  not  responsible  for  the  existence 
of  these  malodorous  industries. 

The  Nineteenth  Sub-Precinct. — The  Nineteenth  Sub-Precinct,  or  Grand 
Central  Depot  command,  has  for  its  boundary  Forty-second  Street,  Lexington 
Avenue,  Forty-ninth  Street,  and  Madison  Avenue.,  The  station  house  is  in  the 
basement  on  the  west  side  of  the  depot,  and  the  cells  are  underground.  The 
officers  are:  Captain,  William  Schultz;  and  acting  Sergeants,  George  R.  Bevans 
and  Enoch  A.  Goodell.    There  are  six  day  posts  and  eight  night  posts,  covered 


Captain  William  Schultz. 


by  an  effective  force  of  about  twenty-two  men,  out  of  the  quota  of  twenty- 
four  men.    Zabriskie  H.  Mullin  is  the  Precinct  Detective. 

Captain  William  Schultz,  ex-Commander  of  the  Police  Boat  "Patrol," 
for  years  did  active  service  on  the  North  and  East  Rivers.  For  a  long  time  the 
depredations  committed  by  river  thieves  and  other  criminals  were  a  great  source 
of  annoyance  to  merchants  and  owners  of  vessels,  but  when  Captain  Schultz 
took  command  of  the  Police  Boat  "  Patrol,"  things  were  entirely  changed.  He 
is  quite' familiar  with  the  ways  of  those  river  pirates  who  lie  in  wait  for  unsus- 
pecting sailors,  and  rob  them  and  their  vessels.  Captain  Schultz  was  born  in 
this  countrv,  of  German  parents.  He  joined  the  Police  force  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  July,  1867,  and,  on  September  i,  1870,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Sergeant.    He  was  appointed  Captain  September  13,  1878. 


OUR  rOLICE  PROTECTORS. 


379 


,  Thk  Twenty-Second  Precinct. —  I  he  Twenty-second  Precinct  is  included 
between  Forty-second  Street,  Sixth  Avenue,  Fifty  -ninth  Street,  tii^hth  Avenue, 
Sixty-third  Street  and  the  North  River.  The  station  house  is  at  Nos.  345  and 
347  West  Forty-seventh  Street.  It  is  a  superior,  airy  structure,  although  built 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  Thomas  Killilea;  and 
Sergeants,  Charles  U.  Combs,  Patrick  H.  Pickett,  John  Dunn  and  John  T. 
Stephenson.  Combs'  dates  are:  Patrolman  1867,  Roundsman  seven  months 
later,  and  Sergeant  1870.  Pickett  was  Patrolman  in  1865,  Roundsman  in  1868, 
and  Sergeant  in  1870.  Dunn  joined  the  force  in  1872,  and  became  Roundsman 
in  1881,  and  Sergeant  in  1883.  Steplienson  was  ap])ointt'd  in  1877,  was  Rounds- 
man in  four  years,  and  got  rank  last  January. 


Captain  Thomas  Killilea. 


Thom.-\s  Kili.ii,e.\  w.is  born  in  1838,  and  was  appointed  a  Patrolman  in 
1866,  was  promoted  Roundsman  the  following  year.  Sergeant  in  1868,  and  Cap- 
tain in  1870.  After  serving  in  tiic  Central  Office,  the  Steamboat  Squad,  and  in 
other  precincts,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Twenty-second  Precinct, 
where  he  has  done  good  service. 

This  precinct  has  seventeen  dav  and  thirty-six  night  posts.  It  has  a  nomi- 
nal force  of  ninety-four  men,  but  the  average  effective  force  is  seventy-seven. 
James  H.  Riley  and  Charles  L.  Bockhorn  are  the  Precinct  Detectives.  The  de- 
tailed men  are:  George  W.  Class  and  Lotin  B.  Hildreth,  Ordinances;  James 
Thompson  and  Matthias  Bruen,  Forty-second  Street  Ferry;  and  Thomas  M. 
Clifford,  the  Leakp  and  Watts  Orphan  Asylum. 

The  character  of  this  command  has  vastly  improved  of  late,  what  with  the 


38o 


OUR  POrJCE  /'h'OTECVORS. 


march  of  building  operations  and  the  activity  of  the  Police  in  stamping  out  what 
amounted  to  flat  defiance  on  the  part  of  the  unruly  and  worthless  inhal)itants  of 
the  houses  bordering  on  the  Hudson  River  Railroad.  Some  of  the  most  important 
carrying  interests  of  this  corporation  lie  in  this  district,  such  as  the  grain  elevators 
and  the  shipping  and  cattle  yards.  There  are  also  the  Roosevelt  Hospital,  and 
several  of  the  largest  and  best  appointed  apartment  houses  in  the  city;  among 
them  the  Navarro  Flats  in  Fifty-ninth  Street,  the  quaint,  old,  and  massive  new 
church  of  the  Paulist  Fathers,  thriving  stores  on  Eighth  Avenue,  and  the  stables 
of  the  Eighth,  Belt  Line,  and  Seventh  Avenue  and  Broadway  Railroads,  and 
several  vast  manufactories  such  as  the  Elm  Flax  Mills.  The  most  remarkable 
event  of  late  years  was  the  attempted  suicide  of  Miss  Hattie  J.  Hull  at  the 
Fiftieth  Street  station  of  the  Sixth  Avenue  Elevated  Railroad,  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  May,  1881.  The  young  lady  had  been  betrayed  by  a  Custom  House 
official,  and,  finding  he  was  married,  threw  herself,  while  in  his  company,  in 
front  of  an  approaching  train,  and  although  frightfully  injured,  recovered,  and 
lived  to  see  her  betrayer  get  his  deserts. 

The  Twenty-Third  Precinct. — The  Twenty-third  Precinct  is  between 
Seventy-ninth  Street,  Fifth  Avenue,  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Street,  and  the  East 
River.  The  station  house  is  at  Nos.  432  and  434  East  Eighty-eighth  Street.  It 
is  singularly  well  situated,  and  is  a  medium  structure,  having  been  built  eleven 
years  ago  with  the  quarters  of  the  First  Mounted  Squad,  which  no  longer  exists, 
it  having  been  incorporated  with  the  Second  Precinct.  The  officers  are:  Cap- 
tain, John  Sanders;  and  Sergeants,  William  R.  Haughey,  Imer  D.  Luerssen, 
Michael  Sheehan,  and  Nel  son  Haraden.  Haughey's  record  is;  Patrolman,  1872, 
Roundsman  1881,  and  Sergeant  1883.  Luerssen  joined  the  Department  in 
1876,  in  three  years  he  was  Roundsman,  and  a  month  later  he  was  promoted. 
Sheehan  was  Patrolman  in  1868,  Roundsman  in  1873,  and  Sergeant  in  1876. 
Haraden  was  appointed  in  1864,  was  Roundsman  in  1877,  and  got  his  rank  in 
1880. 

Captain  John  Sanders,  of  the  Twenty-third  Precinct,  who  has  such  a 
creditable  record  as  a  life-saver,  was  born  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  in  1844.  He 
served  with  distinction  in  the  army  for  four  years  during  the  late  war.  He  was 
appointed  on  the  Police  force  in  May,  1866,  and  was  made  a  Roundsman  in  the 
same  year.  In  1868  he  was  promoted  to  a  Sergeantcy,  and  in  1872  was  made 
Captain.  During  the  last  year  he  saved  no  less  that  seven  persons  from 
drowning.  The  Board  of  Police,  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  twenty-third  of  De- 
cember, 1883,  passed  the  following  resolutions: 

"  Resolved,  That  highly  honorable  mention  be  made  in  the  records  of  this 
department  of  the  gallant  and  courageous  conduct  of  Captain  John  Sanders,  of 
the  Twenty-third  Precinct,  who,  at  the  risk  of  his  life  on  each  occasion,  fear- 
lessly plunged  into  the  East  River  and  succeeded  in  saving  the  lives  of  five 
persons,  two  of  whom  were  little  girls,  aged  respectively,  fourteen  and  seven,  a 
lady,  and  two  young  men." 

The  Board  further  resolved  that  Captain  Sanders  "  be  awarded  the  Medal 
of  Honor  of  this  Department  for  his  commendable  action;  and  that  this  resolu- 
tion be  suitably  engrossed,  and  with  the  medal,  presented  to  Captain  Sanders." 

This  is  a  precinct  of  long  and  dreary  posts.  There  are  fifteen  day  posts  and 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


thirty  night  posts.  Of  the  quota  of  seventy-six  men,  an  average  of  eight  are 
sidk  or  detailed.  John  J.  Donovan  and  Samuel  G.  Sheldon  are  the  Precinct  De- 
tectives. The  detailed  officers  are:  John  Phelan,  House  of  the  Good  Slupherd; 
and  Edward  O'Hara,  Central  Office. 

This  is  a  i)recinct  that  is  being  built  up,  and  there  is  yet  unbuilt  territory  on 
which  to  erect  homes  for  thousands.  Within  five  years  one-quarter  of  what  was 
hare  ground  has  been  covered  with  comfortable  houses  of  superior  construction. 
Tliis  district  has  an  Italian  colony,  of  which  it  is  not  verv  proud,  House  of  the 
Good  Shepherd,  a  shanty  district,  the  repair  shops  of  the  Third  Avenue  Ele- 
vated Railroad,  a  neat  little  park  opposite  the  Blackwell's  Island  lighthouse,  and 
some  elegant  villas  near  by,  the  Astoria  Ferry,  the  boat  ferry  to  Blackwell's 


Captain  John  Sanders. 


Island,  and  some  mansions  of  stately  magnificence  on  Fifth  Avenue,  opposite  the 
park.  There  are  also  the  Harlem  Flats,  with  the  Harlem  Gas  Works,  and  the 
stables  of  the  Second  Avenue  Railroad  Company. 

The  Twenty-eighth  Precinct. — The  Twenty-eighth  Precinct's  limits  are 
Fifty-eighth  Street,  Fifth  Avenue,  Seventy-ninth  Street,  and  the  East  River. 
The  station  house  is  at  No.  220  East  Fifty-ninth  Street.  Although  it  has  a  sepa- 
rate prison  it  is  the  unhealthiest  and  most  antiquated  structure  in  the  city.  It 
was  built  by  the  native  Americans  in  1852.  In  a  few  months  a  magnificent 
station  house  for  this  command  is  to  be  built  on  the  north  side  of  Sixty-seventh 
Street,  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  west  of  Third  Avenue,  by  Architect  Na- 
thaniel D.  Bush.  The  lot  is  50  x  ioo'5,  feet,  the  main  building  will  be  50  x  68 
feet,  and  four  stories  high,  and  the  prison  50  x  23  feet,  and  three  stories  high. 


382 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  cost  will  exceed  eighty  thousand  dollars.  The  officers  of  the  command  are  : 
Captain,  John  Gunner;  and  Sergeants,  John  Hamilton,  William  B.  McMillen, 
Henry  Roberts,  and  William  J.  Linden.  Hamilton's  dates  are:  Patrolman  1866, 
Roundsman,  1871,  and  Sergeant  next  year.  McMillan  was  appointed  1869,  was 
Roundsman  1874,  and  got  rank  last  May.  Roberts  was  appointed  in  1865,  be- 
came Roundsman  in  1866,  and  six  months  later  was  promoted.  Linden  was  Pa- 
trolman in  1861,  Roundsman  two  years  later,  and  Sergeant  in  1872. 

Captain  John  Gunner  was  born  in  London,  England,  and  came  to  this 
country  when  he  was  seven  years  old.    He  was  apprenticed  in  the  same  shop,  at 


Twonty-eighth  Precinct  Police  Station,  220  East  Fifty-ninth  Street 

No.  17  John  Street,  in  which  Daniel  Carpenter,  who  was  afterwards  Inspector  and 
Superintendent  under  John  A.  Kennedy,  worked. 

Captain  Gunner  joined  ihe  Police  on  the  sixth  of  April,  1861,  and  was  as- 
signed to  duty  in  the  Twenty-ninth  Precinct  under  Captain  Frank  Speight.  He 
remained  there  for  eight  years,  during  which  time  he  served  in  the  capacity  of 
Patrolman,  Roundsman, '  and  Ward  Detective.  He  was  then  transferred  with 
Speight  to  the  Twenty-seventh  Precinct.  On  June  i,  1870,  he  was  made  Cap- 
tain,^and  took  charge  of  the  Nineteenth  Precinct  up  to  1875,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Street  Cleaning  Bureau.  At  his  own  request  he  was  removed 
from  this  place,  and  was  sent  to  the  Twenty-eighth  Precinct. 


OUR  POIJCF.  PROTECTORS. 


383 


In  1863,  a  young  Russian  noljleman,  Eugene  Count  Mcdewitzk,  came  to  this 
dbuntry  and  put  up  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel.  He  mixed  among  the  best 
society,  and  insinuated  himself  into  the  good  graces  of  everybody  with  wlioni  he 
came  in  contact.  .\  Russian  war  vessel  happened  to  arrive  at  the  port  of  New 
York  during  the  Count's  visit  here.  The  officers  belonging  to  the  ship  gave  a 
grand  ball  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  and  Eugene  Count  Medewitzk  was  invited. 
He  was  there  introduced  to  a  young  lady  who  resided  in  West  Thirty-fifth  Street, 
near  Park  Avenue.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  ball  he  escorted  her  home.  The 
young  lady  was  engaged  to  be  married  to  a  wholesale  flour  merchant,  who  had 
given  her  a  diamond  solitaire  ring,  which  cost  one  thousand  one  hundred  dollars. 
After  seeing  her  home  the  Count  called  .so  see  her  several  times.  He  asked  her 
for  the  loan  of  the  ring,  and  she  acceded.    A  few  days  afterwards  the  lady's 


Captain  John  Gunner. 


intended  asked  her  what  she  iiad  done  with  the  ring.  She  commenced  crying, 
and  said  that  the  Ru.ssian  Count  admired  the  ring  and  asked  to  look  at  it.  Three 
letters  were  written  to  the  Count,  but  the  ring  was  not  returned.  The  lady's 
intended  then  made  a  complaint  at  the  Twenty-ninth  Street  Station  House,  and 
Captain  Gunner  proceeded  to  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  where  he  arrested  the  dis- 
tinguished foreigner  at  two  a.  m.,  on  his  returning  from  a  fashionable  soiree.  The 
Count  was  dressed  regardless  of  expense.  He  was  taken  to  the  station  house,  and 
charged  with  larceny.  Captain  Gunner  discovered  that  the  thief  had  abstracted 
the  diamond  from  the  ring,  and  sold  it  to  Bishop  Ryan,  jewelers,  under  the 
Fifth  Avenue  Hotel.  When  taken  before  Judge  Kelly,  at  the  Tombs,  he  admitted 
his  guilt.  He  was  confined  for  four  or  five  months.  He  was  not  tried  in  conse- 
quence of  some  parties  not  wishing  to  have  their  names  miied  up  in  the  case.  "During 


384 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


the  time  he  was  committed  for  trial  he  was  placed  under  my  charge  for  two  days. 
He  asked  me  to  accompany  him  to  a  broker's  for  the  purpose  of  borrowing  three 
thousand  dollars.  •  I  consented.  I  knew  the  broker,  and  the  Ccunt  went  in 
ahead  of  me.  He  had  letters  of  introduction  to  the  broker,  which  stated  that  he, 
the  Count,  was  a  first-class,  reliable  and  honorable  gentleman.  The  Russian  had 
also  borrowed  a  ring  from  a  lady,  a  resident  of  Syracuse,  who  was  stopping  at  the 
Fifth  Avenue  Hotel.  The  ring  was  worth  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  All 
the  diamonds  were  taken  out  and  paste  put  in.  She  refused  to  prosecute,  and  he 
was  discharged  and  went  to  Europe,"  said  Captain  Gunner. 

His  father,  at  one  time,  it  was  said,  was  Governor  of  Poland. 

This  command  has  fourteen  day  and  twenty-eight  night  posts.  Its  quota 
of  seventy-two  men  is  reduced  by  sickness  and  details  to  an  effective  of  sixty- 
two  men.  The  Precinct  Detectives  are  Samuel  J.  Campbell  and  Hugh  Martin. 
The  detailed  officers  are:  Henry  McCadden,  Foundling  Asylum;  Edward  O. 
Tyler,  Normal  College;  James  Quigley,  Ordinances;  and  James  Curry,  to  In- 
spector Murray's  office. 

The  Twenty-eighth  Precinct  has  witliin  its  wing  some  important  charitable, 
social,  and  public  institutions.  There  are  the  Mount  Sinai,  Hahnemann  and  Pres- 
byterian Hospitals,  the  Foundling  A  sylum,  the  Lenox  Library,  the  Normal  College, 
the  Seventh  Regiment  Armory,  the  Liederkranz  and  Arion  buildings,  the  Third 
Avenue  Railroad  Depot,  Terrace  Garden,  Jones'  Woods,  and  other  places  of 
summer  recreation,  the  repair  shops  of  the  Second  Avenue  Elevated  Railroad, 
and  the  American  Institute  building.  East  of  Third  Avenue  the  popu- 
lation is  mixed  and  troublesome,  and  west  of  it  the  citizens  range  from  respect- 
able to  wealthy,  and  the  dwellings  are  those  of  the  middle  class  to  millionaires,- 
especially  along  Fifth  Avenue.  This  precinct  has  furnished  some  remarkable 
stories,  in  which  the  public  took  great  interest.  One  was  the  attempted  abduc- 
tion in  April,  1881,  of  the  daughter  of  Louis  Strassburger,  a  wealthy  diamond 
merchant,  and  on  the  seventh  of  April  of  that  year  Detective  Campbell,  in  self- 
defense,  shot  and  killed  one  of  her  intending  abductors,  Edward  H.  J.  Sagert. 
On  the  twelfth  of  February,  1884,  Jenny  Avery  shot  Victor  Andre  at  the  down- 
town station  of  the  Elevated  Railroad  at  Third  Avenue  and  Fifty-ninth  Street, 
and  then  shot  herself  dead.  Andre  recovered  and  is  now  in  Europe.  The  dis- 
ajjpearance  of  Ida  Swartz,  on  November  22,  1882,  was  the  talk  of  the  city  for 
months,  and  the  affair  has  never  been  fully  explained,  although  it  is  known  th  -t 
after  hiding  in  the  city  for  some  time,  friends  enabled  her  to  leave  and  enter  an 
educational  institution  far  away. 

The  Thirtieth  Precinct. — The  Thirtieth  Precinct  is  bounded  by  One 
Hundred  and  Tenth  Street,  Seventh  Avenue,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth 
Street,  and  the  North  River.  The  station  house  is  in  West  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-sixth  Street,  near  Eighth  Avenue.  It  was  a  dwelling  house,  belongs  to 
the  Cortlandt  Often  estate,  and  was  reconstructed  by  Architect  Nathaniel  D. 
Bush.  The  prison  cells  are  underground.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  Jacob 
Siebert;  and  Sergeants,  Charles  R.  AVilson,  Cornelius  Weston,  Christopher 
Boehme,  and  Thomas  L.  Heape.  Wilson  s  dates  are:  Patrolman  1866,  Rounds- 
man 1867,    and  Sergeant  1870.     Weston  was  Patrolman  1865,  Roundsman 


OUR  POLICE  PROTKCrORS. 


385 


1867,  and  Sergeant  1872.  Boehme  was  appointed  in  1862,  Ijecame  Rounds- 
man in  eight  years,  and  in  187 1  was  promoted.  Ile.ipe  joined  tlie  force  in  1859, 
was  Roundsman  in  1870,  and  next  year  wow  rank. 

Cai'TAIN  Jacob  Sifbert,  of  the  Thirtieth  Precine  t,  was  born  November 
27,  1836,  in  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1853.  He  was  appointed  on 
the  force  February  4,  1861.  He  was  made  Sergeant,  and  was  promoted 
Captain  August  21,  1873.  He  has  served  at  different  times  in  the  Thirty- 
second,  Twenty-fourth,  Seventh,  Seventeenth,  Thirty-first,  and  Thirtietii  Pre- 
cincts. Captain  Siebert  is  one  of  the  most  vigilant  Captains  in  the  Depart- 
ment, and  has  on  all  occasions  displayed  good  judgment,  executive  ability,  and 


Captain  Jacob  Siebert. 


has  been  a  terror  to  the  criminal  classes  in  the  several  precincts  where  he  has 
served. 

There  are  ten  dav  and  seventeen  niglit  posts  in  tliis  precinct,  of  magnificent 
but  weary  distances.  To  cover  this  vast  territory  there  is  an  effective  force  of 
forty-five  out  of  fifty-three  men,  and  they  need  to  be  good  travelers  and  inured 
to  hardship  in  winter  and  wet  weather.  Matthew  McSherry  is  the  Precinct  De- 
tective. The  detailed  officers  are:  H.  W.  Gilliland,  Ordinances;  Adam  Meyer, 
Convent  of  the  Sacre  Coer;  James  Moody,  African  Asylum;  Charles  Miner, 
Fort  Lee  Ferry;  Thomas  O'Brien,  Sheltering  Arms. 

The  Tliirtieth  Precinct  covers  some  of  the  higliest  ground  in  the  city,  and 
over  the  ridge  which  runs  south  from  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Street,  rode 
Aaron  Burr  the  morning  that  he  went  to  fight  his  duel  with  Hamilton.  The  district 
is  a  growing  one,  and  there  is  everything  in  the  way  of  a  dwelling  on  it,  from  a 
shanty  to  a  mansion.    Part  of  the  best  driving  ground  in  New  York  runs  through 


386 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


it,  and  it  protects  the  Morningside  and  Riverside  Parks,  the  Convent  of  the 
Sacred  Heart,  the  Leake  and  Watts  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Association  for  the 
Benefit  of  Colored  Orphans,  Manhattan  College,  Bloomingdale  Asylum  for  the 
Insane,  and  the  Fort  Lee  Ferry. 

The  Thirty-First  Precinct. — The  Thirty-first  Precinct's  limits  are  Sixty- 
third  Street,  Eighth  Avenue,  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Street,  and  the  North  River. 
The  station  house,  a  new  one  of  the  second  class,  with  a  separate  prison,  is  at 
Nos.  432  and  434  West  One  Hundredth  Street,  in  the  rear  of  the  Ninety-ninth 
Street  Hospital.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  James  M.  Leary;  and  Sergeants, 
Patrick  Walsh,  John  Fitzgerald,  Richard  Coffy  and  Frank  B.  Randall.  Walsh 
was  a  Patrolman  in  1866,  Roundsman  1875,  and  Sergeant  next  year.  Fitz- 


Captain  James  Madison  Leary. 

gerald's  dates  are:  Patrolman  1862,  Roundsman  1864,  and  Sergeant  1865. 
Coffy  was  appointed  in  1873,  became  Roundsman  in  1877,  and  three  years  later 
Sergeant.  Randall  joined  the  force  in  1865,  was  Roundsman  in  four  years,  and 
in  1870  won  rank. 

CAPTAIN  J.-vMES  Madison  Leary  was  born  in  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  of  February,  1833.  Wlicn  (]uite  young  his  father  died,  and  the  future 
Captain  was  put  to  work  to  learn  the  trade  of  printer.  In  those  days  type  was 
cast  by  hand-moulds,  and  the  apprentice  boys  used  to  be  sent  out  to  blacksmith 
shops  to  buy  horse  nails,  which  were  pounded  into  spoons,  with  which  the  lead 
was  lifted  and  cast  into  the  moulds.  In  those  early  days,  young  Leary  and  a 
bright  lad  named  Conlin,  worked  together  in  the  same  shop,  and  were  great 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


387 


"chums."  The  boys  had  never  been  to  a  theatre,  and  at  the  suggestion  of 
young  Leary,  both  of  an  evening  "  took  in  "  the  old  Cliatham  Street  Theatre, 
(afterwards  known  as  the  National  Theatre).  Coiilin  was  infatuated  with  the 
play,  and  regularly  after  that  he  used  to  spend  his  spare  dimes  in  patronizing  the 
drama.  Conlin,  the  young  type-setter,  became  famous  in  after  years  as  a  his- 
trionic star,  having  adopted  the  stage  name  of  Billy  Florence.  Young  Leary  soon 
got  tired  of  type-setting,  and  learned  the  trade  of  jeweler.  At  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the  Eleventh  New  York  Volunteers,  immediately  after 
the  first  gun  was  fired  on  Fort  Sumter.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  the  first 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  having  been  shot  through  the  thigh.  He  was  taken  prisoner 
and  immured  in  Libby  Prison.  He,  on  his  release,  on  the  recommendation  of 
his  Colonel,  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  for  bravery  on  the  battlefield.  He 
jomcd  the  Police  force  in  1863,  was  made  Roundsman  in  1S64,  Sergeant  in 
1867,  and  Captain  in  August,  187 1.  He  served  as  Patrolman  in  the  Fourtli  Pre- 
cinct, as  Roundsman  in  the  Eighteenth  Precinct,  as  Sergeant  in  the  Second  and 
Eighteenth  Precincts,  and  as  Captain  in  the  Twenty-first,  Twenty-sixth,  'I  hirtieth, 
Thirteenth  and  Tliirty-first  Precincts,  he  being  in  command  of  tiie  latter  pre- 
cinct at  tlie  present  time. 

This  i)recinct  has  thirteen  day  and  twenty-six  night  posts,  all  long.  Its 
quota  of  sixty-four  men  is  reduced  by  sickness  and  details  to  fifty-two  men. 
Herman  Wagner  is  the  Precinct  Detective.  The  detailed  officers  are:  Lancelot 
J.  Tierney,  Ordinances;  and  William  Holmes,  House  of  Mercy. 

Territorially,  and  in  respect  of  ])Opulation,  the  Thirty-first  Precinct  is  sim- 
ilar to  its  neighbor,  the  Thirtieth  Precinct.  The  face  of  this  district  is  being 
constantly  changed  by  builders,  and,  it  being  high  ground,  it  cannot  fail  of  some 
day  being  the  home  of  many  of  the  better  class.  Its  shanty  ];o)nilation  is  being 
fast  crowded  out.  It  has  within  its  boundaries  the  House  of  Mercy,  the  Ameri- 
can Museum  of  Natural  History,  and  the  Dakota  Flats — the  largest  apartment 
house  in  the  city.  The  Riverside  Drive  begins  here.  At  Seventy-ninth  Street 
and  Western  Boulevard  are  to  1  e  found  cells  in  which  British  prisoners  were  kept 
at  the  time  of  the  Revolutionarv  War,  and  there  is  the  house  where  Washington's 
officers  were  quartered.  Elm  Park,  a  summer  pic-nic  ground,  was  the  scene, 
fourteen  years  ago,  of  the  rough  handling  of  a  number  of  Orangemen. 

The  Thirty-Second  Precinct. — The  Thirty-second  Precinct  is  confined 
between  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  Street,  the  Harlem  River,  Sherman's 
Creek,  Dyckman's,  Norwood  Street,  and  ti'ie  North  River.  The  station  house  is 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  One  Hundred  and  P"ifty-second  Street  and  Tenth  Ave- 
nue. Built  twelve  years  ago,  it  was  so  well  constructed,  and  has  been  so  admirably 
kept,  that  it  equals,  in  every  respect,  the  most  modern  station  house.  It  is  snug 
in  the  winter,  and  a  charming,  breezy  resort  in  summer.  In  spite  of  the  arduous 
duty  required  of  its  Patrolmen,  few  are  ever  sick,  and  a  sick  man  sent  tliere  quits 
it  a  sanitarian.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  Moses  W.  Cortright;  and  Sergeants 
Thomas  F.  Mc.\voy,  William  F.  Kirchner,  John  R.  Groo  and  Eugene  T.  Wood- 
ward. McAvoy  was  Patrolman  in  1870,  Roundsman  in  187 1,  and  Sergeant  in 
1877.  Kirchner's  dates  are:  Patrolm;in  1870,  Roundsman  1873,  Sergeant, 
1880.    Groo  was  appointed  in  1868,  became  Roundsman  in  1869,  and  two  years 


388 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


later  was  promoted.  Woodward  joined  the  Department  in  1862,  was  Rounds- 
man in  three  years,  and  won  rank  in  187 1. 

Moses  W.  C6rtright  is  a  native  of  this  State.  He  was  born  in  1839,  and 
joined  the  force  as  Patrolman  on  January  7,  1867.  He  was  made  Roundsman 
March  19,  1875 ;  Sergeant,  July  19,  1876;  and  Captain,  February  8,  1884.  He 
served  with  credit  in  the  Twentieth  and  Twenty-second  Precincts. 

This  is  a  Mounted  Police  Precinct,  and  even  the  horsemen  are  aided  by 
boxes  from  which  they  can  send  necessary  signals  to  the  station  house;  no  foot- 
men could  ever  cover  the  posts.  There  are  thirteen  day  and  twenty-four  night 
posts.  Of  the  day  posts  mounted  officers  cover  four,  and  of  the  night  posts  seven 
are  covered  by  horsemen.    The  ninnv  details,  and  rot  sickness,  reduce  the  effec- 


Captain  Moses  W.  Cortright. 


tive  force  from  seventy-one  men  to  fifty-six.  Josejjh  H.  Thayer  is  the  Precinct 
Detective.  The  detailed  men  are  Roundsman  H.  Wagner  to  stable;  John  C. 
Moore,  Juvenile  Asylum;  James  Crosby.  Ordinances;  Charles  H.  Francis,  Cen- 
tral Bridge;  and  Michael  Kirby,  Telegraph  Office. 

The  most  delightful  command  in  the  summer.  A  district  of  villa  residences, 
a  population  of  well-to-do  citizens,  who  have  business  in  New  York.  High  in 
elevation,  and  remote  from  the  city,  it  is  luxurious  rusticity  within  its  walls.  A 
zephyr  down-town  is  found  to  be  a  breeze  here.  In  winter  it  is  pleasant  in  this 
neighborhood,  and  few  of  its  villa  residents  find  it  necessary  to  move  to  the  city. 
It  protects  the  Juvenile  Asylum,  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum,  the  Trinity 
Cemetery,  the  Institution  for  the  Blind,  the  High  Bridge  Park  and  Reservoir 
High  Bridge  and  its  approaches,  the  termini  of  the  Ninth  Avenue  and  New 


OUR  roTJcr.  protectors.  389 

York  City  and  Northern  Railro:id.  Audubon  Park,  with  the  magnificent  resi- 
dences there  of  George  B.  Grinnell,  Charles  H.  Kerner,  Edward  P.  Griffin,  Charles 
Shaw,  Sheppard  F.  Knapj),  Andrew  L.  Soulard,  William  Forster,  Jr.,  Eugene 
M.  Jerome,  John  Dalley,  Charles  Miller,  and  Wellington  Clap]),  and  the  houses 
of  Leopold  Scliipp,  Nelson  Chase,  Riciiard  C.  Combs,  J.  Hootl  Wright,  Robert 


Thirty-second  Precinct  Police  Station,  Tenth  Avenue,  cor.  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-second  Street. 

C.  Rathbone,  Charles  A.  Tatum,  Louis  F.  Martin,  Isaac  P.  >Lartin,  E.  R  Whit- 
ing, Douglas  Hollister,  Frederick  Sherman,  John  M.  Hopkins,  Mrs.  Seth  C. 
Hawlev,  John  Haven,  Hosea  B.  Perkins,  Arthur  V.  Briesen,  Charles  S.  Fitc  h, 
John  B.  Havs,  LL.D.,  George  F.  McCandless,  James  G.  Mitchell,  William 
Libbey,  William  H.  Hays,  James  G.  Bennett,  Warren  H.  Ward,  and  hundreds  of 


39W 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


others.  In  this  villa  district  in  summer  time  the  scene  at  night  is  fairy-like,  with 
the  lights  from  brilliantly  illuminated  dwellings  falling  on  cleverly  mowed  lawns, 
shrubberies,  trees'and  flowers.    Little,  if  any,  crime  is  chronicled  in  this  precinct. 

The  Thirty-third  Precinct. — The  Thirty-third  Precinct's  limits  are  the 
Bronx  River,  Long  Island  Sound,  the  Bronx  Hills,  the  Harlem  River,  Cromwell's 
Creek,  Central  Avenue,  the  Town  Line  of  Morrisania,  Horton  Street,  Broadway, 
Boston  Road,  Union  Avenue,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth  Street,  an  imaginary 
line  to  the  West  Farms  Road,  Lyons  Street,  and  We.-,tchcster  Avenue.  The 
station  house  is  the  old  Morrisania  Town  Hall,  a  structure  of  somewhat  preten- 
tious architecture,  at  Third  and  Washington  Avenues,  Morrisania.  It  stands 
back  on  an  irregular  plot,  and  the  grounds  are  lovely  in  summer,  rank  and  file 
taking  an  interest  in  the  flower  garden,  pastures  and  lawns.  The  accommoda- 
tions are  wretched,  but  the  place  is  comfortable.  The  cells  are  in  the  basement. 
The  time  is  not  far  distant  when  two  first-class  modern  station  houses  will  be 


63  FT  -■  "    27". 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Street. 


Thirty-second  Precinct  Police  Station — Floor  Plans. 

required  in  this  precinct.  The  officers  are,  the  senior  Captain  of  the  force, 
Theron  R.  Bennett,  and  Sergeants  Patrick  Connor,  Stephen  Keating,  Bernard 
McEveety,  and  Robert  J.  Wallace.  Connor  was  a  Westchester  County  Sergeant, 
and  annexation  transferred  him  to  New^  York  County.  Keating  was  a  Patrolman 
in  1868,  a  Roundsman  in  1870,  and  a  Sergeant  in  1873.  McEveety's  dates  are: 
Patrolman  1873,  Roundsman  1875,  and  Sergeant  1880.  Wallace  was  ap- 
pointed in  1865,  was  made  Roundsman  in  1874,  and  got  rank  1882. 

Captain  Theron  R.  Bennett  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  July  8, 
1813,  and,  while  he  was  yet  quite  young,  came  to  this  city  and  took  a  position 
as  clerk,  at  the  corner  of  Greenwich  and  Perry  Streets.  He  afterwards  worked 
as  a  baker;  was  boss  on  the  building  of  the  Ramapo  Railroad,  and  held  the  same 
position  in  the  making  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad.  He  also  served  as  stew- 
ard and  mate  on  a  line  of  steamers  to  Boston,  after  which  he  returned  to  the 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


39> 


bakery  trade,  and  was  L'nii)loyed  at  the  Almshouse  at  the  foot  of  Twcnty- 
sixtli  Street,  East  River.  He  was  appointed  Assistant  Police  Captain  by  Mayor 
Caleb  J.  VVoodhull,  in  1849,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Eighteenth  Ward.  He  was 
made  Captain  of  the  same  Ward  in  1857. 

Captain  Bennett  has  had  a  remarkable  career  during  his  long  connection 
with  the  Police  force.  He  particularly  distinguished  himself  during  the  Ward's 
Island  riot  in  1868,  when  he,  with  only  six  men,  stood  gallantly  before  six  hun- 
dred wild  rioters,  and  (picUed  the  disturbance.  It  appears  that  a  feeling  of 
hatred  had  sprung  up  between  the  Irish  and  the  Germans,  who  were  then  housed 
on  Ward's  Island,  and  on  the  morni:!g  of  the  fifth  of  March,  1868,  the  war  at 
length  opened  in  real  earnest.  While  the  (lermnns  were  waiting  for  their  break- 
fast, they  gesticulated  wildly,  spoke  in  loud  tones,  and  it  was  apparent  that  they 


Captain  Theron  R.  Bennett. 

were  bent  on  mischief.  The  Irishmen  at  this  time  were  in  the  basement  of  the 
building,  and  as  the  Germans  were  passing  through  the  hall  on  their  way  to 
breakfast  they  made  a  savage  onslaught  on  them  with  clubs,  stones,  pitchforks, 
shovels,  and  anything  they  could  lay  their  iiands  on.  The  Irishmen  were  taken 
by  surprise,  and  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  vowing  vengeance  against  the  Germans. 
After  a  while  the  Irish  returned,  armed  with  bars,  long  poles,  ice  breakers,  clubs 
and  knives,  and  one  of  their  number,  placing  a  green  veil  on  the  top  of  a  flag- 
staff, called  out:  "That's  your  flag,  boys;  now  rally  round  it."  A  vociferous 
cheer  greeted  these  words,  and  a  headlong  rush  was  made  towards  the  basement, 
where  the  Germans  had  taken  up  their  quarters.  Superintendent  Hinck,  when  he 
saw  the  affair  would  be  likely  to  lead  to  bloodshed,  and  being  unable  to  quell  the 
riot,  dispatched  a  messenger  for  Captain  Bennett,  who  was  then  at  the  Twelfth  Pre- 
cinct, asking  for  assistance.    Meantime,  the  Irish  had  broken  down  the  basement 


392 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


door,  and  were  furiously  attacking  the  Germans.  When  the  fight  was  at 
its  heighth,  and  as  the  Germans  were  gradually  giving  way,  Captain  Bennett,  with 
eleven  men,  arrived  on  the  scene.  He  ordered  them  to  stop  fighting,  and  on  their 
refusal  to  do  so,  he  ordered  his  men  to  draw  their  revolvers.  This  action  infuri- 
ated the  Irishmen,  and  they  flung  themselves  on  the  small  body  of  officers,  who 
fired  on  them,  and  severely  wounded  four  of  them.  This  made  the  rioters  hesi- 
tate. At  this  moment  an  additional  force  of  men  was  seen  hastening  to  the  aid 
of  Captain  Bennett.  The  rioters  immediately  desisted,  and  went  out  into  the 
grounds  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  Police.  On  the  arrival  of  reinforcements,  the 
rioters  on  both  sides  were  made  to  walk  through  a  lane  of  Policemen  with  dra%vn 
clubs.    They  were  afterwards  searched,  and  ail  dangerous  weapons  were  taken 


Thirty-third  Precinct  Police  Station,  Town  Hail,  Morrisania. 


from  them.  The  most  ])rominent  leaders  in  the  riots  were  arrested,  but  the  man 
who  carried  the  green  emblem  could  nowhere  be  found,  and  it  was  thought  that 
he  escaped.  Neither  the  Germans  nor  the  Irish  ever  again  attempted  a  similar 
exploit  on  Ward's  Island. 

The  partisans  of  Fernando  Wood  in  1857  inten:lcd  to  hold  a  meeting  at  the 
Academy  of  Music,  but  when  the  crowd  got  there  the  owners  of  the  hall 
refused  to  admit  them.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  shouting,  and  a  riot  was 
threatened.  Captain  Bennett,  with  a  force  of  only  eight  men,  arrived  on  the 
scene,  and,  by  his  coolness  and  foresight,  gradually  got  the  crowd  of  seven 
thousand  persons  to  quietly  disperse,  and  thus  saved  the  Academy  of  Music  from 
destruction. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


393 


*  During  the  draft  riots  Captain  Benne'.t  had  command  of  the  Seventh  Pre- 
cinct, and  on  several  occasions  dispersed  crowds  of  the  rioters. 

This  is  a  horse  patrol  precinct.  Of  the  eight  day  posts,  three  are  covered 
by  horsemen,  as  are  five  of  the  sixteen  night  posts.  The  ([uota  of  forty-nine  men 
has  an  effective  force  of  about  forty-two.  There  are  three  telegraph  boxes  in  the 
precinct,  from  which  it  is  jjossible  to  send  communications  by  signal  to  the 
station  house.  One  is  at  Harlem  Bridge,  another  on  the  Eastern  Boulevard, 
near  Arcularius'  Hotel,  and  the  other  on  the  Eastern  Boulevard,  near  One  Hun- 
dred and.  Seventy-fifth  Street,  the  upper  end  of  the  precinct.  The  Precinct  De- 
tectives are  William  Clark  and  Joseph  Schirmer.  The  detailed  men  are:  James 
E.  Conklin,  Ordinances;  James  A.  McCauley,  Madison  .\venue  Bridge. 


Thirty-fojrth  Precinct  Police  Station,  Tremont. 


The  Thirty-third  Precinct  takes  care  of  the  lines  of  the  Vanderbilt 
railroads  which  trend  eastward,  the  Portchester  Railroad,  Fleetwood  Park, 
dozens  of  breweries,  Jordan  L.  Mott's  foundries.  North  and  South  Brothers 
Islands,  Riker's  Island,  the  wreck  of  the  Hussar,  the  coalesced  villages  of  North 
New  York,  Mott  Haven,  Melrose,  Inwood,  Port  Morris,  and  Woodstock,  and 
many  manufactories.  Its  population  is  as  much  mixed  as  in  any  Police  district. 
It  has  villas  of  greater  or  less  pretensions  on  the  Sound,  and  negro  shanties  bound 
avenues  bordered  with  homes  for  all  classes,  and  country  lanes,  tenement  house 
localities,  and  wastes,  rocky  knolls,  and  fetid  swamps.  It  is  a  district  of  great 
promise,  but  sanitarians  and  engineers  will  have  to  do  all  that  science  can  suggest 
before  one-third  of  what  is  now  bare  ground  can  be  covered  with  habitable 


394 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


houses.  One  of  the  greatest  problems  of  the  age  for  this  district  is  the  sewerage 
question  and  the  treatment  of  the  Bronx  River  banks. 

The  Thirty-fourth  Precinct. — The  Thirty-fourth  Precinct  is  mapped 
out  as  follows:  Central  Avenue,  Kingsbridge  Road,  Van  Cortlandt  Avenue, 
Williamsbridge  Road,  Bronx  River,  Westchester  Avenue,  Lyons  Street,  West 
Farms  Road,  an  imaginary  line  to  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth  Street,  Union 
Avenue,  Boston  Road,  Broadway,  Horton  Street,  and  town  line  of  Morrisania. 
The  station  house  is  at  No.  1925  Barthgate  Avenue.  It  was  originally  Tremont 
Town  Hall,  and  afterwards  a  schoolhouse,  and  is  among  the  most  curious  Police 
buildings  in  the  country.  It  has  one  story  and  an  attic,  and  is  perched  upon 
rocks  which  are  covered  with  turf  so  that  it  has  the  appearance  of  a  fortification. 


Captain  John  M.  Robbins. 


The  cells  are  underground.  It  was  once  a  sub-station  under  tlie  Metropolitan 
Police.  Plans  have  been  prepared  to  have  boxes  at  the  end  of  remote  posts  to 
send  telegraphic  signals  to  the  station  house.  It  is  a  mounted  Police  precinct, 
and  the  stables  are  in  the  rear  of  the  station  house.  The  officers  are:  Captain, 
John  M.  Robbins;  and  Sergeants,  Thomas  Huff,  James  S.  Mead,  Joseph  Stewart, 
and  William  H.  Webb.  Huff  dates  from  1858;  he  was  Roundsman  in  i860; 
and  three  years  later  was  promoted.  Mead  was  Patrolman  in  1869,  Rounds- 
man in  1874,  and  Sergeant  in  1876.  Stewart's  dates  are:  Patrolman  1866, 
Roundsman  1871,  and  Sergeant,  1876.  Webb  was  appointed  in  1867,  became 
Roundsman  in  1871,  and  was  promoted  in  1876. 

John  M.  Robiuns  was  born  in  this  country  in  1830.  He  joined  the  force 
during  the  early  stages  of  the  organization  of  the  Municipal  Police,  and,  at  the 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


395 


time  of  the  re-organization  of  the  Police  Department  in  1857,  he  was  appointed  a 
Patrolman  of  the  Metropolitan  Police.  Cajjtain  Robbins  is  a  man  of  sound 
judgment,  ([iiick  intelligence,  and  as  a  Captain  he  has  done  some  very  clever 
work  in  arresting  criminals. 

The  Thirty-fourth  Precinct  is  a  more  rural  district  than  the  Thirty-third 
Precinct,  but  ground  is  daily  cleared  for  dwellings.  It  takes  in  the  villages  of 
Tremont,  Adamsville,  Belmont,  Fordham,  and  St.  John's  College  and  West 
Farms.  Five  years  from  now  its  population  will  be  trebled.  Crime  is  almost 
a  curiosity  in  this  precinct,  but  Lydig's  woods  are  yet  shunned  because  of  the 
murder  in  them,  on  the  se\enteenth  of  December,  1875,  of  a  poor  Jew  peddler 
by  William  Thompson,  William  Ellis  and  Charles  Weston,  negroes,  who  were 


Captain  Peter  Yule. 


captured  by  Inspector  Thorne  and  Captain  McDonnell,  and  were  executed  at 
the  Tombs. 

The  Thirty-Fifth  Precinct. — The  Tiiirty-fiftii  Precinct's  boundaries  are: 
Inwood  Street,  Dyckman  Street,  Sherman's  Creek,  Harlem  River,  Farmer's 
Bridge,  Kingsliridge  Road,  Central  Avenue,  Van  Cortlandt  Avenue,  Williams- 
bridge  Road,  Bronx  River,  northern  boundary  of  New  York  and  North  River. 
The  station  house  is  at  No.  6  Kingsbridge  Road.  It  is  an  irregular,  comfortable 
structure,  with  a  separate  prison,  and  was  turned  into  a  station  house  by  the 
owner,  Joseph  H.  Godwin.  The  precinct  is  a  mounted  one,  with  boxes  for  sig- 
nals from  far-off  posts.  The  officers  are:  Captain,  Peter  Yule;  and  Sergeants, 
A.  W.  McDonald,  John  T.  Wright  and  William  M.  Taylor.  McDonald  was 
Patrolman  in  1876,  Roundsman  next  year,  and  Sergeant  in  1878.  Wright's 


396 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


dates  are:  Patrolman  1858,  and  Sergeant  1868.  Taylor  was  appointed  in 
1875,  was  Roundsman  in  1876,  and  was  promoted  in  1884. 

Captain  Peter  Yule  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  on  March  12, 
1830,  and  was  brought  to  this  country  by  his  parents  when  he  was  three  years  old. 
He  was  appointed  a  Patrolman  on  the  Metropolitan  Police  on  February  27,  1858, 
and  was  assigned  to  the  Fifth  Precinct,  and  did  patrol  duty  for  ten  years.  On 
March  12,  1868,  he  was  detailed  to  Commissioner  Brennan's  Office.  He  was 
made  a  Sergeant  on  May  4,  1870,  and  detailed  to  the  Detective  office.  Subse- 
quently he  was  transferred  to  take  charge  of  the  Sanitary  Company,  as  acting 
Capcain.  In  November  following  he  attained  his  present  rank.  He  remained 
in  charge  of  the  Sanitary  Company  until  December,  1876,  when  he  was  sent  to 


Captain  Elbert  O.  Smith. 


the  Street  Cleaning  Bureau,  under  Captain  Gunner.  In  July,  1877,  he  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  Sixteentli  Precinct,  and  in  November  following  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Nineteenth  Precinct,  where  he  remained  until  the  orgini- 
zation  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Precinct,  in  January,  1878.  On  August  4,  1879, 
he  was  given  command  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Precinct,  at  Kingsbridge,  where  he 
has  remained  up  to  the  present  time. 

Of  the  seven  day  posts  three  are  mounted,  and  horsemen  cover  six  of  the 
twelve  night  posts.  The  effective  force  is  thirty-two,  out  of  thirty-four  men. 
W.  H.  Dakin  is  the  Precinct  Detective. 

This  command  takes  in  a  vast  stretch  of  promising  but,  in  part,  uninhabited 
territory,  clean  from  the  Hud.son  River  to  the  Bronx  River,  which  is  here  almost 
a  pellucid  brook.    Within  the  boundaries  of  this  district  are  Mount  St.  Vincent 


o  UR  J'oi.  1 L  K  J  'ay;  '/  'i-:cj  ors. 


397 


Academy,  Jerome  Park,  Riverchilc,  Sfjii)  ten  Duyvil,  Kingsbridge,  Oloff,  Mosholu, 
Van  Cortlandt  Lake,  Edge  Hill  Park,  Woodlawn  Village  and  Cemeterj',  Wil- 
lianisbridge,  and  many  splendid  villa  residences,  especially  along  Riverdale  Avenue. 
The  country  parts  of  tiie  ])recinct  are  wooded  in  many  places,  and  the  boom  of 
the  gun,  the  whirr  of  the  quail,  the  whistling  flight  of  the  woodcock,  the  bound 
of  the  rabbit,  and  the  scurry  of  the  scjuirrcl  are  by  no  means  rare  sounds  and 
sights,  and  the  irresisti])le  teinj)tation  to  cockney  nimrods  to  wage  war  on  the 
farmers  here  mak^s  Si;ndays  and  holidays  unbearable,  in  spite  of  ordinances  and 
Policemen. 

Captain  Elbert  O.  Smith,  of  the  Harbor  Police  Boat  "  Patrol,"  was  made 
Captain  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  February,  1885.  He  has  an  excellent  record. 
He  was  born  on  Long  Island  in  1S44,  and,  when  a  boy,  enlisted  in  the  United 


Captain  James  Kealy  (deceased). 


States  Navy.  Afterwards  he  was  employed  by  W.  H.  Webb  as  engineer  on  the 
steamship  Arago,  plying  between  New  York  and  Bremen.  Later  he  was  a  Lieu- 
tenant-Engineer in  the  Peruvian  Navy  on  the  Pachita  and  Unione.  Then  he 
returned  to  Mr.  Webb's  service,  and  was  engineer  of  the  Keystone  State  of  the 
Bermuda  Line.  He  became  a  Policeman  in  1873,  was  made  a  Roundsman  in  a 
year,  and  was  promoted  to  a  Sergeantcy  in  1876. 

The  late  Captain  Jamks  Kfaly  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1S41.  He 
was  only  in  his  twenty-second  year  when  he  was  appointed  on  tlie  Police  force, 
October  30,  1863.  He  was  detailed  for  duty  in  the  Eighth  Precinct.  On  the 
eighth  of  December,  1868,  he  was  detailed  as  Special  Detective  at  the  St. 
Nicholas  Hotel  on  Broadway,  and  here  it  was  that  he  was  called  upon  to  arrest 


398 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Charles  J.  Guiteau,  since  then  so  infamous  as  the  assassin  of  President  Garfield. 
Guiteau  paid  his  bill  with  a  bogus  check,  and  Detective  Kealy  took  him  into 
custody. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  March,  1875,  Detective  Kealy  was  transferred  from  the 
Steamboat  Squad  to  the  Detective  office,  and  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  March  of 
the  following  year  he  was  promoted  Roundsman,  and  on  the  nineteenth  of  May 
he  was  made  Sergeant.  He  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Detective  Squad. 
On  the  thirteenth  of  September,  1878,  Sergeant  Kealy  was  raised  to  the  rank  of 
Captain.  He  did  much  to  improve  the  Detective  force  under  his  command,  and 
was  a  most  upright  and  zealous  ofificer.  Later  he  was  transferred  to  the 
command  of  the  Fourteenth  Precinct.    His  death  took  place  on  January  4,  1884. 


The  late  Captain  Edward  Tynan  was  born  in  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  Novem- 
ber 30,  1843,  where  he  went  to  school  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when 
he  volunteered  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninth  Regiment,  and  became  a  member 
of  Company  A.  On  April  14,  1863,  at  the  Irish  Bend,  near  Port  Hudson,  he  was 
wounded,  and  was  confined  to  the  hospital  until  February  of  the  following  year. 
He  then  returned  home  in  order  to  recuperate  his  health.  He  remained  in  Hud- 
son until  August  6,  1864,  when  he  joined  General  Sheridan's  command  in  the  Shen- 
andoah Valley.  Young  Tynan,  at  the  time  he  was  wounded,  had  been  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Sergeant.  He  was  now  raised  to  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant, 
and  afterwards  placed  on  General  Molineux's  staff.  At  the  termination  of  the 
war  Tynan  was  appointed  a  Provost  Marshal,  and  assigned  to  duty  at  Madison, 
Georgia,  where  he  remained  until  November,  1865 


Captain  Edward  Tynan  (deceased). 


OUR  POLICE  PROJECTORS. 


^ 'Captain  Tynan  joined  the  Police  force  as  Patrolman  in  March,  1^67,  and 
was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  Fifth  Precinct.  In  one  year  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Koundsman,  and  on  August  3,  1870,  he  was  promoted  Sergeant  in  tlic 
Twelfth  Precinct.  On  March  2,  1872,  he  was  made  Captain  of  the 'J'enth  Pre- 
cinct. While  here  he  broke  up  several  gangs  of  thieves,  who,  in  the  night  time 
had  almost  complete  possession  of  the  Third  Avenue  Railroad.  He  was  also 
instrumental  in  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  Albert  Baker  and  R()l)i.Tt  (">rey, 
noted  criminals,  who  were  sentenced  to  five  years  at  Sing  Sing. 

After  two  other  changes,  Captain  Tynan  was  finally  located  in  the  Fourtli 
Precinct,  which  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  touglicst  in  the  city,  and  where 
the  services  of  a  vigorous  man  like  Captain  Edward  Tynan  were  recjuired.  His 
death  took  place  in  this  city.    He  was  regretted  and  beloved  by  all. 

The  city  of  New  York  owns  the  First,  I*"ourth,  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh, Eighth, 
Ninth,  Tenth,  Eleventh,  Twelfth,  Thirteenth,  Fourteenth,  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth, 
Seventeenth,  Eighteenth,  Nineteenth,  Twentieth,  Twenty-first,  Twenty-second, 
Twenty-third,  Twenty-fourth  (the  Harbor  Police  boat  "  Patrol  "),  Twenty-sixth 
(the  City  Hall),  Twenty-seventh,  Twenty-eighth,  Twenty-ninth,  Thirty-first, 
Thirty-second,  Thirty-third,  Thirty-fourth,  and  Steamboat  Squad  (Police  Head- 
quarters) Precinct  Station  Houses.  The  Nineteenth  Sub-Precinct  (Grand  Cen- 
tral Depot)  and  sub-stations  of  the  Steamboat  Squad  are  stations  owned  by 
corporations,  companies,  and  the  United  States  Government,  and  are  rent  free. 
The  Second  Precinct  Station  House  is  owned  by  the  W.  B.  Ogden  estate,  and  a 
rental  of  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  per  annum  is  paid  for  it.  The 
Goelet  estate  owns  the  Twenty-fifth  Precinct  Station  House  and  office  of  the 
Second  Inspection  Distrit:t,  and  receives  a  rental  of  one  tliousand  five  hundred 
dollars  per  annum.  The  estate  of  Cortlandt-Otten  owns  the  station  house 
of  the  Thirtieth  Precinct,  and  the  rent  is  eight  hundred  dollars.  Joseph  H. 
Goodwin  owns  the  Thirty-fifth  Precinct  Station  House,  and  receives  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  dollars  per  annum  for  it.  Charles  E.  Quackenbush  owns 
Parepa  Hall,  Eighty-sixth  Street  and  Third  Avenue,  where  are  the  offices  of  the 
Third  and  Fourth  Inspection  Districts,  and  the  rent  is  four  hundred  and  eighty 
dollars  per  annum. 


400 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


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402 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


DETECTIVE  DEPARTMENT. 

Its  Origin,  Progress  and  Development. — Detectives  Called  "Shadows" 
IN  Chief  Matsell's  Time. — Inspector  Thomas  Byrnes. — A  Record  that 
Reads  Like  a  Romance. — His  Reorganization  of  the  Detective  Force. 
— The  Wall  Street  Bureau. — Detective  Sergeants. — Inspector  Byrnes' 
Methods. — How  Detectives  Detect  Criminals. — Inspector  Byrnes 
AND  "The  Crook." — Their  Chance  Meeting  in  the  Street. — How  In- 
spector Byrnes  Reasons  out  a  Case. — Decrease  of  Crime  Among  Pro- 
fessional Criminals. — Criminals  and  Their  Methods.— New  York  a 
Difficult  City  to  Protect  against  Thieves. — Forgers,  Pickpockets, 
Sneak  Thieves,  Bank  Thieves,  Bunco  Steerers,  Etc. 

TN  Chief  Matsell's  time  Detectives  were  called  "shadows."  After  Sergeant 
Lefferts,  who  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Detective  Squad  in 
1857,  and  who  served  for  one  year.  Captain  George  W.  Walling,  of  the  City 
Hall  Station,  was  placed  in  charge.  He  alternated  between  the  station  house 
and  the  Detective  office,  which  was  in  the  basement  of  the  then  Headquarters, 
in  Broome  Street.  He  remained  in  command  from  1858  to  i860.  Next  came 
John  Young,  who  served  from  i860  to  1867.  He  was  succeeded  by  James  J. 
Kelso,  who  was  in  charge  from  1867  to  1870,  and  who  retired  to  make  room  for 
James  Irving.  Irving's  term  extended  from  1870  to  1875.  Captain  James  Kealy  was 
the  next  commandant,  and  remained  as  such  from  1876  to  1880.  Then  the 
present  incumbent.  Inspector  Thomas  Byrnes,  took  charge.  This  really  marked 
the  first  serious  and  successful  attempt  to  give  New  York  City  a  Detective  De- 
partment worthy  of  the  name. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1857  the  Board  of  Police  adopted  a  resolution  giving  to 
the  Deputy  Superintendent  the  power  to  detail  to  his  office  twenty  Policemen,  to 
be  designated  "Detectives."  This  resolution  was  carried  into  effect  by  Deputy 
Superintendent  Carpenter,  by  selecting  those  whose  peculiar  talents  adapted 
them  for  such  important  service.  Some  of  those  men  had  for  years  belonged 
to  the  old  force,  and  were  attached  to  the  office  of  George  W.  Matsell.  Others 
were  highly  recommended  by  their  respective  Captains.  And  others,  newly  aj)- 
pointed  members,  but  whose  character  for  integrity  and  experience  of  life  in 
New  York,  rendered  them  valuable  acquisitions  to  the  Detective  force. 

This  force  was  divided  into  squads,  each  squad  having  particular  cognizance 
of  a  certain  class  of  crimes.  Their  instructions  were  to  make  themselves 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  mode  and  manner  by  which  each  species 
of  crime  was  committed,  and  the  class  of  persons  engaged  in  its  commission. 


OUR  J 'O LICK  J'ROrECrORS. 


'  Besides  looking  after  these  particular  duties,  they  were  directed  to  attend 
at  night  ill  large  assemblies,  and  to  arrest  or  drive  away  all  known  pickpockets, 
or  others  whose  actions  led  them  to  suppose  they  were  pickpockets,  or  thieves 
of  any  kind.  Also,  to  arrest  any  known  pickpockets  they  might  see  in  a  crowd, 
and  carefully  to  watch  all  known  shoplifters,  and  to  take  such  measures  as 
they  might  deem  expedient  to  prevent  their  committing  any  depredations. 

Sergeant  William  H.  T.cfferts  was  appointed  a  special  aid,  and  placed  in 
command  of  this  stjuad. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Lefferts,  there  was  established  in  the  Detective 
office  an  ambrotype  gallery,  composed  of  pickpockets,  shoplifters,  watch-stuffers, 
etc.,  as  well  as  those  who  were  arrested  for  crime  of  a  higher  grade.  This 
gallery  was  open  to  the  view  of  the  public,  particularly  those  who  had  suffered 
by  the  loss  of  their  property,  or  been  otherwise  imposed  upon. 

In  1859  the  Detective  force  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn  consisted  of  such 
number  of  Patrolmen,  not  exceeding  forty,  as  the  General  Superintendent  might 
detail  for  that  service.  The  Detective  force  of  Brooklyn  was  under  the  immediate 
command  of  the  Deputy  Superintendent;  but  the  Detective  force  of  New  York, 
because  of  its  larger  number,  was  under  the  command  of  a  Captain  of  the  Police, 
and  constituted  a  company  corresponding  to  that  of  a  precinct,  and  was  subject 
to  the  general  rules  and  regulations  governing  the  company  of  a  precinct.  The 
members  of  the  force  in  the  different  precincts  assigned  to  Detective  duties  (if 
any)  should  report  to  the  Captain  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Precinct  (Detective  force), 
as  well  as  to  the  Captain  of  their  respective  precincts,  at  or  before  nine  o'clock 
each  morning. 

In  1866  other  rules  were  adopted.  Each  member  of  the  Detective  Squad 
was  obliged  to  make  daily  report  to  the  Superintendent  of  the  business 
transactions  submitted  to  his  care,  the  progress  made  therein,  and  the  disposi- 
tion and  results  in  each  case,  and  such  report  was  certified  to  by  the  Captain  in 
command  of  said  squad.  The  likeness  of  persons  collected  for  the  use  of  the 
Detective  Squad  should  not  be  exhibited  to  any  person,  unless  such  person  was 
accompanied  by  an  officer  of  the  Department. 

Other  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the  Detective  Squad 
were  promulgated  in  the  years  1873  ^^'^  ^^77,  some  of  which  may  be  referred 
to  briefly  as  follows: 

A  book  of  records,  of  complaints,  and  applications,  calling  for  the  services 
or  attention  of  the  Detective  Squad,  was  kept  in  the  Detective  Office  under  the 
supervision  of  the  Superintendent;  and  the  Superintendent,  and  in  his  absence, 
the  Office  Inspector,  had  supervision  of  all  Detective  business  in  general  and  in 
detail;  and  it  was  the  duty  oC  the  Superintendent,  or  in  his  absence,  the  Office 
Inspector,  to  give  special  attention  to  the  business,  and  see  that  all  proper 
Detective  cases  were  diligently  and  properly  attended  to  and  worked  up.  The 
Captain  and  each  member  of  the  Detective  Sc|uad  should  report  to  the  Super- 
intendent, or  in  his  absence,  to  the  Office  Inspector,  r.ll  complaints  and  applications 
requiring  the  services  of  the  Detective  Squad,  and  have  a  proper  record  made 
thereof;  and  the  Superintendent  or  his  representative  were  authorized  to  assign 
officers  to  the  investigation  of  all  Detective  cases;  and  each  member  of  the 


40} 


OUR  POLICE  PRO'JEC'JOKS. 


Detective  Squad  should  report  to  the  Superintendent  or  Office  Inspector  con- 
cerning his  action  in  each  case  assigned,  from  time  to  time,  to  his  charge,  and 
as  often  as  required;  such  reports  should  be  verified  by  the  Captain.  A  record 
of  arrests,  by  the  Detective  Squad,  of  all  persons  imprisoned  at  the  Central 
Department,  was  kept  in  the  Detective  office,  in  which  were  entered  the  name 
of  the  person  arrested,  with  a  full  description  of  such  person,  the  time  and 
cause  of  arrest,  and  the  disposition  made  of  each  prisoner  arrested.  The  Super- 
intendent should,  on  the  first  of  each  month,  make  a  report  in  writing  to  the 
Board  of  Police  for  the  month  ])receding  such  report,  of  all  arrests  by  the 
Detective  Squad,  and  of  all  persons  held  in  custody  at  the  Central  Department, 
setting  forth  the  time  and  cause  of  arrest  in  each  case,  and  how  and  when  each 
case  was  disposed  of. 

The  officer  commanding  the  Detective  force  should  keep  a  blotter  and 
record  of  all  the  Police  transactions  of  the  "  Special  Service  Squad,"  with  the 
lost  time  of  all  the  members  thereof,  and  make  a  morning  return  to  the  Super- 
intendent, under  the  rules  and  regulations  applicable  to  precincts,  and  make  out 
and  attend  to  the  settlement  of  the  pay-roll,  and  pay  off  the  members  of  the 
Squad.  He  possessed  the  same  powers,  and  performed  the  same  duties  relating 
to  the  discipline  of  the  Squad  as  were  conferred  and  enjoined  on  the  Captains  of 
precincts. 

On  May  25,  1882,  the  Detective  Bureau  was  created  by  an  Act  of  the 
legislature.  This  was  done  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  Inspector  Byrnes. 
Forty  Detective  Sergeants  were  then  appointed,  with  an  increased  salary  of 
one  thousand  six  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 

On  May  8,  1883,  all  the  Ward  Detectives  were  consolidated  under  one 
head,  and  placed  under  Inspector  Byrne's  jurisdiction,  he  believing  that  united 
action  was  necessary  in  order  to  cope  more  successfully  with  existing  evils. 
Most  of  the  Ward  Detectives  were  sent  on  post  duty,  and  their  places  filled  by 
younger  men  from  the  various  precincts.  Subsequently,  this  arrangement  was 
dispensed  with,  and  the  Ward  Detectives  were  sent  back  to  do  service  as  before 
under  the  direct  command  of  the  Captain  of  their  respective  precincts. 

Inspector  Thomas  Byrnes  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland  when  he 
was  quite  a  child.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  Patrolman  in  the  Fifteenth  Pre- 
cinct, and  after  five  years  of  Patrol  duty  he  was  appointed  Roundsman  in  the 
Third  Precinct.  In  1869  he  was  made  Sergeant,  and  in  1870  attained  the  rank 
of  Captain,  when  he  was  assigned  to  the  Twxnty-third  Precinct.  He  was  then 
successively  transferred  to  the  Twenty-third,  Twenty-first  and  Fifteenth  Pre- 
cinct, thence  to  the  Broadway  Squad.  He  then  returned  to  the  Fifteenth,  and 
remained  there  until  he  was  sent  to  Headquarters  and  took  charge  of  the  De- 
tective Bureau.    He  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  Inspector  in  1880. 

When  interrogated  by  the  Roosevelt  Committee  as  to  his  official  pedigree, 
Inspector  Byrnes  gave  the  following  responses: 

By  Mr.  Russell:  Q.  How  old  are  you?  A.  Forty-three,  going  on  forty- 
four.  Q.  You  are  now  Inspector  of  Police,  are  you  ?  A.  Yes,  sir.  Q.  How 
long  have  you  been  Inspector  ?  A.  Four  years.  Q.  Of  what  Bureau  are  you 
the  head  ?    A.  The  Detective  Bureau.     Q.  Have  you  been  the  head  of  that 


OL  'R  POL  K  7-;  PRO  /  /■'.C/  ORS. 


Hureau  ever  since  you  were  appointed  Inspector?  A.  Before  that,  while  I  was 
under  Captain.  Q.  How  long  have  you  been  on  the  Police  force?  A.  Nearly 
twenty-one  years.  Q.  What  is  the  date  of  your  first  appointment  ?  A.  Decem- 
ber lo,  1863.  Q.  As  Patrolman  ?  .\.  Yes,  sir.  Q.  How  long  did  you  remain 
a  Patrolman?  A.  About  four  years.  Q.  And  then  you  became  what?  A.  Rounds- 
man, Sergeant  and  Captain.  (,).  When  did  you  become  a  Roundsman  ?  \.  Latter 
part  of  1868.  Q.  How  long  were  you  Roundsman?  A.  Ten  or  twelve  months? 
Q.  And  then  you  were  a])pointed  Sergeant  ?  .\.  Yes,  sir.  Q.  How  long  a 
Sergeant  ?  .\.  .About  a  year.  Q.  .\nd  was  apjiointed  Captain  when  ?  A.  I  think 
it  was  in  1870;  July  i,  1870.  Q.  And  you  remained  a  Captain  until  what  date? 
A.  April  23,  1880.  Q.  You  were  in  what  ])recin(  t  as  Cai)tain  ?  A.  Twenty- 
tliird.  Twenty-first,  Fifteentii  and  Twenty-fifth.  ().  What  istlic  niinii)cr  of  the 
precinct  where  you  were  when  you  first  came  here  ?  A.  The  Fifteenth.  Q.  And 
it  was  in  your  precinct  that  the  Manhattan  Bank  burglary  occurred  ?  A.  Yes, 
sir.  Q.  And  you  got  a  good  share  of  tiie  burglars  ?  A.  1  did;  we  became  in- 
timate; you  were  Assistant  District  Attorney  at  the  time  in  the  prosecution  of 
those  cases.  Q.  When  you  became  Inspector  of  Police,  or  when  you  took 
charge  of  the  Detective  Bureau,  what  was  done  ?  A.  The  Commissioners  sent 
forme.  Q.  What  Commissioners?  A.  Mr.  French;  he  was  President  of  the 
Board,  and  I  assume  he  was  very  desirous  of  making  a  change  in  that  Bureau; 
he  thought  it  was  inefficient  in  some  respects,  and  wanted  to  have  it  re- 
organized; I  was  transferred  there  on  the  twelfth  of  March,  1880.  I  found 
there  some  twenty-eight  or  thirty  men,  some  of  whom  had  been  there  for  very 
many  years;  the  place  was  in  a  state  of  disorganization;  there  did  not  appear 
to  be  any  head  to  it  at  all,  and  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  morning,  after 
calling  the  roll  and  looking  the  men  over,  that  if  there  was  any  Detective  talent 
in  the  Police  Department  it  should  be  used  during  the  daytime  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  city.  On  that  day,  the  twelfth  of  March,  I  went  down  to  Wall 
Street  and  hired  an  office.  No.  17,  and  stationed  ten  men  there,  from  nine  and 
a  half  in  the  morning  until  four  in  the  afternoon.  \  day  or  two  after  that  Mr. 
Brayton  Ives  had  an  interview  with  me  and  asked  what  I  intended  to  do.  I 
told  him  that  I  intended,  if  possible,  to  jjrotect  those  gentlemen  from  thieves, 
as  there  had  been  a  great  deal  of  money  for  the  last  four  or  five  vears  stolen 
there,  amounting  jjrobably  to  one  or  two  million  dollars;  he  asked  me  how  he 
could  assist  me  in  any  way.  I  said  if  anything  occurs  in  your  office  vou  would 
have  to  send  to  Police  Headcjuarters,  over  two  miles.  In  establishing  this 
Bureau  I  intend  to  connect  it,  with  telephone,  to  every  bank  and  banking  house 
in  every  part  of  New  York,  and  yon  ought  to  have  an  officer  from  the  time  vou 
ask  for  him  by  telephone,  in  any  part  of  the  lower  section  of  the  citv.  in  anv 
of  those  banks  or  banking  houses,  in  the  course  of  from  one  to  five  minutes. 
He  thought  it  was  a  very  good  thing  and  called  a  meeting  of  the  Committee 
of  the  Stock  Exchange,  and  I  was  called  before  them,  and  made  that  state- 
ment to  them.  I  said:  "If  I  come  here  and  do  your  work,  and  do  it  for  noth- 
ing, and  be  able  to  do  it  better  than  anybody  else  (and  what  I  do  I  am  respon- 
sible for),  you  will  give  me  your  work  after  awhile  quicker  than  to  a  man  that  is 
responsible  to  nobody."   Q.  (live  us  the  result?   A.  They  gave  me  an  office  in 


OUR  POLICE  PKOTECTORS. 


the  Stock  Exchange;  they  connected  that  office  by  telephone  with  every  bank 
.'fnd  banking  house  in  the  lower  part  of  New  York,  so  that  if  any  of  those  bank- 
ing houses  want  an  officer,  in  about  five  minutes  I  can  have  a  Detective  in  any 
bank  in  the  lower  part  of  New  York.  Q.  Was  it  the  wish  on  the  part  of  the 
Police  Commissioners  that  you  should  take  charge  of  that  work  ?  A.  The  Police 
Commissioners  expressed  the  wish  through  Mr.  French.  Q.  You  are  at  liberty 
to  express  to  this  committee  what  the  result  has  been  ?  A.  Immediately  after 
that — if  you  will  pardon  me  and  let  me  go  back,  the  twelfth  of  March,  1880,  I 
think  it  was,  twenty-one  men  out  of  twenty-eight  were  transferred  from  the 
office — and  their  places  substituted  by  new  men  whom  I  selected  from  various 
parts  of  the  city,  and  educated  them  to  do  Detective  duty.  From  the  twelfth  of 
March,  1880,  until  to-day,  they  have  not  lost  a  ten  cent  stamp  in  Wall  Street 
by  a  professional  thief;  not  a  penny,  not  a  cent.  Q.  Have  you  in  your  posses- 
sion the  statistics  of  the  arrests  made  through  your  Bureau  ?  A.  I  think  I 
gave  it  to  you.  Q.  You  may  state,  if  you  will,  the  work  of  your  Bureau  for  the 
last  few  years?  A.  I  would  like  to  state  here  that  from  the  twelfth  of  March, 
1876,  to  the  twelfth  of  March,  1880,  there  were  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
forty-three  arrests  made  by  the  Detective  force  for  the  four  years  previous  to  my 
going  to  that  office;  they  got  five  hundred  and  five  years  of  conviction;  for  the 
four  years  that  I  have  been  there,  ending  on  the  twelfth  of  last  month,  there  were 
three  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty-four  persons  arrested,  and  they  got 
two  thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-eight  years,  two  months  and  three  days 
of  conviction;  we  have  recovered  nearly  six  hundred  thousand  dollars'  worth  of 
property.    Q.  State  in  detail;  take  each  of  those  cases  that  you  have  tabulated? 

A.  I  have  them  marked  down  here  as  follows:    "  Misdemeanors  "          Q.  State 

them  in  detail  ?  A.  There  were  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-four  fel- 
onies, eight  hundred  and  thirty-six  misdemeanors,  six  hundred  and  thirty-four 
suspicious  persons;  arrested  for  insanity,  fifteen;  truancy,  forty-six;  for  violating 
the  poor  law,  twenty-nine;  gambling,  twenty-five;  felonies,  and  delivered  to  the 
authorities  in  other  cities,  two  hundred  and  eighteen;  sent  to  the  State  Prison, 
three  hundred  and  fifty-eight;  to  the  Penitentiary,  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
one;  to  the  City  Prison,  fifty-nine;  to  House  of  Refuge,  twenty-seven;  Elmira, 
ninety-four;  hanged,  one;  arrested  for  murder,  thirty-five." 

When  Inspector  Byrnes  accepted  his  present  trust,  and  was  transferred  to 
Police  Headquarters,  on  the  twelfth  of  March,  1880,  he  found,  after  he  had  assumed 
control,  thirty-one  men  classified  as  Detectives,  a  clerk  who  was  not  a  member  of 
the  Police  force,  and  who  simply  kept  the  books  of  the  office  without  any 
responsibility  being  imposed  on  him  other  than  that  of  an  ordinary  employee. 
These  Detectives  had  been  at  Police  Headquarters  for  several  years,  had 
grown  old  in  the  service,  and  a  great  many  of  them  were  unfit  to  perform  their 
duties  satisfactorily.  There  were  also  some  young  men  among  them  who  had 
not  the  slightest  conception  of  their  duty  as  Detective  officers,  who  used  to  loll 
around  in  the  morning  until  the  roll  was  called.  Nobody  had  the  remotest  idea 
where  these  men  kept  themselves  from  the  time  they  left  the  office  in  the  morn- 
ing until  roll-call  on  the  following  morning.  Inspector  Byrnes,  from  his  inti- 
mate knowledge  of  the  Police  Department,  having  risen  from  the  ranks,  and 


4o8 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS 


I.  nark  Lantern,  Jimmy,  Part  Sectional  Jimmy,  Skeleton  Keys,  Pistol  with  which  Mrs.  Eliza  Coleman  shot 
ticket  agent  at  Harry  Miner's  Theatre.  2.  Combination  Dirk  and  Revolver,  Dirk.  i.  Dark  Lantern,  Brace  and 
Kit.  4.  Rogues'  Gallery.  5.  Rope  and  Black  Cap,  tChastine  Coxl.  6.  Burglar's  Maflet,  Dirk.  7.  Burglar's  Bag 
and  Broken  Jimmy. 

The  Rogues'  Gallery  and  Some  Curiosities  of  Crime. 


OUR  rOl.lCI']  PRO'lEflORS. 


409 


having  had  charge  of  a  precinct  adjoining  Police  Headquarters  for  a  number  of 
years,  had  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  ability  and  shortcomings  of  almost 
every  man  in  the  office. 

When  the  Inspector  took  command  at  Headciuarters,  had  called  the  roll, 
and  had  looked  the  men  over,  lie  came  to  the  conclusion  that  there  must  be  a 
radic  al  c  iiangc,  and  that  tlie  wortldess  members  should  be  ])r()mptly  weeded  out. 
'I'his  was  no  easy  task.  The  duties  and  responsibilities  of  his  office  were  of  the 
most  trying  and  onerous  nature,  but  Inspector  Byrnes,  with  his  characteristic 
energy,  overcame  them  all.  He  soon  fashioned  the  raw  material  of  his  office 
into  shape,  and  under  his  manipulation  the  Detective  Department,  from  being 
a  very  unpretentious  and  not  over  useful  arm  of  the  Police  service,  suddenly 
blazed  into  national  importance,  earning  in  an  incon(  ci\al)l\'  siiort  space  of 
time  a  world  wide  reputation. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Wall  Street,  where  a  great  portion  of  the  linancial 
business  of  the  country  is  transacted,  gangs  of  thieves  of  the  better  class — such 
as  bank  sneaks,  forgers,  and  adroit  j)i(:kpockets,  had  for  years  been  carrying  on 
their  depredations.  The  disajjpearance  of  tin  boxes  containing  money,  bonds, 
and  valuable  papers,  was  almost  of  monthly  occurrence,  and  complaints  were 
very  frecpient.  The  Inspector  thought  that  the  men  engaged  in  Wall  Street  and 
that  neighborhood,  who  were  doing  a  business  of  millions  and  millions  every 
day,  were  entitled  tcj  sj)e<"ial  Police  protection.  About  eleven  o'clock  on  tlie 
same  day  that  he  had  been  aj)i)ointed  to  take  charge  of  the  Detecti\e  Bureau, 
he  went  down  town  and  hired  a  room  at  his  own  expense  at  No.  17  Wall  Street. 
He  returned  to  his  office,  and  the  next  morning  selected  nine  of  his  best  men 
and  sent  them  down  to  the  new  office  to  cover  that  section  of  the  city  bounded 
by  Fulton  Street  on  the  north,  Greenwich  on  the  west,  down  to  the  Battery, 
and  across  to  the  East  River.  He  at  once  gave  positive  orders  to  his  men  to 
arrest  any  thief  that  might  be  found  within  the  specified  district  who  could  not 
give  a  good  account  of  himself  as  being  there  for  legitimate  purposes.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  thirteenth  of  March,  1880,  Brayton  Ives,  who  was  President  of 
the  Stock  Exchange,  sent  for  the  Inspector,  and  asked  hiin  what  he  intended 
doing  in  that  locality  relative  to  the  protection  of  business  interests.  Inspector 
Byrnes  said  that  he  intended  to  establish  a  special  Detective  bureau  in  Wall 
Street,  and  that  he  would  succeed  in  protecting  business  people  from  the  machina- 
tions of  thieves.  The  Inspector  further  explained  to  Mr.  Ives  that  the  New 
York  Police  Detectives  were  a  responsible  body,  and  that  the  private  Detectives, 
who  were  often  employed  by  financiers,  were  in  a  great  many  cases  not  over 
scru])ulous  in  their  official  dealings.  The  result  of  the  interview  was,  that  the 
President  of  the  Stock  Exchange  invited  Inspector  Byrnes  to  take  possession  of. 
and  establish  his  business  in,  a  room  of  the  Stock  Exchange.  This  invitation 
was  accepted,  and  ten  or  twelve  Detectives  are  now  constantly  on  hand  in  that 
building.  So  complete  is  the  system  thus  establislied  that,  on  receipt  of  a  call, 
a  Detective  can  be  sent  to  almost  any  ])lace  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  in  two 
or  three  minutes.  There  is,  in  fact,  no  more  perfect  system  of  Detective  super- 
vision in  any  part  of  the  world,  and,  as  a  consequence,  thieves  have  given  Wall  Street 
and  its  vicinity  a  wide  berth,  whereas  previously  thousands  had  been  stolen. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


While  stationed  in  the  Twenty-third  Precinct,  Inspector  Byrnes  saved  a 
number  of  lives  at  a  fire. 

In  the  Twenty-third  Precinct  he  broke  up  gangs  of  thieves,  and  sent  a  large 
number  of  them  to  prison. 

In  the  Fifteenth  he  convicted  the  burglars  who  robbed  Van  Tine  &  Co., 
silk  merchants.  He  also  arrested  Paul  E.  Law,  son  of  the  ex-Governor  of 
Maryland,  who  was  trying  to  escape  to  his  native  State  after  shooting  four  men 
in  Neilson  Place ,  and  Vanderbilt  Crawford  after  he  had  shot  Henderson.  This 
arrest  was  highly  commended  at  the  time,  and  reflected  great  credit  on  the  force 
generally.  Murray,  the  assassin  of  Merril,  who  hid  himself  in  Brooklyn,  also 
fell  into  Inspector  Byrnes'  hands. 

But  any  attempt  to  enumerate  the  distinguished  achievements  of  Inspector 


A  Bashful  Burglar. 

(Taking  His  Picture  for  the  Rogues'  Galley.) 

Byrnes  within  ordinary  limits  would  be  futile.  Such  a  task  would  more  than 
fill  the  space  allotted  to  this  entire  volume.  Therefore,  the  task  cannot  be 
attempted  at  all,  as  the  subject  is  too  vast,  and  is,  besides,  beyond  the  scope  of 
this  history. 

Inspector  Byrnes'  methods  are  not  new.  But  like  all  bright  and  successful 
men,  the  very  common  jjlaces  of  his  profession  assume  the  witchery  of  origi- 
nality when  manipulated  by  his  practiced  hand.  Like  the  few  really  clever 
men  who,  by  their  astuteness  and  sagacity,  have  lifted  the  prosaic  and  plodding 
life  of  a  Detective  into  the  realms  of  romance,  Inspector  Byrnes  is  a  consummate 
judge  of  human  nature,  and  can  "  size  a  man  for  all  he's  worth  "  with  an  unerr- 
ing judgment  that  is  intuitive.  His  manners,  too,  are  adapted  to  the  profession 
which  he  adorns.  He  can  be  "all  things  to  all  men,"  as  circumstances  de- 
mand.   However,  a  psychological  study  of  Inspector  Byrnes  is  not  aimed  at 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


411 


here.     It  is  enough  to  say  that  in  his  official  capacity  as  the  head  and  guiding 
spirit  of  the  Detective  Department,  he  fills  the  bill  in  every  particular. 

In  this  city,  criminals,  as  a  rule,  are  quickly  detected,  but  it  does  not  follow 
that  their  punishment  is  equally  prompt  and  salutary.  Had  criminals  the  same 
dread  of  the  judiciary  as  they  have  of  the  Detective,  they  would  give  New  York 
a  very  wide  berth.  But  as  matters  now  stand,  a  crook  "  fmds  comfort  in  the 
reflection  that  the  vigilance  of  the  Detective  Department  will,  in  all  probability, 
be  counteracted  by  the  lack  of  promptness  and  the  absence  of  severity  in  tiie 
subsequent  stages  of  his  experience  with  the  officers  of  the  law;  at  all  events  he 
feels  certain  that  expiation  is  not  swift  or  certain. 

No  man  has  been  more  constantly  or  prominently  before  the  public  as  the 
Nemesis  of  the  law  than  Inspector  Byrnes.  In  this  respect  no  man  in  this 
country,  or  in  Europe,  holds  so  commanding  a  position.  His  name  as  a  success- 
ful chief  of  Detectives  will  for  all  time  be  associated  with  Vidocq,  Coco-Lacour, 
and  M.  Mace,  whose  fame  is  world-wide. 

"  But  how  do  Detectives  o])erate  ?"  is  a  question  frequently  propounded  by 
the  uninitiated.  A  proper  answer  to  this  tjuery  would  make  a  very  interesting 
book  in  itself.  There  is  no  manual,  no  set  rule,  to  control  or  guide  a  Detective. 
It  is  safe  to  say  that  a  Detective,  unlike  a  poet,  is  made,  not  born.  If  he  be  a 
man  of  average  astuteness,  alertness  and  physical  activity,  in  time  the  ex- 
periences of  his  calling  and  the  i;ircumstances  with  which  he  has  to  struggle, 
will  fully  educate  him  up  to  the  projjer  standard  in  his  warfare  on  the  criminal 
classes.  Our  Detectives  are  men  who  have  been  admirably  trained,  who  have 
seen  active  service,  who  are  veterans  but  still  retain  the  ardor  and  enthusiasm 
of  novices,  directed  and  controlled  by  good  judgment  and  a  wise  discretion. 
The  corps  consists  of  forty  Detective  Sergeants,  who,  animated  by  their  chief, 
keep  in  check  the  whole  criminal  population  of  this  city,  a  fact  which  speaks 
for  itself.  They  follow  the  chase  with  the  zest  of  hunters;  and  when  they  run 
down  their  quarry,  their  countenan':es  flush  with  real  delight.  Such  men  must 
possess  nerves  of  steel,  and  the  highest  courage — the  true  courage,  that  fmds 
itself  alone  and  in  the  dark  in  the  presence  of  a  constant  danger,  but  a  dan- 
ger of  an  unknown  kind,  which  may  suddenly  assume  the  least  expected  shape. 

The  devotion  of  these  men  is  not  always  understood,  even  in  New  York, 
though  many  instances  of  this  quality  is  recorded.  The  sagacity  with  which  the 
red  Indian  follows  the  trail  of  his  enemies,  in  Fenimore  Cooper's  works,  is  not 
greater  than  the  eager  keenness  with  which  a  New  York  Detective  scents  his 
prey.  Sometimes  he  watches  under  the  shadow  of  a  wall  a  whole  winter  night, 
under  heavy  snow,  cutting  sleet,  drenching  rain,  or  piercing  wind;  or  stands  for 
a  day  before  one  of  our  many  fashionable  hotels,  theatres,  or  big  dry  goods,  or 
banking  houses;  wherever  his  duty  calls  him,  waiting  and  watching  for  the 
favorable  opportunity  to  lay  a  firm  and  relentless  hand  on  the  shoulder  of  the 
transgressor,  who,  desperado  as  he  generally  is,  and  armed,  finds  himself  over- 
matched and  overreached  at  the  game  at  which  he  has  played  in  his  warfare  on 
society.  The  perseverance  born  of  such  experiences  is  extraordinary,  and  only 
equals  their  sagacity  and  penetration.  It  happens  with  some  mental  talents  as  it 
happens  with  the  muscles  of  the  body;  through  continual  exercise  they  become 


412 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECJORS. 


developed  beyond  measure.  Habitual  close  observation,  and  great  experi- 
ence, enable  them,  from  the  most  insignificant  signs,  to  construct  a  complete 
theory,  which  is  seldom  incorrect;  just  as  the  practiced  physician  sees  at  a  glance 


Inspector  Byrnes  in  His  Private  Office. 

the  nature  of  a  patient's  malady.  It  is  related  of  Cauler  (a  celebrated  French 
Detective)  that,  from  four  words  written  on  a  piece  of  pajjer  in  which  some  but- 
ter was  wrapped  up,  he  discovered  the  clue  to  a  murder.  This  is  characteristic 
of  Detectives  as  a  class.    They,  in  time,  acquire  a  wonderful  memory,  and  they 


OCA'  POfJCE  PRO'/ECrORS. 


413 


never  fail  to  recognise  a  face  they  have  once  seen,  however  altered  or  disguised 
ifniay  be.  A  single  instance  of  this  may  be  cited.  One  day  Inspector  Byrnes 
and  the  writer  left  the  public  thoroughfare  of  Broadway,  in  the  vicinity  of  Police 
Head(iuarters,  and  strolled  into  the  less  fre(iuented  by-ways,  while  the  Inspector, 
who  was  on  his  way  home,  was  explaining  the  facts  in  the  case  of  a  recent  arrest 
of  some  im[)orlancc,  llic  writer  !)ein<;  tlu  n  attached  to  \.\\c  Uerald  Police  Bureau 
as  a  reporter.  The  Inspector  is  an  inveterate  smoker.  As  usual,  he  was  enjoy- 
ing the  weed,  and  in  his  jjcculiarly  earnest  way  he  wa.s,  while  talking,  seemingly  ab- 
sorbed in  liis  subject,  and  apparently  oblivious  to  all  things  else.  Without 
raising  his  eyes,  altering  his  tone,  or  changing  his  gait,  he  remarked:  "See  that 
fellow  on  the  other  side  of  the  street;  isn't  he  a  dandy?  I'll  bet  five  dollars  I 
know  him."  The  reporter  looked  and  bclield  a  "  solitary  figure,"  a  nobby  young 
man  with  a  silk  "tile,"  a  silk-lined  overcoat,  and  carrying  a  cane.  His  face  was 
not  within  view,  as  he  was  walking  in  the  same  direction,  but  faster,  and  he 
was  some  yards  in  aihance.  "  One  of  your  friends,  eh  ?"  (juericd  the  reporter, 
languidly  and  mechanically,  the  interruption  not  being  relished.  There  was  a 
(jueer  twinkle  in  the  Inspector's  eye.  Removing  his  cigar,  he  uttered  a  low  but 
penetrating  sybilant  sound  with  his  half-closed  lil)s.  'i"he  man  heard  it,  started, 
looked  back  over  his  shoulder,  turned  pale,  and  stood  still.  "  1  told  you  so," 
said  the  Inspector,  with  a  quiet  and  amused  smile,  addressing  himself  to  the 
reporter,  who  was  now  wide-awake  and  interestetl.  "  Sam,"  said  the  Inspector, 
still  moving  ahead  in  a  half-abstracted  manner,  as  before.  The  ])etrified  statue 
again  heard,  and  regaining  animation,  he  slowly  crossed  the  street  diagonally  and 
stood  by  the  side  of  the  Inspector  and  reporter,  looking  nervous,  but  remaining 
silent.  "You  are  looking  splendid,  Sam;  times  must  be  good,"  said  the  In- 
spector, with  a  chilling  sarcasm  in  his  tone.  The  man's  teeth  were  chattering 
now;  his  tongue  refused  to  give  utterance  to  his  thoughts,  and  the  change  that 
had  come  over  him  in  a  brief  moment  was  both  radical  and  remarkable.  From 
being  the  rakish-looking,  light-hearted  sjjort,  he  was  metamorphosed  into  a 
cringing,  frightened,  abject  creature,  with  pallid  cheeks,  downcast  eyes,  and  cow- 
ering form.  The  three  men  were  standing  still  now.  The  Inspector,  critical  and 
austere,  the  stranger  cringing  and  frightened,  and  the  reporter  curious  and  ob- 
5.ervant.    "  It  is  a  long  time  since  I  saw  you  Sam;  I  thought  you  dead  or  — " 

"Sam"  at  last  found  his  tongue.  "I  know  what  you  want  to  add,  In- 
spector. The  latter  supposition  is  the  correct  one.  I  have  been  in  a  tight  snap; 
did  my  bit  and  have  been  out  a  few  months.  For  God's  sake  don't  run  me  in. 
I  swear  to  you  I  have  been  keeping  straight." 

The  man's  knees  shook  under  him,  and  his  voice  was  husky  with  emotion. 

"  Sam,"  said  the  Inspector,  very  quietly  and  almost  gently,  only  for  the 
frigidness  of  the  tone.  "  It  is  a  long  time  since  we've  met.  You  did  not  look 
([uite  so  dapper  then;  and  there  have  been  times  since  when  I  would  have  given 
a  linger  nail  to  have  found  you.  How  long  is  it  since  the  night  you  shot  at  the 
otiticer  and  escaped  over  the  house-tops?  "  "Six  years,  going  on  seven.  Inspec- 
tor," said  the  man  thus  interrogated. 

Call  at  my  offif-eat  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  Sam,"  said  the  Inspec- 
tor, moving  a  step  forward,  "  I  want  to  have  a  word  with  you  privately." 


414 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  man  bent  his  head,  stood  still  a  second,  and  then  darted  forward  in  a 
rapid  walk,  never  once  looking  back. 

"  This  is  the  second  time  I  have  ever  met  or  seen  that  man  in  my  life,"  said 
the  Inspector,  in  a  reminiscent  way  and  reflectively.  "  The  first  time,  he  and 
two  other  men  were  arrested  on  suspicion  of  being  concerned  in  a  butcher 
wagon  highway  robbery  case.  Proof  of  guilt  could  not  be  brought  home  to  Sam, 
and  he  was  let  go;  but  he  was  a  marked  man.  Some  months  after  a  Broadwav 
store  was  broken  into,  the  burglars  surprised,  two  of  them  captured,  the  third 
making  his  way  to  the  roof,  and,  when  pursued,  emptying  his  pistol  at  the  officer, 
none  of  the  balls  taking  effect,  however.  I  always  suspected  Sam  of  being  that 
man,  and,  in  his  fright,  now  he  has  confessed  to  it."  "Will  he  not  get  away 
out  of  the  city  ?  "  "  Not  a  bit  of  it;  he  is  too  much  scared  for  that;  besides,  he 
is  shadowed.     Look  there  !" 

At  that  moment  Sam  disappeared  around  the  corner  of  a  street,  and  a  man 
in  a  long  overcoat,  with  collar  turned  uj)  (it  was  in  winter)  came  into  view, 
stood  still  a  brief  second,  threw  a  salute  in  the  direction  of  the  Inspector,  which 
was  returned,  accompanied  by  a  low  chuckle  on  the  part  of  the  Inspector,  and 
the  mysterious  figure  in  the  flowing  ulster  ra])id]y  disappeared  in  the  direction 
"  Sam  "  had  taken. 

One  more  incident  may  be  narrated. 

The  case  of  the  Frenchman,  Louis  Hanier,  who  was  shot  dead  on  his  own 
stairway,  at  midnight,  by  the  young  "tough"  McGloin,  who,  with  others, 
had  broken  into  Hauler's  liquor  store  for  the  purpose  of  robbery,  will  readily  be 
recalled.  For  some  time  the  murder  remained  a  deep  mystery.  Inspector 
Byrnes  dispatched  one  of  his  trustiest  men  to  investigate  the  circumstances  of 
the  case.  This  man  was  sent  on  no  novel  or  untried  mission.  Having  made  an 
exhaustive  study  of  the  scene  of  the  murder,  and  familiarized  himself  with  such 
facts  in  connection  therewith  as  were  obtainable,  he  returned  to  report  jjrogress 
to  his  chief.  Practically  he  had  accomplished  but  very  little,  if  anything  at  all; 
theoretically  he  had,  in  his  own  estimation,  achieved  wonders.  From  these  be- 
wildering theories  and  fancies.  Inspector  Byrnes,  by  a  process  of  inductive 
reasoning,  sifted  the  very  small  grains  of  fact,  and  on  this  established  his  case. 
Three  glasses  had  been  found  on  the  counter,  each  containing  a  small  quantity 
of  brandy.  The  Inspector  fastened  on  this  one  central  clue.  His  first  excla- 
mation was:  "  It  was  Hanier's  rum  that  killed  him."  This  remark  was  unintel- 
ligible to  the  Detective  to  whom  it  had  been  made.  "I  mean,"  said  the  Inspec- 
tor, to  his  puzzled  subordinate,  "  that  three  men  (young  men,  most  probably) 
were  engaged  in  the  murder.  They  broke  into  Hanier's  saloon  more  with  the 
expectation  of  finding  rum  than  money.  They  drank  deeply,  and  the  brandy 
crazed  their  brain.  They  became  noisy,  and  Hanier,  arming  himself,  came  to 
the  stair-landing,  when  one  of  the  half-drunken  rowdies  let  fire  at  him,  wound- 
ing him  fatally.    Terrified  at  their  bloody  work,  all  three  escaped." 

The  Inspector  could  reason  the  case  thus  far,  but  there,  in  the  absence  of 
more  specific  data,  he  was  stopped.  But  he  had  come  to  one  highly  important 
conclusion.  He  had  settled  it  in  his  mind  that  the  murderer  was  to  be  found 
among  the  young  rowdy  element  (and  there  was  a  superabundance  of  the 


OUR  /'O/JCF.  PROTKCTORS.  4,5 
^naterial)  in  the  neif^hhorhood.  A.  the  autopsy  the  hullet  was  found.  Now  then 
this  was  a  tan.Ml.le  due.  Cail.ng  a  dozen  of  his  best  men,  the  Inspector  in- 
structed them  suigly,  giving  each  to  understand  that  he  was  the  only  man  on  the 
case,  and  pledging  him  to  strict  secrecy,  to  make  a  tour  of  all  the  gun  shops 
pawnbrokers  shops  etc.,  of  the  city,  and  f.nd  out  if  cartridges  of  the  calibre 
ound  .n  the  body  of  the  nu.rdered  man.  or  a  revolver  carrying  that  calibre  bu  t 
had  been  sold  w.thm  a  reasonable  period.  A  week  or  ten  davs  previous  to  the' 
shootmg  several  such  sales  had  been  made.  All  these  were  investigated  without 
arnvmg  at  tangible  results.    A  box  of  cartridges,  it  had  been  learned,  was    o  d 


Inspector  Byrnes  Receiving  Reports. 


to  a  youth  about  a  week  previous  to  the  murder.  Thev  were  of  the  calibre 
sought  a  ter.  Th.s  clue  was  followed  up,  and  this  was  the  beginning  of  the  solv- 
ing of  the  n.vstery  of  the  murder  of  Louis  Hanier.  Inspector  Byrnes  had 
arm  ed  at  just  conclusions;  his  handling  of  the  case  was  marked  bv  great  Detect- 
ue  sagacity,  and  the  subsequent  steps  taken  by  him  to  fasten  guilt  on  the  beard- 
ess  murderer,  who  had  boasted  of  being  a  "tough."  and  ^gloried  in  having 
knocked  out  his  man,  were  characterized  by  good  Judgment,  sagacitv.  penetration 
and  energj^-qual.ties  which  Inspector  Byrnes  possesses  in  an  eminent  degree 

To  unravel  plots,  unmask  falsehoods,  and  extort  the  truth,  is  singularlv  inter- 
estmg  to  those  practiced  in  the  arts  of  mental  warfare.  The  members  of  the  Detec 
t.ve  force  are  so  accustomed  to  the  study  of  human  physiognomy  that  an  in  voluntas" 


4i6 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


change  of  countenance  may  reveal  a  weak  sijot,  whence  confession  may- 
be extracted  from  the  criminal.  Stern,  harsh  language,  or  threats,  only  harden 
the  criminal,  and  reiider  him  more  impenetrable;  words  of  kindness  are  the  only 
means  of  unlocking  his  tongue.  No  man  understands  this  better  than  Inspector 
Byrnes  himself.  Even  the  greatest  ruffians  are  amenable  to  the  influences  of  a 
friendly  address,  and  no  man  is  so  utterly  depraved  or  lost  as  not  to  possess  a 
soft  chord  in  his  heart.  The  question  is  how  to  strike  upon  it.  None  but  a 
master  hand  can  play  upon  this  chord.  Inspector  Byrnes'  imperturbable  tem- 
per and  his  keenness  of  intellect  enable  him  to  subdue  the  most  obstinate  and 
tenacious  prisoner;  and  it  is  possible  that  some  of  his  remarkable  success  may 
have  been  achieved  by  valuable  hints  furnished  him  by  grateful  criminals,  as  no 
man  knows  better  how  to  be  just  and  at  the  same  time  merciful  than  Inspector 
Byrnes.  Such  hints,  doubtless,  have,  on  occasions,  assisted  him  in  unraveling 
many  an  entangled  skein. 

During  the  last  four  years  crime  has  perceptibly  decreased  among  profes- 
sional thieves  to  almost  nothing.  The  people  who  steal  now-a-days  are  the 
rising  generation  of  young  people.  All  the  old  thieves,  who  have  been  looked 
upon  as  experts  in  that  business,  have  been  driven  from  post  to  pillar,  and  have 
finally  disappeared  altogether.  The  reason  of  that  is  because  of  the  great  power 
Detective  officers  have  over  thieves,  and  the  intricate  knowledge  they  possess  of 
their  ways.  Another  great  secret  of  success  is  discipline  among  the  men,  and,  as 
far  as  practicable,  not  to  let  one  man  know  what  another  is  doing.  Thi<,  at 
least,  has  been  Inspector  Byrnes'  experience.  His  control  over  thieves  is  also  to 
be  traced  to  the  thorough  knowledge  he  possesses  of  their  haunts  and  methods. 
He  sjjcnds  a  great  deal  of  his  time  amongst  them,  and  it  is  his  belief  that  when 
thefts  are  perpetrated,  the  place  to  get  information  is  among  thieves.  When  a 
burglary,  for  instance,  is  committed,  it  is  necessary  to  reflect,  who  could  have 
done  it,  for  every  thief  has  his  specialty  and  his  own  peculiar  branch  of  busi- 
ness. Take  a  first-class  burglar,  for  instance;  his  hobby  may  consist  in  opening 
a  safe,  and  after  a  while  he  becomes  a  great  man  in  the  estimation  of  the  fra- 
ternity. By  studying  these  little  details,  and  by  keeping  a  record  as  thieves 
disappear  and  others  take  their  place,  a  pretty  accurate  knowledge  of  their  ])lans 
and  operations  can  be  arrived  at.  There  is  not  a  robbery  committed  through- 
out the  State  that  the  Inspector  does  not  try  to  find  out  who  bossed  the  job,  and 
who  executed  it,  in  order  that  he  may  keej)  posted  on  what  is  going  on  about 
him  among  criminals.  This  is  a  very  necessary  pBoceeding.  ,\  good  Police 
officer  wants  to  find  out  where  the  thieves  are,  who  they  are,  and  who  they  are 
working  for.  The  moment  a  Detective  officer  sees  a  thief  accompanied  by  a 
stranger,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Detective  to  follow  the  thief  and  find  out  who  his 
companion  is,  for  it  is  fair  to  assume  that  anyone  who  accompanies  a  thief  in  the 
public  street  must  himself  be  a  thief.  One  of  the  best  ways  to  find  out  these 
people  is  through  their  women.  A  thief  has  three  weaknesses — women,  gam- 
bling and  drink. 

Forgers  are  a  very  peculiar  class.  Some  of  them  possess  a  great  deal  of 
ability.  The  men  who  lay  down  the  counterfeit  i)aper,  as  a  rule,  never  see  the 
forger  himself,  who  sometimes  lives  lu.xuriously,  and  does  his  business  through 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


417 


an  agent  who  gets  a  percentage.  These  forgers,  sometimes  for  months  and  years 
even,  study  on  one  series  of  counterfeits.  They  are  often  <  onsidered  to  be  very 
rejjutable  citizens  li\  people  who  do  not  kncju  their  calling. 

.\s  a  general  thing,  men  who  commit  highway  robbery  do  not  belong  to  a 
particular  class.  They  are  men  who  have  become  desperate  from  various  causes. 
This  is  a  class  of  crime  where  every  man  performs  his  part,  and  it  is  really  one 
of  the  most  difficult  things  in  the  world  to  get  at  them,  because  the  robbery  is 
the  work  of  a  moment,  and  the  robbers  are  generally  disguised  so  that  they  can- 
not afterwards  be  recognized. 

Pickpockets  generally  work  in  gangs  of  four  or  five.  The  "  tool  "  is  the  one 
who  steals,  while  the  others  do  the  jostling. 

Sneak  thie\es  are  a  numerous  class.  It  is  a  low,  mean,  contemptible  grade 
of  crime.  But  bank  sneaks  are  a  different  class  of  men.  There  are  probably 
from  twenty-five  to  thirty  of  them  in  this  country.  They  are  generally  Amer- 
icans, with  some  few  exceptions.  They  are  men  of  education,  fine  appearance, 
and  good  address,  who  walk  up  to  the  paying  or  receiving  teller  in  the  bank, 
and  liold  him  in  conversation  on  a  subject  that  will  positively  interest  him,  while 
somebody  else  will  steal  stealthilv  in  l)eiiind  witii  rublier  shoes  on,  and  rob  the 
safe.  That  has  been  "worked"  very  successfully.  They  have  another  system 
in  country  banks.  A  sneak  thief  will  drive  up  to  the  bank  door,  alight,  go 
inside,  and  tell  the  cashier  that  a  certain  gentleman  who  has  hurt  his  leg,  and  is 
unable  to  get  out,  wishes  to  speak  with  him.  The  unsuspecting  bank  official 
goes  out  to  sjjeak  to  the  injured  gentleman,  and,  during  his  absence,  the  bank 
is  robbed. 

At  the  present  time  some  of  the  most  e.xpert  thieves  that  ever  lived  in  this 
country  are  located  in  England  and  France. 

Bunco-steerers  are  a  class  of  young  men  who  are  well  educated,  as  a  general 
thing,  and  who,  in  the  main,  have  come  from  good  families.  In  their  younger 
davs  their  parents  had  not  been  able  to  sui)ply  them  with  the  amount  of  money 
thev  were  willing  to  spend.  Tliey  had  become  infatuated  with  women  or  gam- 
bling, and  at  last  were  either  driven  from  their  home  or  had  voluntarily  left  it. 
I  hev  are  a  class  who  generally  live  in  furnished  rooms  in  the  better  part  of 
cities,  and  change  their  quarters  frequently  so  as  to  disarm  susjjicion.  What 
they  win  in  gambling  is  generally  ])aid  by  check  by  tlieir  victim.  Then  there  is 
some  convenient  lawyer  who  positively  knows  the  bunco-steerer's  business,  and 
who,  for  a  ccmsideration,  will  bully  their  victims  into  paying  tlie  amount  of  these 
checks.  The  victims  are,  as  a  rule,  men  who  occupy  prominent  j)ul)lic  i)Ositions, 
and  would  not  ex])ose  themselves  in  a  court  of  law  as  defendants  in  an  action 
for  the  recovery  of  a  gambling  del^t. 

"  I  never  met  a  thief  in  mv  life,  ])rovided  he  could  benefit  by  peaching  on 
his  confederates,  from  whom  I  could  not  find  out  anything  I  was  desirous  to 
know.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  honor  among  thieves,"  is  one  of  Inspector 
Byrnes'  maxims. 

New  York  is  the  most  difficult  citv  in  the  world  to  protect  against  thieves — 
for  this  reason:  in  the  first  place,  thieves  from  abroad  are  constantly  introduc- 
ing crimes  with  which  our  Police  are  not  familiar.    The  only  way  to  find  these 


4i8 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


criminals  out  is  to  hunt  for  them  among  some  of  their  own  countrymen.  When 
these  foreigners  come  here  they  generally  have  somebody  to  meet  them  who 
will  take  them  in  charge,  and,  in  spite  of  themselves,  they  are  obliged  to  show 
themselves  on  the  streets  sometimes. 

The  facilities  for  getting  out  of  New  York  to  neighboring  cities  make  it  dif- 
ficult also  to  capture  criminals. 

During  the  draft  riots  the  duties  imposed  on  the  Detectives  were  of  a  higher 
role  than  the  work  ordinarily  imposed  upon  them.  They  were  kept  employed 
day  and  night  obtaining  useful  information  concerning  the  plans  and  move- 
ments of  the  rioters,  supplying  Police  Headquarters  and  the  precinct  commands 
with  the  information  so  obtained,  and  in  this  way  doing  much  towards  frustrat- 
ing the  cowardly  aims  of  the  rioters.  While  so  occupied  they  ran  great  risks, 
and  not  a  few  of  them  had  hairbreadth  escapes  from  death  at  the  hands  of  the 
mob.  Whenever  one  of  them  was  recognized,  the  startling  cry  went  up,"There 
goes  Kennedy's  spies,"  and  then  the  officer  was  lucky  indeed  if  his  self-posses- 
sion and  presence  of  mind  extricated  him  from  the  dangerous  dilemma.  The 
Detective  force  acted  throughout  with  great  discretion,  bravery  and  zeal. 


OUK   I'OI.Ii  K  PRO  I  I'X  •  7  ORS. 


419 


CHAPTER  XTX. 


INSPECTOR  BYRNES'  COMMAND. 


The  Men  who  Protect  the  Citv  from  the  Depredations  of  Knaves  of 
High  and  Low  Degree. — Forty  Quick-witthi,  Wiue-awake  Detectives. 
— Their  History  and  Record  of  Arrests. — How  they  Make  the  City  a 
Safe  Abiding-place  for  Honest  People. — Interesting  Tales  of  Some 
Celebrated  Cases. — The  Romance  and  Reality  of  Crime. — Truth 
Stranger  than  Fiction. — A  Devoted  Band  of  Police  Officers. — Their 
Struggles  and  Triumphs. — The  Men  who  Make  it  Possible  for  Inspector 
Byrnes  to  Retain  his  Well-earned  Laurels. 

"\  T  O  jealousy  will  be  felt  by  any  member  of  Inspector  Byrnes'  staff  at  promi- 


nence  being  given  to  one  of  the  oldest  officers  on  the  force,  and  one  of  its 
shrewdest  and  most  successful  Detectives,  Timothy  Golden.  As  far  back  as 
1859 — a  (juarter  of  a  century  ago — he  was  detailed  as  Detective  in  the  Si.xth 
Precinct,  and  five  years  later  he  went  to  Police  Headquarters.  His  career  has 
been  distinguished  and  useful.  Among  his  many  arrests  may  be  cited  the  fol- 
lowing: September,  1859,  William  Jones,  for  the  murder  of  a  stranger  in  an  un- 
occupied room  in  Crown's  Rookery  at  Worth  and  Little  Water  Streets.  The 
murderer  got  six  cents  for  his  bloody  work,  and  left  no  clue.  Several  months 
after  Golden  captured  him  on  an  oyster  boat  at  Philadelj^hia,  and  he  was  sen- 
tenced for  life.  The  same  year  he  arrested  John  McCue  for  the  murder  of  an 
express  driver  in  a  grocery  store  at  Elm  and  Grand  Streets,  and  convicted  him. 
A  recommendation  to  mercy  by  the  jury  limited  his  sentence  to  nineteen 
years  and  six  months.  In  May  of  i860  Golden  convicted  eleven  porters  at  H. 
B.  Claflin  &  Co.'s,  who  had  conspired  to  swindle  the  firm,  and  recovered 
fifteen  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  goods.  Five  months  later  he  arrested  Fred- 
erick Schacht  for  the  murder  of  Thomas  Kaveny  at  Pearl  Street  and  City  Hall 
Place.  Schacht  was  a  grocer,  and  a  large  fund  was  raised  for  his  defense,  which 
was  so  ably  conducted  by  James  T.  Brady,  who  afterwards  said  he  would  never 
again  defend  a  criminal,  and  kept  his  word,  that  Schacht  escaped  with 
a  short  sentence.  Golden  spent  three  years  to  collect  evidence  to 
justify  him  in  arresting  Peter  and  Mary  Hefferman  alias  James  and  Ellen 
Johnson,  expert  shoplifters,  who  had  accumulated  a  quarter  of  a  million  of 
dollars.  The  wife  pleaded  coverture  and  was  discharged.  He  forfeited  his 
bail  and  fled  to  Canada,  but  was  arrested  again  in  the  States,  and  served 
one  year.  His  arrest  cost  him.  in  all,  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  In  August, 
1864,  he  brought  to  book  George  F".  Howe,  the  accomplice  of  Smith  and  Stev- 
enson   the  bogus  bonded  warehouse  keepers,  who,  on  spurious  warehouse 


420  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

receipts,  borrowed  two  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars.  The  arrest  was 
made  in  Rochester,  after  a  chase  through  Wisconsin.  All  the  rascals  escaped, 
in  a  measure,  by  making  restitution.  Mark  Shinburn,  the  bank  burglar  who 
became  a  German  Baron,  and  who  is  now  serving  a  sentence  for  bank  burglary  at 
Viviers,  Belgium,  was  arrested  by  Golden  in  August,  1865,  for  the  burglary  at 
the  Savings  Bank  at  Walpole,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  April  of 
that  year,  when  eighty-six  thousand  dollars  was  stolen.  Shinburn  escaped 
while  serving  a  ten  years'  sentence  at  the  Concord  Prison.  He  also  arrested 
George  White,  Shinborne's  accomplice,  who  broke  jail  while  awaiting  a  second 
trial,  and  he  is  now  serving  a  fourteen  years'  sentence  for  the  Barre,  Vt.,  bank 

robbery.  In  July,  1874, 
he  arrested  a  man  who 
had  hypothecated  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars  in 
Buffalo,  New  York  and 
Erie  Railroad  Bonds, 
from  George  Ripley,  the 
banker,  and  recovered 
twenty  thousand  dollars. 
The  same  year  he  arrested 
another  man  for  obtaining 
l)y  burglary,  at  the  office 
of  the  Commissioners  of 
Internal  Revenue  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  twelve  thou- 
sand dollars,  eleven  thou- 
sand dollars  of  which  were 
recovered.  Then,  in  1867, 
1877,  and  1878,  came  the 
arrests  of  Charles  R.  Beck- 
with,  Thomas  R.  Lewis, 
and  Charles  H.  Ketchum, 
who,  by  conspiracy,  for- 
gery, embezzlement,  and 

falsification  of  accounts. 
Detective  Sergeant  Reporting.  .  1    ^      i      a    a       a  ■ 

^  ^  Stole  two  hundred  and  six 

thousand  dollars  from  B.  T.  Babbitt,  the  soap  manufacturer  and  Ellen  E. 
Peck.  Beckwith  was  sent  to  prison  for  ten  years;  Lewis  was  followed 
to  London  by  Golden  and  arrested,  disgorged  thirty  thousand  dollars;  and 
Ketchum  made  restitution  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  Ellen  E.  Peck,  the 
alleged  "  confidence  "  woman,  who,  it  is  asserted,  obtained  nineteen  thousand 
dollars  from  Babbitt  by  pretending  to  be  able  to  disclose  where  Beck- 
with had  put  his  money,  is  now  in  the  Tombs  awaiting  trial  on  twelve 
indictments,  viz.:  five  for  grand  larceny,  one  for  ])eriury,  and  six  for  for- 
gery. Then  came,  in  1879,  the  capital  arrest  of  J.  R.  Robinson,  who  had  ob- 
tained two  hundred  and  eighty-seven  thousand  dollars  by  forgery,  in  Pennsylvania. 


OCA'  rOlJCF.  PRO'I'I'-CIORS. 


Ije  fled  to  London,  thence  to  Spain,  thence  to  Lisbon,  and  had  set  sail  for  C'allao 
when  Clolden  started  after  him.  He  never  lost  trace  of  him;  from  I'eru,  up  the  west 
coast  of  South  America,  through  Smith's  C'hannel  and  the  Straits  of  Magellan  to 
Montevideo,  lUienos  A\  res,  and  Rio  de  Janeiro,  where  he  was  arrested  and  sur-  * 
rendered  by  Doni  Pedro.  His  case  was  compromised.  In  December,  1879. 
James  'J'ounky  and  R()l)crl  May  lied  to  Washington  after  being  foiled  in  an  at- 
tempt to  obtain  one  thousand  l'i\e  hundred  dollars  from  the  Hank  of  .America, 
by  forging  the  name  of  Mrs.  Jones,  of  No.  625  Fifth  Avenue.  May  was  the 
lady's  butler,  andC.oUlen  lra|)pcd  him  i)y  inserting  an  advertisement  for  a  butler 
in  a  Washington  paper.  'I'ounley's  arrest  followed.  Both  were  convicted. 
Detective  Sergeant  Golden  is,  notwithstanding  his  long  service,  still  hale,  and 
able  to  do  first-class  duty,  ha\  ing  recovered  from  a  serious  illness  which  for 
two  years  threatened   to  in\alidate  him  permanently. 

The  old  side  partners,  Holly  Lyon  and  Richard  King,  ha\  e  been,  and  are, 
terrors  lo  e\  il  doers.  Lyon  became  a  Policeman  in  1848,  and  elev  en  years  later 
began  to  do  duty  as  a  Detective  in  the  Seventh  Precinct.  King  was  a  Detective 
in  1865,  and  went  to  the  Central  Office  in  1873.  Their  arrests  are  numbered  bv 
the  hundred.  In  February,  1870,  they  caught  the  notorious  thieves,  "Wash" 
and  "  Ed  "  Goodrich  or  Goody,  for  stealing  seven  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  silk 
from  the  truck  of  Dean  Albertson,  and  recovered  the  i)roperty.  "Wash" 
was  sent  to  prison  for  five  years  and  "  Kd  "  was  discharged.  In  March,  1870, 
Daniel  Ritner  and  Francis  Degan  entered  the  loan  office  No.  5  Amity  Street,  now 
Third  Street,  stunned  the  proprietor,  Joseph  Jackson,  and  stole  diamonds,  jew- 
elry, and  money.  The  Detectives  caught  the  thieves,  and  recovered  the  property. 
Judge  Bedford  sent  the  ])risoners  to  Sing  Sing  for  nineteen  years  and  six  months. 
King  and  Lyon  were  the  captors  of  the  banker  and  brains  of  the  Masked  Bur- 
glars, George  Millard  alias  Miller.  They  caught  him  in  his  saloon  in  West 
Broadway,  January  5,  1874,  and  secured  his  conviction  and  sentence  for  five 
years  by  Recorder  Hackett.  The  same  year  they  captured  "  Patsey  "  Conroy,  one 
of  the  masked  burglars  who  robbed  Judge  Emott's  house  at  New  Rochelle,  and 
obtained  for  him  a  twenty  vears'  sentence  at  White  Plains.  "  Danny  "  Kelly, 
John  Reilly,  "Larry"  Griffin,  James  Campbell,  "  Denny "  Brady,  and  John 
Burns,  confederates  of  Conroy,  were  also  brought  to  justice  by  these  officers. 
They  secured  a  twenty  years'  sentence  for  Michael  Wawhee  for  robbery  and  felo- 
nious assault  on  George  F.  Feely,  of  Saugerties,  N.  Y.  This,  in  1874,  as  well  as 
the  capture  and  conviction  of  John  Green,  William  Reed.  Thomas  Anguly,  and 
"  Cockney  "  Jones,  for  a  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollar  burglary  at  Edward 
Ridley's,  at  Gravesend,  L.  I.,  and  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  John  Durkin, 
Louis  Forside,  and  John  Henrv.  who  robbed  Jacob  Vanderbilt's  house  on 
Staten  Island.  In  February,  1875,  they  arrested  the  lads  Daniel  Horey  and 
James  Sweeny,  who  stole  an  Adams  Express  wagon  and  safe,  in  which  was  thirty- 
one  thousand  dollars  in  bonds  and  twentv-five  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty 
dollars  in  currency.  The  money,  etc.,  were  recovered  from  their  grave  in  a 
Nassau  Street  cellar,  and  Horey  was  convicted.  Sweenv  escaped  by  turning 
State's  evidence. 

Inspector  Byrnes'  judgment  was  correct  when  he  secured  the  transfer  from 


422 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


the  Twenty-fifth  Precinct  to  the  Detective  Squad,  of  Sergeant  Isaac  Bird,  now 
Deputy  Chief  Detective,  and  in  charge  of  the  squad  in  the  absence  of  Inspector 
Byrnes.  Sergeant*  Bird  was  a  Patrohnan  in  l-  ebruary,  1859,  Roundsman  in  1861, 
and  promoted  to  his  present  rank  in  August,  1862.  He  is  now  keen,  far-seeing 
and  prompt,  and,  while  he  disclaims  any  title  to  a  record,  he  could  lay  claim  to 
much  credit  for  his  intelligent  and  far-sighted  management  of  many  cases  which 
have  been  brought  to  a  successful  issue. 

Francis  Mangin,  Jr.,  had  his  start  in  life  in  the  newspaper  business  at 
Police  Headquarters,  and  his  fidelity  and  ability  induced  his  employers,  when 
he  had  outgrown  his  usefulness,  and,  when  as  a  matter  of  justice,  his  services 
demanded  fuller  recognition,  to  obtain  for  him  employment  in  the  office  of 
the  late  Sidney  P.  Nichols.    He  was  advanced  to  the  position  of  confidential 


I.  Gag.    2.  Sectional  Jimmy.    3.  Sectional  Jimmv.    4.  Copper  Sledge,    s-  l  ead  Sledee.    6.  Diamond  Drill. 

k Diamond  Drill.    8.  Kev  Nippers.    9.  Improved  Safe-opener.    10.  Glim.    it.  Used  to  Obtain  a  Leverage.  12. 
niickles.    i^.  Skeleton  Keys.    14.  Wedge.    15.  Wedge.    16.  Powder  Blower.    17.  Slung  Shot.    18.  PiJwder 
Funnel.    19.  Dummy  Pistol.    20.  Fuse. 

A  Burglar's  Outfit. 

clerk,  and  afterwards  was  made  a  Policeman,  and  in  time  became  a  De- 
tective Sergeant.  His  record  of  arrests  is  a  good  one.  The  following  are 
among  the  best  of  them:  May,  1883,  George  Gunsett,  receiving  stolen  goods, 
sent  to  the  Elmira  Reformatory;  August,  1883,  W.  D.  Biglow,  larceny  at  the 
Grand  Union  Hotel,  sentenced  to  three  years;  April,  1883,  Edward  Kelly,  high- 
way robbery  on  a  woman,  sentenced  to  five  years;  T^muary,  1883,  Ella  Bonk 
alias  Ada  Forrester,  shoplifting;  May,  1885,  F.  B.  Tults,  E.  J.  Foster,  Gordon 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECIORS. 


423 


R.  Ciimmings,  W.  McKeon,  Matthew  Shaw  and  David  Davis,  clerks  at  LeBou- 
tillTer  Bros.,  all  convicted  for  robbing  their  employers;  December,  1883,  J.  J. 
Wilkins,  arrested  at  Havana  for  forging  checks  on  Brown  Bros.  In  September, 
18S4,  he  caught  Charles  Stepsic  for  stealing  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars' 
worth  of  jewelry  from  William  Schwensen's  store,  No.  254  Third  Avenue, 
where  he  was  employed  as  salesman,  recovered  the  property,  and  convicted  the 
prisoner. 

Jacoi!  Tookkr,  who  is  as  brave  and  competent  an  officer  as  any  on  tlie  force, 
was  made  a  Detective  in  the  Nineteenth  Precinct,  January  12,  1877.  His  pre- 
cinct career  was  an  exemplary  one,  and  at  Police  Headcpiarters  he  has  proved 
himself  trustworthy.  In  January,  1877,  he  arrested  John  Ford  for  shooting 
James  Burnham  at  the  "  Burnt  Rag"  in  West  Seventeenth  Street,  on  the  ninth  of 
November,  1876,  and  Kate  Donnelly  at  Seventy-second  Street  and  .\vcnue  A  a 
week  later.  Ford  received  a  sentence  of  seven  years.  On  the  fourteenth  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1882,  Tooker  came  near  being  murdered  by  Thomas  alias  '"Hump" 
Hennessy.  He  was  "  wanted  "  for  robbery  with  violence,  and  when  Tooker 
arrested  him,  Hennessy  shot  him  in  the  head.  Tooker  refrained  from  taking  the 
felon's  life,  and,  though  grievoi^ly  injured,  held  on  to  his  prisoner  until  aid  came. 
Hennessy  was  sent  to  prison  for  eight  years  and  a  half.  In  July,  1883,  he 
arrested  the  confidence  woman.  Bertha  Heyman  alias  Schlesinger  alias  Edwards, 
at  Paterson,  N.  J.,  for  swindling,  among  others,  Edward  Saunders,  of  No.  43 
Second  Avenue,  and  was  sent  to  prison  for  five  years. 

John,  or  "  J.\ck  "  W.\ue,  as  he  is  affectionately  called,  was  made  a  Detective 
in  May,  1875,  and  for  years  did  his  full  duty  in  the  Tenth  Precinct.  In  Ai)ril, 
1876,  he  arrested  Gedrge  Wilson,  Patrick  Boyle,  William  Roberts,  and  Martin  Mc- 
Gowan,  who  drove  to  Brooklyn  in  a  wagon,  entered  a  jewelry  store  in  Hicks 
Street,  presented  revolvers  at  the  proprietor  and  his  wife,  and  beat  them  after 
robbing  the  place.  Each  went  to  prison  for  twenty  years.  In  November,  1876, 
Patrick  Connors  enticed  James  Colligan,  a  "sport,"  into  a  coach,  and  took  a  ride 
to  Central  Park,  where  he  and  a  confederate  robbed  Colligan,  Connors  drawing 
with  his  teeth  a  diamond  ring  off  the  man's  finger  so  that  the  flesh  came  with  it. 
Connors  went  to  Sing  Sing  for  twenty  years,  thanks  to  Wade's  persistent  hunt 
for  him.  He  was  instrumental  in  securing  the  arrest,  in  November,  1879,  of 
Joseph  and  Mary  Volkmar,  who  poisoned  Charles  Blair  at  No.  114  Essex  Street, 
and  both  were  sentenced  to  twelve  years  imprisonment  each.  In  October  of  this 
year  he  arrested  the  notorious  "Billv"  Porter  or  O'Brien,  who  broke  jail  in  Ray- 
mond Street,  Brooklyn,  with  "Johnny"  Irving,  afterwards  killed  by  "Johnny, 
the  Mick,"  in  "  Shang"  Draper's  Sixth  Avenue  saloon.  In  July,  1883,  he  cap- 
tured James  Quigley  and  James  Ryan,  who  stole  a  trunk  and  two  thousand  dol- 
lars' worth  of  silk  belonging  to  Roger.s.  Peet  cK:  Co.,  and  four  months  later 
captured  the  notorious  hotel  thief  "  Gus  "  Gregory,  who  had  set  the  Police  of 
New  York  by  the  ears  because  of  his  persistent  depredations  and  his  evasion  of 
arrest. 

Thomas  W.  Mulrv,  Wade's  partner,  was  aj)pointed  a  Detective  in  the 
Eighteenth  Precinct  in  March,  1877,  and  he  has  a  clean  and  creditable  record. 
His  chief  arrests  were:  April,  1877,  Patrick  Lynch,  burglary,  sentenced  for  five 


424 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


years;  May,  1878,  James  Creegan,  grand  larceny,  sentenced  to  five  years;  Oc- 
tober, 1879,  James  McCabe,  robbery,  sentenced  to  twenty  years;  August,  1880, 
Annie  Riley,  grand  larceny,  sentenced  to  three  years  and  a  half;  March,  1881, 
John  Fain,  burglary,  sentenced  to  five  years;  March,  1884,  Arthur  Price,  forgery, 
sentenced  to  five  years;  and  November  3,  1884,  "  Gus  "  Gregory,  burglary,  sen- 
tenced to  ten  years. 

James  J.  Lancan,  a  thoroughly  efficient  member  of  the  Detective  Squad, 
was  appointed  a  Detective  Sergeant  in  May,  1882.  In  February,  1883,  he 
arrested  and  convicted  the  tramp  thief,  William  Barlow,  who  took  a  pocketbook 
from  Miss  Christina  Sherwood  on  the  steps  of  the  Fourth  Avenue  tunnel,  and 
left  no  clue  to  his  identity.  In  November  of  that  year  he  caught  William  E. 
Brockway  and  L.  R.  Martin,  who  had  forged  fifty-two  thousand  dollars  in  bonds 
of  tlie  Morris  and  Essex  Railroad  Company,  and  both  were  convicted.  In 


alias  "  Slugger,"  and  Paul  Dewitt  alias  "  Big  Peter,"  and  W.  H.  Livingstone, 
burglary,  all  convicted;  April,  1883,  Joseph  H.  Thompson  alias  '"Doc,"  Titus  C. 
Frank  Morris  alias  Robert  Langdon,  forgery,  each  sentenced  to  five  years; 
David  C.  Bliss  alias  "Doc,"  April,  1883,  larceny  of  twenty-eight  thousdnd 
dollars  in  bonds,  sent  to  State  Prison  for  two  years;  February,  1884,  Frank 
Donohue,  Frank  Thomas,  and  George  Raymond,  burglary,  sentenced  to  four 
years  each;  August,  1884,  Leonard  C.  Davis,  bigamy,  sentenced  to  one  year. 

George  Radi-ord  has  handled  more  "  gilt-edged  "  cases  than  any  Detective 
ever  in  the  Department.  He  came  to  the  Detective  Office  in  1859,  and  is  still 
doing  excellent  service.  Some  of  his  cases  are  as  follows:  In  November,  1862, 
a  box  containing  three  hundred  thousand  dollars  was  stolen  from  Riggs  tS:  Co.'s 
deposit  vault  in  the  15nnk  of  North  .\merica.  Radford  had  no  clue,  but  he 
arrested  Charles  Kingsbury  and  Robert  Taylor,  and  made  matters  so  warm  for 


August,  1882,  he  arrested  and  con\  icted 
Terence  McQuade,  the  dog  catcher,  who 
wantonly  murdered  a  boy  named  Doyle 
who  clamored  for  the  release  of  his  pet  clog 
at  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Street  and 
Tenth  Avenue.  In  August,  1883,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  to  justice  Patrick  Carroll 
and  John  Talbot,  who  blew  open  two  safes 
at  No.  10  Burling  Slip;  and  in  July,  1884, 
sent  to  prison  William  Parks  and  George 
Johnson,  who  knocked  down  and  robbed 
William  Kruskopp,  of  No.  112  Elizabeth 
Street. 


Captain's  Shield. 


James  McQuirk  was  taken  to  the  Cen- 
tral Office  in  i88i,  and  he  has  a  record  of 
arrests  that  demonstrates  his  aptitude  for 
his  profession.  Some  of  his  best  arrests 
were:  November,  1882,  Edward  Farring- 
ton,  grand  larceny,  sentenced  to  two  years 
and  a  half;  same  year,  Michael  Dempsey 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


425 


the  thieves  that  they  sent  the  box  and  its  contents  intact  to  Radford,  at  the  Fifth 
Avenue  Hotel.  The  prisoners  were  discharged,  it  being  next  to  impossible  to 
identify  them.  In  January,  1877,  Cyrus  C.  Clark  was  caught  by  Radford  try- 
ing to  negotiate  a  loan  of  twelve  thousand  dollars  on  twenty-one  excellent 
forgeries  of  the  one  thousand  dollar  bonds  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  and 
was  sent  to  prison  for  five  years.  In  March,  1866,  John  P.  Moore's  residence,  No. 
1 10  Madison  Avenue,  was  entered  by  a  "second  story"  thief,  who  stole  sixty- 
four  thousand  dollars  in  Government  bonds  and  money.  After  several  weeks 
of  investigation,  and  with  only  a  small  steel  jimmy  as  a  clue,  Radford  arrested 
two  "second  story"  men,  "  Troy"  Dennis  and  Hugh  Carr,  and  recovered  forty- 
seven  thousand  dollars  of  the  bonds,  but  the  prisoners  were  released  because 
the  evidence  against  them,  although  positive  to  the  officer,  was  insufifi<  ient  for  a 
jury.  Carr  afterwards  committed 
suicide.  Dennis  was  killed  in  1876 
at  No.  64  West  Fiftieth  Street  while 
committing  a  "second  story"  rob- 
bery, by  a  coping  stone  falling  with 
.md  on  him.  In  September,  1878, 
Charles  Baker  alias  Walter  Whelphy 
went  to  Morton  Bliss  &  Co.'s  banking 
house.  No.  25  Nassau  Street,  with  a 
forged  bill  of  lading  and  drew  a  bill  of 
exchange  for  two  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-nine  pounds  sterling. 
He  received  a  check  for  ten  thousand 
four  hundred  and  twenty-seven  dol- 
lars, and  when  the  forgeries  were  dis- 
covered, Radford  hunted  up  Baker 
and  recovered  the  checks.  Baker  was 
sent  to  prison  for  three  years.  He  also 
arrested  and  sent  to  prison  for  twenty 
years,  Joseph  Murray,  one  of  several 
desperados  who,  at  the  Central  Park 
Savings  Bank,  on  the  third  of  April,  Sergeant's  Shield. 

187 1,  knocked  the  cashier  down,  and  grabbed  four  hundred  and  forty-five  dollars  in 
a  package.  In  June,  1879,  he  arrested  and  convicted  George  H.  Clark  alias  "  Phila- 
delphia Pearsall  "  for  stealing  an  envelope  containing  a  United  States  one  thou- 
sand dollar  bond  at  Kountze  Bros.,  No.  12  Wall  Street,  and  recovered  the  bond. 

One  of  the  shrewdest  and  most  trustworthy  men  on  the  staff  is  Philip 
Reilly,  who  became  a  Headquarters  Detective  in  August,  1866.  .\  full  account 
of  his  arrests  would,  like  those  of  many  of  Inspector  Byrnes'  staff,  fdl  this  book. 
The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  most  important  or  singularly  creditable  ones: 
December,  1866,  Sam  Moody  and  William  Sewell  for  burglary,  convicted  and 
sentenced  to  twenty  years'  imprisonment.  August,  1870,  Edward  Howard 
Ruloff,  hung  for  muider  seven  months  later.  October,  1874.  arrested  Robert 
Murray  alias  "  Bobby,  the  Milkman,"  for  burglary;  he  was  sentenced  to  ten 


42 G  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

years'  imprisonment.  December  30,  1874,  arrest  of  George  alias  "Rat"  Riley 
for  burglary;  he  served  a  term  of  ten  years.  February,  1875,  James  G.  Twiss, 
highway  robbery;  sent  to  jail  for  eighteen  years  by  Judge  Sutherland.  May  31, 
1876,  Jacob  Schinholz,  burglar;  sent  to  prison  for  ten  years  by  Judge  Gilder- 
sleeve.  February  10,  1877,  arrest  of  William  Veltman  and  William  H.  Leitch, 
for  forgery  on  the  Merchants'  Exchange  Bank  ;  they  were  sent  to  prison  each 
for  ten  years  by  Judge  Sutherland. 

Patrick  Doi.an  and  Chaki.ks  Hkidklhkrc;,  old,  experienced,  and  successful 
Detectives,  merit  special  mention  as  intelligent  partners  and  useful  public  ser- 
vants. Dolan  was  a])pointed  a  Detective  in  the  Sixth  Precinct,  in  March,  1869, 
and  Heidelberg  has  been  a  Detective  fifteen  years.  Much  of  their  work  of  late 
years  has  ])een  deterrent,  or  their  labors  have  been  with  other  Detectives,  all  of 
whom  have  shared  with  them  and  Inspector  Byrnes  the  honor  of  the  success. 
Dolan,  in  May,  1874,  arrested  Joseph  Callamon  and  Joseph  Frechton  for  swind- 
ling John  Riche  out  of  a  satchel  of 
gold  coin,  recovered  the  money,  and 
convicted  the  rascals.  Three  years 
later,  he  convicted  Charles  F.  Clark 
and  Charles  AVirgasen  of  highway  rob- 
bery, and  the  next  year  sent  Amber 
Jourdan  to  Sing  Sing  for  five  years, 
for  grand  larceny  at  the  residence  of 
M.  Curtis,  No  27  Washington  Street. 
Next  year  he  convicted  Jeremiah 
Manky  and  John  Keenan  of  a  large 
dry  goods  robbery. 

Heidelberg,  in  1881,  made  scores 
of  good  arrests,  among  which  were 
the  following:  Joseph  W.  Milne,  who 
stole  one  thousand  two  hundred  dol- 
lars from  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Patrolman's  Shield.  Fall   River  ;    David  Butler,  a  negro, 

charged  with  burglary  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J.;  Henry  Rodley,  a  negro,  charged  with 
forgery;  William  1).  Batchelder,  the  blackmailer.  Next  year  he  sent  to  prison  Fred- 
erick Fischer,  James  Mannard  and  Charles  Peters,  charged  with  burglary  at  Al- 
bany; Morris  A.  Schwab  and  Henrv  Williams,  charged  with  stealing  five  hundred 
dollars  from  Mrs.  Helen  M.  Lewis,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  Frank  Talcott'and 
William  Brown,  who  stole  two  cases  of  velvet  from  Lord  &:  Taylor's.  In  1883 
he  convicted  a  private  Detective  who  had  been  swindling  credulous  and  ambi- 
tious Germans  out  of  sums  varying  from  ten  to  two  hundred  dollars,  by 
pretending  to  appoint  them  Detectives,  and  giving  them  an  elaborately  engraved 
commission. 

A  bright  and  highly  interesting  record  is  that  of  Josf.ph  M.  Dorcv,  who 
was  a])pointcd  a  Detective  in  the  Tenth  Precinct  in  January,  1872.  Barely  two 
months  later  he  arrested  Michael  De  Rosa,  an  Italian,  who.  on  account  of  jeal- 
ousy, murdered  Giovanni  Pabricco  in  the  rear  of  No.  37  Mulberry  Street,  with 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


427 


a  dirk.  De  Rosa  was  caught  under  a  heap  of  rags  at  No.  41  Mulberry  Street, 
and  went  to  prison  for  three  years.  His  very  brilliant  arrest  of  John  Dolan 
for  the  murder  of  James  H.  Noe,  the  brush  maker,  al  No.  275  Greenwich 
Street,  on  the  twenty-second  of  August,  1875.  is  yet  remembered.  Noe  was 
fatally  injured  by  Dolan  on  a  Sunday  morning  while  he  visited  liis  store  to 
see  if  everything  was  in  order.  Dolan  was  robbing  the  place,  and  attat  ked 
when  surprised.  The  only  clues  was  a  monkey-headed  slung-shot  left  behind 
and  Mr.  Noe's  watch,  which  was  pawned  in  Chatham  Street.  The  crime  was 
brought  home  to  Dolan,  and  he  was  executed  March  15,  1876.  Dorcy  also 
arrested  and  secured  the  judicial  taking  away  of  Edward  Reinhardt,  who  mur- 
dered his  wife,  Mary  Ann,  on  Staten  Island,  July  19,  1878,  and  buried  her  body 
at  Silver  Lake.  On  the  twenty-second  of  June,  1883,  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich- 
igan, he  arrested  Dirck  ('.  Horseling.  who  embezzled  two  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  while  tax  collector  in  the  Nethe.lands,  and  Marshal  Erhardt  sent  him  to 
Holland.  'J'hree  weeks  later  on  he  arrested  Pietro  Edwardo  Martiningo, 
charged  with  forgery  and  embezzlement  to  the  e.xtent  of  one  hundred  andsixtv 
thousand  dollars  on  the  Banca  Subaepina,  of  Turin,  Italy.  The  culprit  decided 
to  go  bac  k  without  extradition  jiroceedings.  The  most  stirring  of  his  adven- 
tures was  the  arrest,  on  the  twenty-first  of  June,  1882,  of  Canon  Leon  L.  ]. 
I5ernard,  who  embezzled  one  million  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  the  See 
of  'I'ournai,  lielgiiun.  The  ciiase  after  the  rc\  crend  scoundrel  began  tlirough  the 
jjrincipal  south-western  cities,  then  to  Mexico,  and  finally  at  Vera  Cruz.  Dorcv 
secured  Bernard's  arrest  at  the  Hotel  Telegrafo,  at  Havana,  by  a  telegraphic 
message  which  arrived  in  the  nick  of  time.  Dorcy  secured  information  which 
enabled  the  See  of  Tournai  to  recover  one  million  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

Thomas  Hickev,  who  became  a  Central  Office  Detective  in  April,  1880,  is 
one  of  the  most  unassuming,  and,  at  the  same  time,  one  of  the  bravest 
and  most  trustworthy  officers  of  the  Detective  liureau.  He  has  been  chiefly 
engaged  in  looking  after  the  interests  of  Mammon  in  Wall  Street,  and  how 
well  he  and  his  associates  have  done  their  duty  is  seen  by  the  absence 
of  reports  of  depredations  in  the  financial  centre.  Hickey  has  found  time 
to  do  some  excellent  Detective  work.  In  November,  1880.  he  arrested  and 
convicted  Henry  Freeman  for  stealing  three  thousand  dollars  from  a  safe  at  the 
New  York  Post-office.  In  February,  1881,  a  tray  of  diamond  rings  was  stolen 
from  the  show  window  of  Alexander  Newburger,  No.  531  Sixth  Avenue.  Hickey 
soon  had  the  thieves,  James  Murphv,  John  Dunn,  John  Leonard,  and  "Milky," 
McDonald,  under  arrest,  and  their  conviction  followed.  A  month  later,  three 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  laces  were  stolen  from  the  truck  of 
Lahey  <S:  Dubard,  No.  110  Grand  Street,  and  the  thieves,  Henry  Lissee,  Henry 
Hart,  August  Hartrott  and  Marcus  Raymond,  were  soon  on  their  way  to  prison. 
In  September,  1882,  he  secured  the  conviction,  and  sentences  of  fifteen  years 
each,  of  George  Earle  and  Ambrose  Schlag,  for  burglary  at  the  residences  of 
Percy  L.  Pine  and  Colgate  Hoyt,  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  The  same  year 
he  arrested  Henr\  Hart  and  Marcus  Raymond  for  stealing  twelve  thousand 
dollars'  worth   of   baggage   from  a   Dodd's   express  wagon.      In  February, 


428 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


1883,  he  convicted  David  Kidney  and  John  Carmody  of  robbing  Adolph 
C.oldsmith  and  his  messenger,  in  Greenwich  Street,  of  a  cash  box  containing  one 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars  ;  and  the  same  year  he  caught  Albert  Yiloeky,  who 
is  now  serving  a  life  sentence  for  beating  out  the  brains  of  a  countryman  near 
Pittsl)urg,  Pa. 

Michael  Ckowlev  was  taken  from  the  Fifteenth  Precinct  to  Police  Head- 
(luarters  in  March,  1881.  He  had  made  an  enviable  reputation  long  before,  and 
has  continued  to  be  shrewd  and  energetic.  The  record  of  his  arrests  are:  W.  C. 
Rhinelander,  of  No.  243  Schermerhorn  Street,  Brooklyn,  for  attempting  to  kill 
John  Drake,  at  No.  79  Cedar  Street;  Frank  Frisbie,  for  stealing  five  thousand 
dollars  from  the  Bank  of  Portland,  Oregon;  H.  F.  Gray  bill,  for  forgeries  on 
Miller  &  Bro.,  Philadelphia,  and  the  Savannah  Steamship  Company;  Bernard 
Rose  alias  Russell,  for  a  five  thousand  dollar  burglary  at  Hammerslough  Bros.', 

at  724  Broadway  and  William  Mei- 
neck,  for  the  murder  of  Katie  Brader- 
hoff,  at  Elmira. 

RicH.\RD  O'Connor,  Sergeant  of 
Detectives,  was  detailed  as  a  Central 
Office  Detective  at  the  District  Attor- 
ney's office,  in  October,  1873.  He  is 
accounted  as  not  only  having  a  com- 
plete knowledge  of  all  criminals  worth 
knowing,  but  with  having  a  better 
knowledge  of  criminal  law  and  pro- 
ceedings than  many  practicing  lawyers. 
He,  in  June,  1874,  caught  John  H. 
Short,  who  was  sent  to  prison  for  twenty  years  for  robbing  Jacob  Vanderbilt's 
house',  on  Staten  Island.  He  convicted  George  Miles  alias  Bliss,  for  the  Barre, 
Vt.,  bank  robbery,  in  September,  1875.  November,  9,  1875,  he  arrested  John 
Green  for  a  burglary  at  Oxford  Furnace,  N.  J.,  and  secured  his  conviction.  In 
August,  1876,  he  caught  David  Jones  alias  Peyton,  who  had  committed  a  burglary 
at  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  he  was  sentenced  to  twelve  years'  imprisonment.  Attilla 
Beyer,  who  robbed  District  Attorney  Phelps'  house,  was  arrested  by  O'Connor 
in  August,  1876,  and  was  sent  to  Sing  Sing  for  ten  years.  In  September  of  that 
year  he  arrested  Daniel  O'Brien,  alias  Captain  Sparks,  for  stealing  three  thousand 
dollars'  worth  of  diamonds  from  a  Long  Branch  hotel,  and  he  was  sent  to  Trenton 
Prison  for  ten  years. 

Owen  Halev,  who  was  detailed  as  a  Detective  in  May,  1873.  has  had  an 
active,  honorable  and  memorable  career.  He  began  well,  for  in  July,  1873,  he 
received  honorable  mention  by  the  Board  of  Police  for  arresting  and  convicting 
seventeen  shoplifters  and  pickpockets  in  twenty-eight  days.  His  industr>'  is  pro- 
verbial, and  he  has  made  as  good  an  average  of  arrests  as  any  of  his  colleagues. 
Some  of  the  most  important  were  in  April,  1875.  Charles  D.  Thompson,  em- 
bezzlement of  eleven  thousand  dollars  at  the  Core  Iron  Works  of  Providence.  R. 
I.,  who  shot  himself  in  the  head  on  the  steamer  Idaho,  but  was  sent  to  Provi- 
dence;   June,  1876,  William  Leith,  forger  on  Bryer  &  Smith,  sentenced  to  ten 


Model  Cell. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


429 


years;  March  31,  1877,  Joseph  I5ald\vin  alias  Peijperniint  Joe,  Joseph  F.  Adams 
alid^  Joe  Butts,  and  "Bill"  Voshurgh,  for  robbing  Gracie,  King  <S:  Co.  of  a 
box  containing  one  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars  in  bonds;  May,  1877, 
John  Price  alias  James  Munroe,  for  stealing  five  thousand  dollars  in  Boston; 
March,  1878,  William  Smith  alias  Shaw  alias  McGuin,  and  Frank  Dwyer, 
for  obtaining  goods  on  forged  orders  from  John  Osborne  &  Co.;  June,  1878, 
Vincent  McGee,  alias  "Red"  the  "stage  fiend,"  who  so  long  collected  fares 
and  evaded  arrest  ;  August,  1878,  William  Howard,  burglar,  caught  through 
imprisoning  of  his  hands  in  the  fanlight  of  a  door.  He  charged  W.  T.  Van 
Zandt,  a  millionaire,  with  arson;  Ajjril,  1879,  T.  McDonald  and  Joseph  Stern, 
who  in  three  years  had  robbed  IC.  C.  Denning  &  Co.,  No.  177  Broadway,  of 
twenty  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  goods,  McDonald  being  an  employee,  and 
Stern  the  receiver.  Haley  was  honorably  mentioned  for  these  arrests  by  the 
Board  of  Police,  as  he  was  the  first  to  inform  the  firm  that  they  were  being  robbed; 
June,  1881,  James  J.  Rooney,  the  barrel  thief,  who  was  convicted  after  being 
twenty  years  in  the  business  of  receiving  casks  and  barrels  stolen  from  brewers; 
October,  1881,  Mark  Koshofskie  alias  Michael,  the  forger  of  forty  checks;  a 
month  later  John  W.  Oliver,  embezzler  of  eight  thousand  dollars  at  Americus, 
Ga.,  money  recovered;  March,  1882,  George  Hendrix,  the  blower  up  of  the 
Andre  Monument  at  Tappan,  N.  Y.;  April,  1882,  Manuel  Montana  alias 
Gonzalez,  the  forger  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  checks;  September,  1882,  Wil- 
liam Rogers,  George  Smith,  W.  H.  Burke,  Louis  Briggs,  and  W.  G.  Abbott, 
charged  with  the  murder,  at  a  pic-nic  row  at  Elizabethport,  N.  J.  of  Thomas  Mc- 
Keon;  December,  1882,  Charles  E.  Boucher,  forger  of  one  hundred  checks  in 
New  York  and  Syracuse;  December,  1882,  George  James  Rice,  president  of  the 
Elmira  and  Ithaca  Railroad,  charged  with  embezzling  one  hunded  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars;  January,  1883,  William  Harrison  alias  Hewitt,  the  black- 
mailer of  Mrs.  Rich,  whose  husband  so  mysteriously  disappeared;  W.  H.  Mc- 
Cabe,  W.  H.  Hughes,  Richard  C.  Swift,  Michael  O'Donnell,  John  Conlon, 
Edward  O'Keefe,  Horatio  S.  Courtney,  Richard  O'Keefe,  the  "false  fire  alarm 
fiends,"  who  had  driven  the  Fire  Department  distracted  with  their  malicious  mis- 
chief, for  which  all  paid  dearly;  October,  1883,  John  B.  O'Reilly  and  Margaret 
Nash,  for  incarcerating  their  aunt  in  a  lunatic  asylum  and  possessing  themselves 
of  her  money,  five  thousand  dollars;  February,  1884,  John  Britton  and  Thomas 
Feeney  alias  Freund,  the  blackmailer  of  A.  E.  G.  Oelrichs;  October,  1884, 
Rollins  M.  Strang,  charged  with  embezzlement  of  four  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  by  Jones  &  Co.  of  the  New  York  Flour  Mills;  November,  1884,  Alexander 
C.  Branscom,  for  forging  to  the  amount  of  fifty-two  thousand  two  hundred  and 
fifty-two  dollars  on  a  number  of  publishing  houses. 

John  J.  Dunn,  a  veteran  officer,  first  did  Detective  duty  in  the  Eighth 
Precinct  in  1869.  He  is  so  thoroughly  trustworthy  and  possessed  of  such  good 
judgment  that  he  has  had  charge  of  the  Wall  Street  Sub-Detective  Bureau  since 
it  opened.  His  chief  arrests  as  a  Detective  are:  John  Avery  for  murder  at 
Creskill,  N.  J.,  who  was  hung  at  Hackensack,  June  8,  1872;  C.  H.  Madan,  bur- 
glar, sentenced  to  twenty  years  by  Recorder  Hackett  September  28,  1875; 
Abraham  Bernstein  sentenced  for  life  for  arson,  and  Charles  Bernstein  and  A. 


43° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


D.  Freeman,  sentenced  for  the  same  crime  to  the  same  punishment;  and  Henry 
D.  Reno  sentenced  for  ten  years  for  arson. 

Robert  McNaught  has  been  a  Central  Office  Detective  since  December, 
1877,  and  he  has  done  a  vast  amount  of  first-class  duty.  In  September,  1878, 
he  arrested  the  notorious  forger,  Julius  Columbani,  and  secured  his  conviction. 
Columbani  was  afterwards  arrested  by  him  in  February,  1884,  at  the  instance  of 
the  swindler,  Mrs.  Peck,  for  negotiating  bonds,  stolen  by  burglars  from  E. 
McSorley,  of  Richmond,  Staten  Island.  Samuel  Kane  alias  ''Slocum,"  and 
John  Norton  alias  "the  Kid"  were  stealing  a  valise  in  which  were  twenty-seven 
thousand  dollars  in  bonds,  from  No.  29  Broadway,  in  September,  1878.  A  couple 
of  weeks  later  he  arrested  Clinton  Ainsworth  alias  Smith  alias  "Broker  Dick," 
who  had  in  his  possession  one  thousand  of  four  thousand  unsigned  ten  dollar 
notes  of  the  Consolidated  Bank  of  Canada,  which  had  been  stolen  from  the 
bank.    In  March,  1881,  McNaught  arrested  Samuel  Hawthorn  on  a  telegraphic 

description  from  Vicksburg 
Mississippi,  on  a  charge  of 
murder.  He  was  sentenced  to 
ninety-nine  years'  imprison- 
ment. Augustus  D.  Wheelock, 
who  forged  two  checks  for  ten 
thousand  dollars  each,  and  stole 
forty-five  thousand  dollars,  was, 
in  November,  1881,  traced  to 
London  through  McNaught,  and 
was  brought  back  by  Detective 
Sergeant  Cosgrove. 

Alvan  H.  Williamson  was 
made  a  Detective  in  November, 
1873,  and  has  done  excellent 
service.  In  October,  1874,  he 
arrested  George  alias  "  Rat  " 
Riley,  and  Robert  Murray  alias 
Sergeant  Isaac  Bird.  «  gobby,  the  Milkman,"  for  rob- 

bing the  Messrs.  Luther  Bryant  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars 
and  other  property.  Each  was  sentenced  to  ten  years'  imprisonment.  He  also 
convicted  George  Anderson  of  burglary  at  W.  R.  Lear's.  No.  5  West  Twenty- 
fourth  Street;  Thomas  Hamilton  for  robbing  L.  Valentine,  of  No.  19  f'ifth 
Avenue;  James  G.  Twess  for  highway  robbery  on  Ewald  Bolemius,  of  No.  207 
East  Houston  Street;  Julius  Bloom,  the  famous  shoplifter:  John  Anderson  alias 
"Jimmy,  the  Kid,"  the  pickpocket;  and  Jacob  Shenholz,  who  burglarized  the 
store  of  Harris  Philips  at  No.  107  Hester  Street. 

John  Ruland  became  the  Detective  of  the  Fifteenth  Precinct  in  February, 
1877,  and  he  kept  the  command  clear  of  felons,  and  rarely  missed  catching 
those  who  committed  depredations  or  crimes.  A  very  important  arrest  was 
made  by  him  in  June,  1881,  in  the  i)erson  of  the  king  of  scoundrels  in  the  con- 
fidence fraternity,  "  Plin  "  White,  who  so  mercilessly  fleeced  poor  Major  W.  L. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


H^l.  He  was  associated  with  Haley  in  the  arrest  of  the  "  false  fire-alarm 
fiends,"  and  in  other  arrests  made  by  that  officer.  Ruland  has  recovered  from 
an  affection  of  the  eyes  which,  for  several  years,  menaced  him  with  blindness. 

Edw  ard  Slevin,  Sergeant  in  the  Detective  Bureau,  was  made  Ward  Detec- 
tive in  the  Fifteenth  Precinct  in  August,  1873,  and  came  to  Police  Headquarters 
to  receive  later  on,  well  merited  promotion,  in  March,  1880.  Sergeant  Slevin  is 
Inspector  Byrne's  right  hand  man,  and  his  confidence  in  him  is  fully  warranted. 
One  of  the  most  genial  of  men  in  jirivatc  life,  he  is,  in  his  profession,  keen, 
indefatigable,  and  successful.  It  is  hardly  fair  to  give  a  history  of  his  personal 
arrests,  for  some  of  the  most  successful  and  extraordinary  cases  in  New  York 
have  been  brought  to  the  point  when  an  arrest  was  necessary,  and  another 
officer  stepped  in  to  make  it.  In  September,  1876,  he  convicted  Henry  Bruner, 
a  sneak  thief,  for  robbing  Angelina  Ambrogetti,  of  No.  106  Clinton  Place,  of 
jewelry  and  money.  The  same  year  he  convicted  John  Absender,  for  stealing  a 
trunk  from  the  City  Hotel,  and  Mary  Mitchell  alias  Busby,  for  robbing  Mrs.  A. 
L.  Roberts.  Next  year  he  disposed  of  "  Sam  "  Bergen  and  "  Jack  "  Conroy, 
for  stealing  three  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  clothes  from  W.  D.  AVoods,  at  No. 
667  Broadway.  Passing  by  hundreds  of  arrests  by  him  as  a  Ward  Detective, 
we  come  to  November  21,  1883,  when  he  arrested  Richard  O.  Davis  and  Edward 
Darlington  for  a  forgery  of  one  thousand  four  hundred  dollars  on  the  Conti- 
nental National  Bank  of  New  York,  and  convicted  both.  The  same  year  he 
made  one  of  the  cleverest  arrests  ever  accomplished  by  an  officer,  that  of  the 
notorious  forger  "  Steve  "  Raymond  alias  Marshall,  for  altering  stolen  coupons 
of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company.  Raymond  was  captured  at  the  Bank 
of  Commerce  while  cashing  a  check  for  some  of  the  coupons  which  he  had 
cashed  at  the  office  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company.  He  was  sentenced 
to  State  Prison  for  life.  ■ 

Much  of  the  most  important  clerical  work  of  the  Detective  Bureau  is 
done  by  Sergeant  William  W.  McLaughlin,  who  was  a  Patrolman  in  1868,  a 
Roundsman  in  1874,  and  won  his  rank  in  1882.  He  has  a  clean  record,  and 
often  finds  time  to  do  the  best  of  Detective  work.  In  1883,  William  C.  Bullard 
alias  Russell  alias  Maltby,  was  combining  forgery  with  bigamy,  and  was  crimi- 
nally successful  in  each,  but  he  tried  his  pen  on  the  Fifth  Avenue  Bank,  and 
fell  into  McLaughlin's  clutches  after  much  hunting  up.  He  is  serving  a  five 
years'  sentence.  In  May,  1882,  Henry  Wood  picked  the  pocket  of  a  bank 
messenger  of  a  wallet  containing  fifty  thousand  dollars  in  money,  drafts,  etc., 
and  was  convicted  by  McLaughlin.  He  caught  the  confidence  operators, 
Maurice  Schwab  and  Robert  Rummels,  who,  in  the  Spring  of  1882,  after  de- 
frauding many  persons,  swindled  the  actress,  Helen  Morris  Lewis,  out  of  five 
hundred  dollars.  Samuel  B.  Sinclair  and  W.  H.  Holliday  were,  in  April,  1S83, 
bookkeeper  and  salesman,  respectively,  with  Lang  &:  Robinson,  of  No.  2  South 
Street.  They,  by  forgery  and  embezzlement,  obtained  seventeen  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars  and  fled  to  Cuba.  McLaughlin  was  instrumental  in  securing 
their  arrest  at  Nuevitas,  and  went  to  Cuba  and  brought  them  back  to  be  tried 
and  convicted.  For  the  gigantic  scheme  to  get  a  cool  million  from  the  Elevated 
Railroads  by  forging  tickets,  McLaughlin  arrested  Joseph  B.  Cole,  the  planner 


432 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


of  the  affair;  W.  H.  Pindar,  tlie  confederate;  and  A.  C.  Speth,  the  lithographer; 
Cole  was  convicted,  Pindar  was  discharged,  and  Speth's  case  is  pending. 

Frank  Cosgrove,  who  dates  from  the  time  of  the  Hon.  De  Witt  CHnton 
Wheeler,  has  done  some  splendid  Detective  work.  He  owes  much  to  his  match- 
less aplomb  and  good  education.  He  was  associated,  in  1881,  in  the  arrest  of  the 
Vicksburg  murderer,  Samuel  Hawthorne,  who  received  a  sentence  of  ninety-nine 
years'  imprisonment.  In  September,  1880,  he  captured  and  convicted  John 
Stanford  and  William  Chrystie,  for  burglary  at  the  residence  of  A.  T.  Albro, 
at  White  Plains.  In  July,  1881,  he  ran  down  Antonio  Stadt,  who,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Colgate  Hoyt,  at  Yonker.s,  obtained  by  burglary  three  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  silverware  and  other  property,  and  sent  him  to  State  Prison  for  fifteen 
years.  He  also  arrested  his  confederate,  George  Ewell,  who  received  a  sen- 
tence of  ten  years.  Cosgrove  gets  a  great  many  delicate  cases,  when  a  man 
who  has  a  nice  discrimination,  in  apparel  is  an  acquisition,  and  not  a  few  times 
has  he  mingled  with  the  crane  de  la  cretne  of  upper-tendom  while  investigating 
matters  that  disturbed  the  peace  of  high-toned  families. 

William  E.  Frink  is  another  of  Inspector  Byrnes'  suave,  well-mannered, 
handsome  and  stylishly  attired  officers.  He  went  to  the  Detective  Bureau  in 
February,  1882,  and  very  soon  had  Franklin  J.  Moses,  ex-Governor  of  South 
Carolina,  and  the  profligate  and  swindling  son  of  a  scrupulously  honest  jurist,  in 
jail.  The  fellow  had  swindled  hundreds  of  persons,  but  the  complaint  in  this 
case  was  made  by  E.  W.  Crowell,  of  No.  195  Broadway.  Moses  was  sent  to  the 
penitentiary  for  six  months.  A  short  time  after,  Frink  run  down  Jacob  Weil, 
who  had  embezzled  three  thousand  dollars  from  Withers  Brothers  &  Owens,  No. 
32  Bond  Street.  Weil  was  traced  by  the  officer  to  Liverpool,  and  he  was 
brought  here  and  convicted.  Richard  Gerner,  who  swindled  a  letter  carrier, 
Richard  O'Connor,  out  of  three  thousand  dollars,  was  arrested  by  Frink  in  May, 
1882,  and  the  money  was  disgorged.  In  June,  1883,  he  arrested  Harry  Moore 
alias  Howard,  for  robbing  a  freight  car  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company 
of  ten  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  silks,  and  recovered  the  property.  Louis 
Wilkins,  who  had  swindled  many  through  the  medium  of  messenger  boys,  was 
caught  by  Frink  in  September,  1883.  In  November,  1884,  he  arrested  Walter 
Cortwright  alias  "  Big  Walter,"  a  notorious  shoplifter,  for  a  robbery  of  feathers 
at  R.  M.  Morton  &  Co.'s,  at  Eleventh  Street  and  University  Place,  and  on  Jan- 
uary 2,  1885,  he  captured  Frank  King  and  Patrick  Hughes,  who  stole  a  jeweler's 
trunk  from  the  baggage  room  of  the  Westcott  Express  Company's  office  at^  the 
Grand  Central  Depot.  Frink  recovered  the  jewelry,  which  was  worth  three 
thousai;d  dollars. 

Charles  O'Connor  was  appointed  a  Detective  in  the  Eleventh  Precinct 
in  November,  1871.  His  record  is  unexcelled.  In  1S72  he  arrested  Samuel 
Maloney,  who  threw  red  pepper  in  the  eyes  of  William  Feldman  and  stole  four 
thousand  dollars  from  him  at  Rivington  and  Mangin  Streets.  Maloney  ser\-ed 
ten  years  in  prison  for  the  offense.  In  July,  1876,  Julius  Azeroff,  Jonas  Gold- 
smith and  Daniel  Warner  entered  Jacob  Fieber's  residence,  No.  712  East  Sixth 
Street,  and  Warner  knocked  Fieber  senseless,  while  his  confederates  rifled  a 
trunk  and  stole  six  hundred  dollars.    O'Connor  ferretted  out  the  criminals,  and 


OUR  POLICE  rK0TEC70RS. 


433 


thSy  were  duly  convicted.  In  March,  1877,  O'Connor  arrested  John  Dailey, 
Francis  McCormack,  John  Doherty  and  James  Lynch  for  murdering  Frank 
Reilly  at  Stanton  and  Goerck  Streets.  Dailey  received  a  life  sentence,  and  the 
others  went  to  prison  for  four  years.  The  same  year  he  convicted  Peter  De- 
laney  and  Cleorge  Lewis  for  stabbing  William  Pulver  at  Rivington  and  Lewis 
Streets,  so  that  he  had  lifteen  wounds,  and  robbing  him.  Each  received  heavy 
but  well  merited  punishment.  He  enabled  justice  to  settle  an  account  with 
John  Burns,  Edward  Harrison  and  Joseph  Smith,  who,  early  in  1878,  entered  the 
jewelry  store  of  Jacob  Ling,  at  No.  453  Hlast  Ninth  Street,  awed  Mrs.  Ling,  who 
was  alone,  by  pointing  a  pistol  at  her,  and  robbed  the  place.  In  February,  1874, 
he  caught  Edward  (learing  alias  Goodrich  alias  Morris  alias  Goody,  the 
"butcher  cart"  thief,  who,  witli  a  confederate,  robbed  William  R.  Church  of 


Convicts'  Boat  Going  to  the  Island. 

two  thousand  dollars  at  the  One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Street  station  of  the 
Second  Avenue  Elevated  Railroad.   Gearing  was  sent  to  prison  for  twenty  years. 

George  H.  Dilks,  son  of  the  veteran  Inspector,  became  a  Detective  in 
March,  1872.  Next  year  he  made  a  verv  brilliant  arrest.  The  notorious 
"Jimmy"  Brady  alias  Oscar  Peterson,  was  negotiating  the  sale  of  forty  thou- 
sand dollars  in  stolen  bonds,  when  Dilks  and  Detective  Tully  surprised  him,  and 
Brady  fled.  Dilks  pursued  him  through  Carmine.  Bedford  and  Leroy  Streets, 
and  here  fired  at  him,  wounding  him  in  the  hip.  Brady  ])lunged  into  a  window, 
and  Dilks  fired  through  the  window  again,  wounding  him  in  the  hip.  Brady  was 
tugging  at  his  ])istol,  but  the  hammer  had  caught  in  the  lining  of  his  pocket, 
and  Dilks  had  time  to  get  in  the  window  and  compel  a  surrender  under  the  muz- 
zle of  his  weapon.  The  bonds  were  found  where  Brady  was  trying  to  sell  them. 
He  was  sent  to  Sing  Sing  for  ten  years,  and  is  now  serving  a  sentence  of  seven- 
teen years  and  a  half  for  a  petty  robbery  of  silk  underclothing  in  a  Broadway 


434 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


store,  when  he  was  drunk  from  a  carouse  which  celebrated  the  division  of  forty- 
thousand  dollars,  the  proceeds  of  several  bank  robberies;  and  for  the  shooting  at 
and  wounding  of  Officer  Paddock,  of  the  Broadway  Squad,  who  pursued  him. 
Dilks  was  associated  with  Detective  Haley  in  the  arrest  of  "Peppermint  Joe  " 
and  "Joe  Butts,"  for  the  Charlestown  robbery  in  1877.  This  year  Dilks  arrested 
and  convicted  John  Price  alias  James  Monroe,  for  stealing  five  thousand  dollars 
in  bonds  from  a  hair  store  in  Washington  Street,  Boston;  and  in  1876  he  ran  to 
earth  the  scoundrelly  and  ferocious  Italian  confidence  operator,  Andrea  Bres- 
sant,  and  his  confederate,  Pietro  Valgoe,  who  had  robbed  a  compatriot  in  Boston 
of  one  thousand  nine  hundred  dollars.  Going  to  Boston,  Bressant,  although 
handcuffed,  leaped  from  a  train  going  at  full  speed.  He  was  not  seriously  in- 
jured, and  was  recaptured  and  landed  in  Boston.  He  also  arrested  the  skilled 
trickster  and  diamond  thief,  Claude  Burroughs,  who,  by  dodging  out  of  a  room 
at  the  Grand  Central  Hotel,  swindled  John  R.  Greason  &  Co.,  the  jewelers,  out 
of  gems  worth  four  thousand  six  hundred  dollars.  Burroughs  was  sent  to  the 
Elmira  Reformatory.  In  1884,  he,  with  Detective  Sergeant  Cosgrove,  convicted 
Catherine  Murray,  the  expert  English  thief,  who  had  robbed  Mrs.  H.  B.  Hatch, 
of  No.  531  Fifth  Avenue,  of  three  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  property;  and 
with  the  same  officer  ended  temporarily  the  career  of  Ralph  Newton,  who 
had  embezzled  seven  thousand  dollars  from  A.  H.  Wheeler  &:  Co.,  No.  30  New 
Street.  They  caught  him  by  a  ruse.  He  was  a  musical  amateur,  and  when  they 
found  that  he  would  not  be  "  in  "  at  his  lodgings,  they  personated  minstrels,  pro- 
cured a  violin,  and  soon  enticed  him  out  of  his  retirement. 

George  Lanthier  was  appointed  a  Detective  in  July,  1879.  He  is,  perhaps, 
the  best  dressed  member  of  Inspector  Byrnes'  staff,  and  very  frequently  does 
duty  in  a  "swallow  tail."  He  is  generally  one  of  the  favored  ones  who  are  se- 
lected to  attend  grand  receptions  and  entertainments  to  look  out  for  light- 
fingered  gentry.  His  record  of  arrests  is  a  capital  one.  He,  in  February,  1880, 
captured  Langdon  W.  Moore  alias  Charley  Adams,  for  the  burglary  at  the  War- 
ren Savings  Bank,  Boston,  who  is  completing  a  term  of  sixteen  years  in  the 
Massachusetts  State  Prison.  That  month  he  caught  Ernestine  Smith,  who  stole 
five  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  diamonds  at  No.  54  West  Fifty-sixth  Street;  and 
the  same  year  brought  to  book  John  Anderson  alias  "  Little  Andy,"  for  obtain- 
ing five  thousand  five  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  jewelry  by  a  burglary  at  a 
Third  Avenue  pawnbroker's.  In  December,  1880,  he  arrested  and  convicted 
the  blackmailer,  Jacob  Isleton;  and  in  March,  1881,  ran  down,  at  Denver,  Col., 
James  Orr,  who  had  embezzled  sixty-five  thousand  dollars  from  Jackson  S. 
Schultz. 

Edgar  S.  Slauson,  a  pupil  of  Richard  King,  became  a  Detective  in  Oc- 
tober, 1882,  and  he  is  an  efficient,  quiet  and  painstaking  member  of  the  Detec- 
tive force.  A  few  days  after  he  went  to  the  Central  Office  he  arrested  Archi- 
bald Adams  and  William  Johnson,  for  robbing  the  pawnbroker,  Thomas  Green, 
of  No.  171  Bowery,  of  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  by  "ringing  the 
changes  "  on  the  tickets.  The  prisoners  were  sent  to  the  Elmira  Reformatory. 
In  August,  1883,  he  locked  up  John  Jenning  alias  "Liverpool  Jack,"  a  profes- 
sional safe  blower,  for  a  burglary  at  No.  29  Frankfort  Street,  and  convicted  him. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


435 


In'june,  1884,  he  convicted  Michael  and  Thomas  CaUahan  and  Carroll  F.  Rich- 
ards, for  stealing  four  trunks  containing  property  worth  three  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  from  the  office  of  Dodd's  Exjjress  Co. 

Silas  W.  Rogers  was  made  a  Detective  in  the  Twenty-ninth  Precinct  in 
1874,  and  is  au  fait  in  anything  that  concerns  his  duties.  His  early  arrests 
show  a  long  list  of  burglars,  hotel  thieves,  and  sneaks.  In  April,  1882,  he 
arrested  and  convicted  James  Lee,  the  bogus  Custom  House  officer,  and  the 
next  month  checked  the  career  of  James  J.  Courtney,  the  forger,  who  passed  a 
check  for  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  ten  dollars  and  fifty  cents  on  the 
Marine  Bank.  The  same  year  he  convicted  Michael  Martin,  the  East  River 
National  Bank  forger.  Next  May  he  caught  and  convicted  Timothy  J.  Gilmore, 
who  forged  on  C.  T.  Gorham,  the  First  Street  flour  merchant;  and  in  June,  1884, 
secjuestered  Michael  Koshofski,  who  passed  worthless  checks  on  Mitchell,  Vance 
&  Co.  and  R.  H.  Mary  «S;  Co.  Last  December  he  aided  in  the  capture  of 
"  Tom "  Connors,  William  R.  Hibone  and  John  McKeon,  the  King's  County 
Penitentiary  burglars. 

George  W.  McCi-usrv  was  made  a  Detective  in  October,  1883,  and  two 
months  later  arrested  David  Lowenthal  alias  "  Sheeny  Dave,"  for  stealing  a 
diamond  bracelet  at  the  jewelry  store  of  Thomas  Kirkpatrick  &:  Co.,  Twenty- 
second  Street  and  Broadway.  He  was  put  under  bail,  and  left  his  bondsman  in 
tlie  lurch.  In  January,  1884,  he  arrested  and  convicted  Thomas  P.  Ryan  alias 
"  Tim  Simon,"  for  robbing  a  man  of  a  gold  watch  in  Madison  Scpiare  Ciarden;  and 
next  month  he  captured  and  convicted  the  professional  bill  dropper,  Robert 
Hawthorne  alias  Hartshorn;  James  McGuire  alias  Jesse  James,  and  Patrick 
McGrath  alias  "  Blind  Patsey,"  for  robbing  an  Italian  of  six  hundred  dollars  in 
Crosby  Street. 

Albertis  Wood  was  made  a  Detective  in  1881,  and  has  done  his  full  share 
of  duty.  His  principal  arrests  are:  April,  1882,  John  Fogarty,  burglar,  sentenced 
to  two  years;  October  3,  1882,  George  Morton,  burglar,  one  year;  October  6, 
John  McMahon,  grand  larceny,  five  years;  March,  1883,  Charles  Raymond,  grand 
larceny,  five  years;  June,  1884,  George  Miller,  grand  larceny,  three  years  and  a 
half;  and  January,  1885,  Charles  H.  Webb,  forgery,  one  year. 

Thomas  Doyle  was  appointed  a  Detective  in  the  First  Precinct  in  April,  1864. 
His  career  has  been  an  honorable  and  useful  one.  He  aided,  in  July,  1875,  in 
arresting  John  H.  Short  for  the  burglary  at  Jacob  Vanderbilt's,  on  Staten  Island, 
and  in  February,  1 87 1 ,  sent  G.  W.  Lambert  to  Sing  Sing  for  receiving  stolen  goods. 
He  aided  in  the  arrest  of  Edward  J.  Courtney  for  the  three  thousand  three 
hundred  dollar  forgery  on  the  Marine  Bank  in  1882,  and  in  November  of  that 
year  convicted  Michael  Martin  for  a  forgery  on  the  East  River  Bank.  In 
February,  1884,  he  arrested  and  convicted  the  forger,  Timothy  Gilmore,  who  had 
done  a  rushing  business  in  small  checks. 

Dennis  J.  Fogartv  was  made  a  Ward  Detective  in  the  Fifth  Precinct  in 
1877,  and  has  had  an  honorable  and  busy  career.  He  shares  his  credit  with 
his  partner,  Martin  Handy,  who  was  made  a  Detective  in  the  Eighteenth  Pre- 
cinct in  1876.  In  August,  1877,  Fogarty  and  Handy  arrested  the  sneak  thief, 
Daniel  Brown  alias  French  Louis,  for  breaking  into  Scott  Brothers'  store,  120 


436 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS, 


White  Street,  and  convicted  him.  In  November,  1878,  they  captured  Francisco 
De  Jeane,  who  murdered  William  Pease  in  York  Street,  and  was  sentenced  for 
life.  In  November,  1877,  they  ran  down  Edward  Edgar  alias  E.  E.  Hemingway, 
who,  with  others,  cut  into  Patterson  &  Towers'  bonded  warehouse.  They  were 
surprised  by  a  watchman  when  they  had  thirty  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  silk 
prepared  for  removal.  In  January,  1885,  they  arrested  and  convicted  the 
Italian  confidence  operators,  Giovanni  Rocco  and  Adolfo  Pardinni,  who  swin- 
dled Felix  Luigi  out  of  one  thousand  six  hundred  dollars,  part  of  which  was 
recovered. 

Charles  Kush  went  to  the  Central  Office  in  June,  1881,  and  has  done  the 
best  of  quiet  and  thorough  service.  Among  his  many  arrests  are:  April,  1882, 
"Red"  Fogarty,  burglary,  sentenced  to  two  years;  December,  1882,  John 
McMahon,  grand  larceny,  sentenced  to  five  years;  March,  1883,  Charles  Ray- 
mond, grand  larceny,  sentenced  to  five  years;  February,  1884,  "  Fred"  Herbert, 
blackmailing,  sentenced  to  two  years. 

James  F.  Vallelv  is  the  latest  addition  to  the  Chief  Detective's  staff.  If 
he  continues  to  do  as  well  as  he  did  in  the  Twentieth  Precinct,  where  he  was 
appointed  Ward  Detective  in  October,  1883,  he  will  make  his  mark.  His  chief 
arrests  are:  November,  1883,  Thomas  Porter,  the  robber  of  Jessie  Waldron  at 
No.  407  East  Seventy-eighth  Street,  sent  to  prison  for  twenty  years;  March, 
1884,  William  Messner,  arson,  sent  to  prison  for  two  and  a  half  years;  October, 
1883,  William  McKenna  alias  Dick  Duffy,  grand  larceny,  sentenced  to  five 
years;  January,  1885,  Patrick  Hughe?  alias  Frank  King,  for  stealing  a  jeweler's 
trunk  at  the  Grand  Central  Depot,  sent  to  prison  for  six  and  a  half  years. 

The  Detective  Officers. — With  the  Detective  Sergeants  are  ten  Patrol- 
men, classed  as  Detective  officers,  who,  under  Inspector  Byrnes'  system,  have 
more  than  a  fair  chance  of  becoming  Detective  Sergeants.  They  are  James  R. 
Kelsey,  Edward  H.  Doyle,  Thomas  Ferris,  Charles  A.  Hanley,  John  Killilea, 
John  L.  Langon,  James  E.  Liston,  Stephen  O'Brien,  Joseph  C.  Gehegan  and 
Joseph  D.  Wooldridge.  Kelsey  was  graduated  in  the  Tenth  Precinct,  and  has 
been  a  valuable  aid  in  many  cases.  Doyle  and  Langon  are  partners,  and  have 
done  work  that  has  advanced  them  in  the  estimation  of  the  Chief.  Thomas 
Ferris  is  an  old  Detective,  having  been  appointed  in  1875.  In  1877  he  arrested 
Edward  Dorse)',  who  committed  a  murder  in  Frederick  County,  Md.,  and  was 
executed.  Hanley  was  one  of  the  best  officers  in  the  Fifteenth  Precinct  before 
he  was  promoted  to  the  Central  Office.  His  partner,  Killilea,  has  an  equally 
enviable  reputation.  Liston,  two  days  after  last  Christmas  Day.  ferreted  out 
the  bogus  messenger  boys,  John  Cunningham  and  John  Burns,  who  had  reaped  a 
holiday  harvest  out  of  Wall  Street  brokers  at  the  expense  of  the  legitimate  mes- 
sengers of  the  various  companies.  O'Brien  has  been  under  Inspector  Byrnes 
nine  months,  and  promises  well.  Gehegan,  in  December  last,  run  down  Fran- 
cisco Damato,  for  murder  in  New  Haven,  who  was  sentenced  to  ten  years 
imprisonment.  Wooldridge  is  a  chip  of  the  old  block.  His  father  was  a  famous 
Central  Office  Detective. 

Jacob  Von  Gerichten  maybe  called  a  young  veteran.  He  has  done  fifteen 
years  of  excellent  service,  first  in  the  Eighth  Ward,  and  then  in  the  Central 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  437 

Office  Detective  Bureau,  and  he  is  now  in  Europe  on  official  business.  He  is 
side  partner  to  Philip  Reilly.  Von  Gerichten  is  a  linguist,  and  has  traveled 
many  thousands  of  miles  in  this  country  and  in  Europe  on  Police  business. 
He  was  associated  with  Detective  Sergeant  Reilly  in  the  following  cases : 
February,  1882,  P.  K.  Post,  Alexander  Ross,  forgery,  sent  to  prison  for  ten 
years  each;  July,  1882,  Jacob  Weil,  forgery,  extradited  from  England,  sent  to 
prison  for  five  years;  Edward  Kelly,  straw  bondsman,  sent  to  prison  for  five 
years  in  October,  1882  ;  Herman  David,  May,  1883,  robbery,  sent  to  State 
Prison  for  five  years. 

John  Hkard  and  Thom.^s  Murray  have  not  been  long  at  Police  Head- 
quarters, but  they  promise  to  make  as  good  a  reputation  as  any  under  the 
Chief  Detective.  Heard  distinguished  himself  in  August,  1883,  by  arresting 
the  notorious  "  Mart  "  Allen,  John  Moore,  Edward  Thomas  and  Walter  Allen, 
"Mart's"  son,  for  flat  robberies  in  Harlem.  "Mart"  trained  his  offspring 
to  be  a  thief,  and  in  these  robberies,  which  were  many  and  important,  sent  him 
ahead  to  ring  bells  and  reconnoitre.  "  Mart  "  got  ten  years,  Moore  five  years, 
and  Thomas  three  years.    Young  Allen  was  discharged. 

Thomas  F.  Adams,  an  old  and  skilled  officer,  has  been  incapacitated  by 
ill  health  from  doing  very  active  duty  for  several  years.  He  is  now  in  New 
Orleans  doing  Special  Detective  duty  for  the  management  of  the  Exposition. 
He  invented  the  mechanical  i)art  of  the  present  Rogues'  Gallery,  and  has  ar- 
ranged and  classified  it. 


438 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


POLICE  CENTRAL  OFFICE. 

The  Centre  of  a  System  which  affords  Police  Protection  to  the  City. 
— Headquarters  of  the  Police  Department. — Telegraph  Office  ; 
Superintendent  Crowley. — Third  Precinct;  Captain  Gastlin. — The 
Harbor  Police. — Superintendent's  Chief  Clerk  Hopcroft. — Bureau 
of  Inquiry  for  Missing  People. — Commissioner  French. — Commissioner 
FiTZ  John  Porter. — Com.missioner  Matthews. — Lost  Children. — Chief 
Clerk  Kipp. — Property  Clerk's  Office. — The  Sanitary  Company. — Ten- 
ement House  Squad. 

r)OLICE  HEADQUARTERS,  at  No.  300  Mulberry  Street,  is  a  solid,  massive 
structure,  extending  back  to  Mott  Street.  Here  are  centred  the  clerical 
force  of  the  Department,  the  offices  of  the  Superintendent,  First  Inspection  Dis- 
trict, Detective  Department, 
Property  Clerk,  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Third  Pre- 
cinct (formerly  Steamboat 
Squad),  Telegraph  Bureau, 
Matron  Webb's  rooms  for 
lost  children,  the  Election 
Bureau,  and  several  other 
offices  of  minor  importance. 
The  Police  Commissioners 
also  have  their  offices  here, 
and,  altogether,  it  is  the  most 
important  building  of  its  kind 
in  America.  Police  Head- 
quarters attracts  a  great  many 
visitors.  Its  portals  open  wide 
to  receive  alike  the  beggar 
and  the  merchant  prince,  the 
swindler  and  the  philan- 
thropist, the  journalist  and  the  politician;  all  meet  and  mingle  here  in  true  demo- 
cratic fashion;  while  the  great  wheels  of  the  visible  machinery  of  the  law  keep 
revolving  in  their  tireless  course.  This  is  the  heart  and  centre  of  the  elaborate 
system  which  affords  Police  protection  to  a  great  city.  The  entire  Police  force 
consists  of  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-nine  men,  sub-divided,  accord- 
ing to  rank,  as  follows:  one  Superintendent,  four  Inspectors,  thirty-six  Captains, 


OUR  rOLICK  PROTECTORS.  439 

forty  Detective  Sergeants,  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  Sergeants,  eight  Acting 
Sergeants,  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  Roundsmen,  two  thousand  three  hun- 
dred and  seventy-four  Patrolmen,  and  eighty  Doormen.  'I  hereare,  in  addition, 
eighteen  Surgeons. 

Telegraph  Office. — In  the  basement.  Rooms  i  and  2  are  occupied  by  tlie 
telegraph  office.  The  Superintendent  of  this  Bureau  is  Mr.  James  Crowley,  a  most 
competent  official,  who  has  held  his  present  important  position  for  over  twenty-five 
years.  The  operators  are:  Michael  R.  Brennan,  George  F.  Stevens,  Charles  Wylie, 
Richard  Battin,  Robert  Y).  Ferguson.    William  S.  Fraser,  lineman;  Francis 

H.   Haggerty,  battery  boy. 

T  ii  e  importance  of  the 
Police  telegraph  cannot  be 
overestimated.  It  is  acknowl- 
edged to  be  the  right  arm  of 
the  service.  Without  it  the 
J'olice  would  be  powerless  to 
cope  with  crime  and  crimi- 
nals. What  a  compass  and 
rudder  are  to  a  ship  the  tele- 
graph is  to  the  Police  De- 
jiartment.  And  this  branch 
of  the  Police  system  is  for- 
tunate in  having  at  its  head  a 
man  of  tried  cajjacity  and  in- 
tegrity. The  Superintendent, 
seated  at  his  desk  at  Police 
Headquarters,  knows  almost 
in  an  instant  what  is  taking 
))lace  at  the  furthest  Police 
point  of  the  city.  He  is  in 
constant  communication  with 
his  subordinate  officers,  and 
through  him,  orders  are  al- 
most instantaneously  trans- 
mitted to  every  Police  commandant  in  the  city,  and  through  them  to  the 
two  thousand  eight  hundred  members  of  the  force. 

This  Bureau,  during  the  riot  week,  materially  assisted  in  saving  the  city 
from  being  sacked  and  burned.  The  staff  then  consisted  of  the  present 
Superintendent,  James  Crowley;  Eldred  Polhamus,  Deputy  Superintendent; 
Charles  L.  Chapin,  John  A.  K.  Duvall  and  James  A.  Lucas,  Operators. 

There  were  then  thirty-two  telegraphic  stations  in  the  city,  all  centralizing 
at  Police  Headquarters,  which  were  divided  into  five  sections — the  North,  East, 
South,  West  and  Central. 

The  week  after  the  riots  the  Police  Commissioners  issued  an  address  to  the 
force,  in  which  reference  was  made  to  the  efficient  services  of  the  telegraph 
corps,  as  follows: 


Police  Telegraph  Office. 


440 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


"  Mr.  Crowley,  the  Superintendent  of  the  Police  Telegraph,  and  the  at- 
taches of  his  Department,  by  untiring  and  sleepless  vigilance  in  transmitting 
information  by  telegraph  unceasingly  through  more  than  ten  days  and  nights, 
have  more  than  sustained  the  high  reputation  they  have  always  possessed." 

The  ofifice  is  connected  by  wire  with  the  various  station  houses,  the  Fire 
Department,  hospitals,  Elevated  Railroad  stations,  the  river  fronts  and  islands, 
the  arsenals  and  armories,  etc. 

Third  Precinct. — Rooms  3  and  4,  in  the  basement,  are  occupied  by  the 
new  Third  Precinct  Station  (formerly  the  Steamboat  Squad).  This  is  in  charge 
of  Captain  George  W.  Gastlin.  The  old  Steamboat  Squad  was  organized  on  the 
ninth  of  June,  1876,  and  Captain  Gastlin,  who  was  then  Sergeant  in  the  Tenth 
Precinct,  assigned  to  the  command.  The  Steamboat  Squad  insures  very  com- 
plete protection  to  the  river  front,  wharves  and  piers,  and  gives  more  direct  and 


efficient  protection  to  travelers.  On  December  15,  1876,  the  command  was 
divided  into  two  squads,  the  Eastern  and  Western  Steamboat  Squads,  the  form^er 
doing  duty  in  the  First  Inspection  District,  the  latter  in  the  Second  Inspection 
District. 

The  Third  Precinct  is  bounded  on  the  west  side  of  New  York  by  low 
water  mark  on  the  North  River,  Fourteenth  Street,  the  centre  line  of  Thirteenth 
Avenue,  the  centre  line  of  Eleventh  Street,  and  the  west  car  track  in  West 
Street,  to  Battery  Place  and  the  south  side  of  Pier  i.  On  the  east  side  of  the 
city  it  is  bounded  by  low  water  mark  in  the  East  River,  Gouverneur  Slip,  and 
the  east  car  track,  to  the  Barge  office.  It  has  one  central  station  at  Police  Head- 
quarters, and  two  sub-stations,  one  in  the  United  States  Barge  office  and  one  in 
the  building  of  the  Albany  Day  Line  of  steamers,  at  Pier  No.  39,  North  River.  Its 


Superintendent  Crowley. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


44' 


officers  are:  Sergeant  Watson  Vreetlenburgh,  who  became  a  Policeman  in  1865, 
was  made  Roundsman  in  1867,  and  was  promoted  in  September,  1870;  Ser- 
geant John  J.  Taylor,  who  joined  the  force  in  May,  1864,  was  made  Rounds- 
man three  years  later,  and  gained  rank  in  November  1869;  and  Sergeant  Charles 
H.  Reinisch,  whose  dates  are:  Patrolman,  August,  1868;  Roundsman,  July, 
1876;  and  Sergeant,  September,  1877.  This  precinct  is  commanded  by  Captain 
George  W.  Gastlin. 

The  command  was  organized  in  June,  1876,  by  Commissioner  Joel  H. 
Erhardt;  and  Roundsman  (now  Sergeant)  James  K.  Fuller,  first  commanded  it. 
Sergeant  (now  Captain)  Gastlin,  succeeded  hini.  The  force  was  known  as  the 
Eastern  and  Western  Steamboat  Squads  at  one  time,  then  it  was  amalgamated 
into  the  Steamboat  Squad,  and  in  January,  1885,  the  precinct  scheme,  devised 
by  Chief  Clerk  Ki|>p,  wont  into  force. 


Captain  George  W.  Gastlin. 

Captain  George  W.  Gastlin,  of  the  Steamboat  Squad,  has  done  more  than 
any  other  officer  to  free  the  river  front  from  thieves  and  bunco  men.  At  the 
time  of  the  formation  of  the  Squad  the  wharves  along  the  river  were  in  the 
charge  of  rowdies  of  all  descriptions.  Hundreds  of  confidence  operators  and 
swindlers  of  every  description  had,  up  to  the  time  of  his  appointment,  preyed  on 
unsuspecting  emigrants  and  peo])le  wlio,  by  the  hardest  kind  of  labor  and 
pinching  economy,  had  amassed  a  little  money  and  wished  to  return  to  the  old 
country. 

When  the  Squad  was  first  organized  there  were  two  Italian  swindlers  who 
passed  themselves  off  as  priests,  and  in  this  manner  won  the  confidence  of 
several  emigrants.  One  morning  Captain  Gastlin  produced  these  rascals  at  the 
Tombs.    Their  names  were  Vivaldo  Michele  and  Lorenzo  Mazin.    A  short  time 


442 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


before  their  arrest  these  two  men  had  met  an  Italian  at  Bowling  Green  who  was 
going  to  Europe.  ■  Mazin,  "  the  priest,"  got  into  conversation  with  his  unsophis- 
ticated countryman,  whom  he  told  that  he  was  going  to  Italy,  and  required  an 
interpreter;  Mazin  at  the  same  time  showed  Mono  a  satchel  which  he  said 
contained  thousands  of  dollars.  Mono  agreed  to  take  the  situation  of  interpreter, 
and  gave  his  money  to  the  priest  for  safe  keeping.  The  clerical  imposter  then 
sent  Mono  for  some  fine  cigars,  but  when  he  returned  with  the  cigars  "  the 
priest "  had  vanished  along  with  his  confrere  Michele.  Both  were  sent  to  State 
Prison. 

John  Goss,  a  well-known  confidence  operator,  who  used  to  lie  in  wait  for 
the  Troy  boats  and  swindle 
the  passengers,  was  the  next 
victim  of  the  Captain's  vigi- 
lance. 

Aleck  Anderson  alias  W. 
Odell,,met  a  grey-haired  old 
gentleman  named  Samuel 
Fraud,  of  Blackstone,  Mass., 
on  board  the  Newport  boat, 
and  told  him  that  he  (Ander- 
son) had  to  pay  the  freight 
on  some  goods  which  had 
just  come  on  board,  and 
would  Mr.  Fraud  oblige  him 
with  the  loan  of  one  hundred 
dollars  against  a  gold  check 
for  eight  hundred  dollars  on 
Messrs.  Reilly  &  May.  Of 
course  the  check  was  worth-  Arresting  Mutineers, 

less.  Anderson  was  arrested  by  Captain  Gastlin,  taken  before  Justice  Wheeler 
at  the  Tombs,  convicted,  and  sent  to  State  Prison. 

A  very  clever  piece  of  Police  work  was  the  arrest  of  Walter  Williams  alias 
Roberts  alias  Slip  Corcoran,  and  William  Foster  alias  Fitzgerald.  These  two 
sharks  had  operated  on  a  poor  Irishman  who  was  returning  by  a  White  Star 
steamer  to  take  out  his  mother  from  the  old  country.  They  had  taken  every 
penny  he  had  from  him  —  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  sterling  —  and  de- 
camped. Captain  Gastlin  just  then  arrived  on  the  scene.  In  order  to  avoid 
being  recognized  as  an  officer,  he  told  the  unfortunate  victim  that  he  would  lose 
his  passage  if  he  did  not  get  on  board  at  once.  With  the  assistance  of  a  Police- 
man, Captain  Gastlin  hustled  the  man  down  on  board  the  steamer  and  put  him 
down  among  the  steerage  passengers.  A  short  time  afterwards  Captain  Gastlin 
removed  the  man  from  the  steamer  to  Castle  Garden.  This  ruse  completely  threw 
the  confidence  men  off  their  guard — of  course,  there  would  be  no  complainant 
against  them,  now  that  Henry  had  sailed  for  Ireland.  Captain  Gastlin,  a  week  after- 
wards, captured  the  swindlers,  and  great  was  their  surprise  when  Henry  was  pro- 
duced in  court  as  a  witness  against  them.  The  prisoners  were  sent  to  State  Prison. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


443 


'  John  Leonard,  a  passenger  by  the  steamship  Pennsylvania  from  Liverpool, 
robbed  several  of  his  fellow-travelers  of  sums  varying  from  three  to  eighty-five 
pounds  sterling.  One  of  the  passengers  recognized  a  four-penny  bit  which  was 
found  on  Leonard's  person,  and  this  was  really  the  only  thing  by  which  the  thefts 
could  be  fastened  on  him.  Captain  (iastlin  worked  up  the  case.  Leonard  was 
arrested  and  sent  to  State  Prison. 

IlilzaVon  Zarcn  alias  Le  ^L1rquis  O'Neill  de  Lassantas,  was  employed 
as  a  waiter  in  the  summer  at  Newport.  \\\  the  evening  he  used  to  dress  as  a 
woman,  and  became  the  rage  among  the  young  bloods  spending  the  season  at 
Newport.  After  the  Newport  season  closed,  he  came  to  New  York,  where  he 
was  employed  at  a  house  on  Fifth  Avenue  as  a  waiter.  He  plundered  the  house 
and  fled.    He  was  afterwards  employed  in  a  West  Forty-eighth  Street  house, 


Boarding  a  Mutinous  Vessel. 

which  he  also  plundered.  His  arrest  in  New  York,  by  Captain  Gastlin,  created 
a  great  sensation  and  scandal.    He  was  sent  to  Sing  Sing. 

Captain  Gastlin,  who  is  the  son  of  a  Policeman  is,  in  a  double  sense,  a  born 
Policeman. 

The  Special  Duty  Ofificers  of  this  precinct  are:  Eubo  Hey,  Janus  Mallen, 
William  Thomas,  and  R.  J.  Vail  on  the  North  River;  and  E.  Grady  and  H.  E. 
Van  Ranst  on  the  East  River;  and  Nathan  Sanford  detailed  to  the  Corporation 
Attorney's  office.  There  are  forty-one  day  jiosts  on  the  North  River,  and  nine- 
teen day  posts  on  the  East  River;  and  nine  night  posts  on  the  North  River,  and 
nine  night  posts  on  the  East  River.  The  effective  force  is  about  ninty-four 
Patrolmen  and  six  Roundsmen. 

The  day  Posts  on  the  North  River  are:   Post  i,  new  Pier  i  to  old  Pier  i; 


444 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Post  2,  Pier  2  to  Pier  3;  Post  3,  Pier  4  to  half  of  Pier  5;  Post  4,  Pier  5  to  half  of 
Pier  6;  Post  5,  Pi«r  6  to  Pier  7;  Post  6,  half  of  Pier  7  to  Pier  8;  Post  7,  Pier  9 
to  Pier  10;  Post  8,  Pief  11  to  Pier  12;  Post  9,  Pier  12  to  Pier  14;  Post  10,  Pier  14 
to  Pier  16;  Post  11,  Pier  18  to  Pier  19;  Post  12,  Pier  20  to  Pier  21;  Post  13,  Pier 

22  to  Pier  23;  Post  14,  Pier  26;  Post  15,  Pier  27;  Post  16,  Pier  28;  Post  17,  Pier 
29;  Post  18,  Pier  30  to  Pier  32;  Post  19,  Pier  33;  Post  20,  Pier  34  to  Pier  35; 
Post  21,  Pier  36;  Post  22,  Pier  37;  Post  23,  Pier  38  to  Pier  38^;  Post  24,  Pier 
39;  Post  25,  Pier  40;  Post  26,  Pier  41;  Post  27,  Pier  41^^  to  Pier  45;  Post  28, 
Pier  43;  Post  29,  Pier  44  to  half  of  Pier  45;  Post  30,  Pier  45  to  Pier  46;  Post  31, 
Pier  47;  Post  32,  Pier  48;  Post  33,  Pier  50;  Post  34,  Pier  50^  to  Pier  51;  Post 
35,  Pier  52;  Post  36,  Pier  53  to  Pier  54;  Post  37,  West  Tenth  Street  to  Perry 
Street;  Post  38,  Perry  Street  to  Horatio  Street;  Post  39,  Horatio  Street  to  West 
Fourteenth  Street;  Posts  40  and  41,  West  Washington  Market. 

Night  Posts,  North  River:  Post  i,  Pier  i  to  Liberty  Street  ferry;  Post  2, 
Liberty  Street  ferry  to  Pier  23;  Post  3,  Pier  23  to  Pier  29;  Post  4,  Pier  29  to 
Pier  36;  Post  5,  Pier  36  to  Desbrosses  Street  ferry;  Post  6,  Desbrosses  Street 
ferry  to  Pier  44;  Post  7,  Pier  44  to  Pier  53;  Post  8,  Pier  53  to  Perry  Street;  Post 
9,  Perry  Street  to  West  Fourteenth  Street. 

Day  Posts,  East  River:  Post  i.  Pier  2  to  Pier  6;  Post  2,  Pier  6  to  Pier  9;  Post 
3,  Pier  9  to  Pier  15;  Post  4,  Pier  16  to  Pier  17;  Post  5,  Pier  17  to  Pier  19;  Post 
6,  Pier  20  to  Pier  21;  Post  7,  Pier  22  to  Pie:'  23;  Post  8,  Pier  24;  Post  9,  Piers 
25  and  25^;  Post  10,  Pier  27  to  Pier  29;  Post  11,  Pier  33  to  Pier  34;  Post  12, 
Piers  35  and  35^;  Post  13,  Piers  36  and  37;  Post  14,  Piers  38  and  39;  Post  15, 
Pier  40  to  Pier  43;  Post  16,  Pier  44  to  Pier  46;  Post  17,  Pier  46  to  Pier  49;  Post 
18,  Pier  49  to  Pier  53;  Post  19,  Barge  Office. 

Night  Posts,  East  River:  Post  i,  Staten  Island  ferry  to  Pier  6;  Post  2,  Pier 
6  to  Pier  12;  Post  3,  Pier  12  to  Pier  18;  Post  4,  Pier  18  to  Pier  23;  Post  5,  Pier 

23  to  Pier  29;  Post  6,  Pier  29  to  James  Street  ferry;  Post  7,  James  Street  ferry 
to  Pier  36;  Post  8,  Pier  36  to  Pier  45;  Post  9,  Pier  45  to  Pier  52. 

This  precinct  has  a  peculiar  system.  One  section  goes  on  day  duty  at  seven 
A.  M.,  and  is  relieved  at  six  p.  m.  by  a  section  which  is  relieved  at  midnight  by  a 
section  which  remains  on  duty  until  seven  a.  m.  The  day  duty  men  are  day 
duty  men  all  the  time.  The  night  duty  men  change  off  every  Sunday,  that  is  to 
say,  those  who  have  been  doing  duty  from  midnight  to  seven  a.  m.  take  the  place 
of  those  who  have  been  doing  duty  from  six  p.  M.  to  midnight. 

Captain  Gastlin  has  vast  commercial  interests  and  the  traveling  public 'to 
guard.  Hitherto  he  looked  simply  after  the  river  fronts  during  the  day 
time.  Now  he  takes  care  of  nearly  every  pier  and  ferry  day  and  night.  The 
principal  piers  and  ferries  are: 

North  River:  Quebec  Steamship  Company,  Anchor  Line,  White  Star  Line, 
Citizens'  Troy  Line,  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad  piers,  Trans- 
atlantic Company,  Cunard  Line,  National  Line,  Guion  Line,  Inman  Line,  Ocean 
Steamship  Company,  State  Line,  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company,  Fort  Lee 
boats,  People's  Line  to  Albany,  Norwich  Line,  Albany  Day  Line,  Merchants' 
Line,  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  Star,  Union,  and  Empire  Freight  Lines,  Old  Do- 
minion Line,  Morgan  Line,  Hudson  River  boats,  Stonington  Line,  Erie  Railroad, 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS 


445 


446 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Desbrosses  Street  Ferry,  Pavonia  Ferry,  Providence  Line,  Fall  River  Line, 
Clyde's  Charleston  Line,  New  York  Central  and  Hudson  River  Railroad,  Barclay 
Street  Ferry,  Jersey  City  Ferry,  Mediterranean  boats,  New  Haven  Transportation 
Company,  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  Philadelphia  and  Reading  Railroad,  Metropol- 
itan Line,  Cromwell  Line,  Long  Branch  boats,  Baltimore  Transportation 
Company,  New  York,  Havana  and  Mexico  Steamers,  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad, 
Iron  Steamboat  Company,  and  Communipaw  Ferry. 

East  River:  Staten  Island  Ferry,  North  Shore  Ferry,  Bay  Ridge  route. 
Governor's  Island  Ferry,  South  Ferry,  Hamilton  Ferry,  New  York  Central  and 

Hudson  River  Railroad 
Freight  Pier,  Electro  Line, 
Ward's  Havana  Line, Mor- 
gan's Bristol  Line,  San 
Francisco  Packets,  Mal- 
lory's  Texas  Line,  Wall 
Street  Ferry,  Fulton  Fer- 
ry, Hartford  and  Glen 
Cove  boats,  New  Haven 
Line,  Sag  Harbor  and 
Greenport  boats,  Clyde 
Line,  Bridgeport  boats, 
Central  Vermont  Railroad, 
Long  Island  Railroad, 
Catharine  Street  Ferry, 
Portland  steamers,  New 
Bedford  propellers,  Medi- 
terranean steamers.  New 
York,  New  Haven  and 
Hartford  Railroad,  Hun- 
ter's Point  Ferry,  and 
Roosevelt  Street  Ferry. 

One  of  the  most  nota- 
ble members  of  the  Steam- 
boat Squad  is  Philip  C. 
Bleil,  whose  services  as  a  saviour  of  human  life  have  given  him  a  world-wide 
reputation,  and  who  has  been  the  recipient  of  a  dozen  medals  from  different 
humane  societies  in  recognition  of  his  self-sacrifice  and  bravery. 

Long  before  Bleil  became  a  member  of  the  Steamboat  Police  his  coolness 
and  courage  in  a  desperate  emergency  had  won  him  a  reputation.  He 
rescued  more  than  a  score  of  fellow-beings  from  a  watery  death.  Many  of 
these  were  cases  of  accident,  but  the  majority  belonged  to  the  class  of  un- 
fortunate women  who  seek  surcease  for  their  sorrow  in  the  cold  waters  of  the  ' 
river. 

Following  is  a  list  of  work  done  by  the  members  of  the  Third  Precinct 
Police  for  the  month  of  January,  1885: 

Seven  persons  rescued  from  drowning  after  six  p.  m. 


Superintendent  Murray's  Roonn. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTKCTORS. 


447 


M  Two  persons  found  drowned. 
Fourteen  accidents  occurring  to  men  employed  on  the  piers,  and  cjj-ed  for 

by  the  Police. 

Three  arrests  for  felonious  assault  and  l)attery. 
Three  arrests  for  i)etit  larceny. 
One  arrest  for  grand  larceny. 

Two  men,  brought  to  tiiis  city  dead,  sent  to  Morgue. 
One  arrest  for  cruelty  to  animals. 
One  arrest  for  mutiny. 

Twenty-six  arrests  for  intoxication,  assault  and  battery,  and  small  crimes. 
Two  boys  arrested 
for  truancy,  and  re- 
stored   to  parents 
from  other  cities. 

One  large  fire  dis- 
covered by  men 
from  Third  Precinct, 
and  five  lives  saved. 

One  fire  on  East 
River. 

Property  taken 
from  prisoners,found 
and  taken  from 
thieves,  and  restored 
to  owners,  two  thou- 
sand one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  dol- 
lars and  eighty-two 
cents. 

Honorable  men- 
tion was  made  by 
the  Board  of  Police 

of  the  meritorious 

.     ^    ,  T)       A  Watchingr  for  River  Thieves, 

conduct  of  Rounds-  ^ 

man  Thos.  Riley  and  Patrolman  Timothy  Crogan  for  saving  five  lives  at  the 
burning  of  the  steamboat  St.  John,  Januarj',  1885. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Steamboat  Squad  another  body  of 
men  representing  the  law  was  in  existence,  and  still  remains  an  efficient  co- 
adjutor of  the  Steamboat  Squad  in  repressing  crime  and  bringing  violators  of 
the  law  to  justice. 

The  H.arbor  Police. — At  first  the  force  consisted  of  but  a  few  men,  whose 
duty  it  was  to  patrol  the  river  front  (then  much  less  in  extent  than  at  present)  in 
rowboats.  As  the  commerce  of  the  port  increased,  and  the  wharves  and  piers 
extended  northward,  it  was  found  that  more  rapid  means  of  transportation  were 
necessary,  and  a  small  steamboat,  which  was  named  the  "  Seneca,"  was  built  for 
the  especial  service  required.    This  boat  caught  fire  in  some  unknown  manner 


448 


OUR  POIJCE  PROTECTORS. 


about  four  years  ago,  and  was  totally  destroyed.  So  furious  and  rapid  was  the 
jirogress  of  the  flames  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  save  the  records  of  the 
force,  which  extended  over  a  period  of  many  years,  and  were,  consequently,  of 
much  interest  and  value. 

A  new  boat  was  built  immediately,  and  christened  the  "Patrol."  When 
not  actively  engaged,  it  lies  at  the  foot  of  Third  Street.  East  River,  and  serves 
as  the  Headquarters  of  the  River  Police. 

The  duties  of  the  Harbor  Police  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Steamboat 
Squad,  with  the  exception  that  the  services  performed  by  the  former  are  en- 
tirely upon  the  water.  The  Police  boat  is  called  into  requisition  whenever  a 
fire  breaks  out  upon  the  wharves  or  amongst  the  shipping,  or  in  any  of  the 


Steamboat  "  Patrol." 

Streets  lying  adjacent  to  the  water  front.  The  crew  are  also  called  upon  to 
quell  mutinies,  to  arrest  quarrelsome  or  insubordinate  sailors,  and  preserve 
order  generally  amongst  the  vessels  lying  in  the  harbor. 

The  Harbor  Police  force  was  brought  into  existence  on  the  fifteenth  of 
February,  1858,  but  the  service  boats  were  not  ready  for  use  until  the  third  of 
March  following,  the  men  being  employed  in  the  meantime  doing  patrol  duty 
along  the  wharves.  The  river  was  so  full  of  ice  that  it  was  impossible  to  use 
the  boats  with  safety  until  the  fifteenth  of  March.  The  number  of  arrests  for 
actual  crime  was  at  first  small,  yet  the  services  rendered  the  shipping  interests, 
intercepting  smuggled  goods,  etc.,  from  the  start  proved  the  great  utility  of  the 
scheme.    The  boats  were  directed  to  overhaul  and  examine  all  boats  found  on 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


449 


thc'Tivers  after  night;  and  in  numerous  instances  the  observance  of  this  order 
proved  useful.  The  Harbor  PoUce,  in  a  very  short  time,  became  an  indispensa- 
ble auxiliary  to  the  land  force.  Tiie  Harbor  Police  (Twenty-fourth  Precinct) 
was  then  in  command  of  Captain  A.  J.  Gilson. 

The  steamboat  and  boat's  crew  are  under  the  command  of  the  Boat  Ca];- 
tain,  who  is  responsible  for  the  navigation,  management,  safe  keeping,  condition, 
and  the  perfect  and  complete  cleaning  of  the  steamboat,  engine,  boiler,  fire- 
pump  and  hose,  crew's  quarters,  tackle,  apparel,  and  furniture;  and  also  for 
the  action  and  conduct  of  the  boat's  crew. 


George  Hopcroft. 

The  boat's  crew,  in  addition  to  the  Pioat  Captain,  is  made  up  as  follows, 
to  wit: 

I  Pilot,  at  a  compensation  at  the  rate  of  $ioo  per  month. 
I  Engineer,  *'  "  loo  " 

1  Assistant  Engineer,  "  "  85 

2  Fiiemen,  "  "  "  65 

3  Deckmen,  "  "  60  " 

The  Boat  Captain  is  authorized  to  employ  the  pilot,  engineers,  deckmen, 
and  firemen,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Board  of  Police. 

Captain  E.  O.  S.mith,  formerly  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Precinct,  succeeded 
Captain  Schultz  in  the  command  of  the  Harbor  Police. 

Room  4  is  Superintendent  Walling's  office. 

Mr.  George  Hopcroft,  Chief  Clerk  to  the  Superintendent,  has  his  office  in 
an  adjoining  room.  Mr.  Hopcroft  became  attached  to  Police  Headquarters  in 
i860.    On  May  i  of  the  following  year  he  was  made  a  Policeman,  and  attached 


45° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


to  Superintendent  Kennedy's  office  as  Chief  Clerk,  a  position  which  he  has 
worthily  filled  under  five  successive  Superintendents,  namely:  Jourdan,  Kelso, 
Matsell,  Walling  and  Murray. 

Sergeant  Nicholas  Brooks'  office  is  in  the  same  apartment  as  Mr.  Hop- 
croft's.  Sergeant  Brooks  is  in  charge  of  the  Bureau  of  Inquiry  for  Missing 
People.  He  was  appointed  a  Patrolman  May  15,  1867,  and  assigned  to  the 
Thirteenth  Precinct.  He  was  in  the  Orange  riot  of  1871.  On  November  29, 
1878,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Sergeant.  His  assistant  is  Roundsman 
Joseph  A.  Saul. 

To  those  who  are  conversant  with  the  working  of  this  Bureau,  with  the  tales 
of  misery  and  despair  that  are  daily  reported,  it  becomes  a  matter  of  the  greatest 
surprise  how  such  things  can  be.  and  only  overcome  us  like  a  summer  cloud.  The 


Sergeant  Nicholas  Brooks 

records  of  the  books  kept  by  Sergeant  Brooks  contain  food  and  reflection  for 
the  moralist  and  the  dramatist,  contain  material  for  tragedies  deeper  than 
Eschylus  ever  wrote.  But  in  the  majority  of  instances,  family  pride,  or  a  regard 
for  the  good  name  of  the  lost  one,  or  a  feeling  prompted  by  hope  that  in  the 
course  of  time  he  or  she  may  "turn  up  "  all  right,  seals  the  lips  of  afflicted  affec- 
tion. However,  the  present  writer,  not  being  a  moralist  or  a  dramatist,  but  a 
plain  reporter  of  unvarnished  facts,  must  not  indulge  in  such  speculative  philos- 
ophy. It  is  enough  to  say  that  we  are  dealing  strictly  with  facts,  and  facts,  too, 
that  are  stranger  than  the  strangest  fiction. 

Sergeant  Brooks  estimates  that  on  an  average  six  hundred  persons  are 
reported  as  missing  at  Police  Headquarters  every  year.  Of  this  number  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  fully  four  hundred  either  voluntarily  return  to  their  homes,  or 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


451 


ait;  accounted  for  in  some  other  manner.  A  certain  percentage  of  the  remain- 
der, for  reasons  best  known  to  themselves,  bury  themselves  forever  beyond  the 
reach  or  knowledge  of  kith  and  kin,  while  the  rest  receive  sepulture  in  unknown 
graves.  The  morgue  gathers  up  the  mutilated  and  unrecognizable  forms  of  some 
of  these.  Whether  they  are  the  victims  of  foul  play,  had  died  by  their  own 
hand  or  from  accidental  causes,  except  in  rare  cases,  there  is  no  means  of  de- 
termining. Many  of  the  bodies  found  floating  with  the  tide  are,  from  time  to 
time,  identified  by  some  peculiar  mark,  the  texture  of  the  garments,  or  contents  of 
the  pockets,  which,  but  for  these,  the  bodies  would  be  placed  among  the  unknown 
and  pauper  dead  in  Potter's  Field.  But  the  clearing  up  of  this  mystery  in  a 
great  many  instances  only  serves  to  create  another  and  a  more  inscrutable  mys- 
tery, by  provoking  the  inquiry  how  such  a  one  came  by  such  a  death.  But  this 
is  a  secret  closely  guarded  by  lips  sealed  in  death,  and  conseciuently  never  to  be 
revealed.  Various  and  suf- 
ficient reasons  are  assigned 
for  a  large  class  of  cases  of 
mysterious  disappearances. 
Generally  domestic  troubles, 
mental  alienation,  financial 
difficulties,  blighted  affec- 
tions, or  dissipated  habits, 
are  at  the  bottom  of  it  all. 
Young  persons,  too,  of  both 
sexes,  who  are  dissatisfied 
with  parental  restraints,  run 
away  from  home,  and  are 
numbered  among  the  lost  and 
missing.  The  following  com- 
parative statement  of  the 
ages  of  this  shadowy  six 
hundred  has  been  gleaned 
from  an  official  source:  between  fourteen  and  twenty  years,  one  hundred;  between 
twenty  and  thirty  years,  two  hundred;  between  thirty  and  forty  years,  one  hun- 
dred; between  forty  and  fifty  years,  one  hundred;  fifty  years  and  upwards,  one 
hundred. 

When  a  missing  person  is  reported  at  Police  Headquarters,  the  method  or 
routine  adopted  is  this: 

The  name  and  general  description  of  the  missing  one  are  telegraphed  from 
Police  Headquarters  to  the  several  Police  stations,  notifying  members  of  the 
force  to  institute  a  search  for  the  person  named  and  described  in  the  dispatch. 
This  is  called  a  general  alarm.  The  books  containing  the  records  of  arrests  and 
accidents  are  scrutinized;  a  slip  containing  a  history  of  the  case  is  given  to  the 
press  reporters  stationed  at  Police  Headquarters,  and  they  supply  their  papers 
with  the  news.  If  the  case  is  deemed  of  sufficient  importance,  that  is,  if  there 
are  suspicions  of  foul  play,  or  that  the  missing  one  has  absconded,  the  matter  is 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Detective  office. 


452 


OUR  POLICE  rROTECrORS. 


The  Superintendent  of  Police  also  sends  printed  forms,  with  a  list  of  the 
names  of  missing  persons,  to  each  of  the  Captains,  instructing  them  to  "ascertain 
whether  the  following  named  persons,  reported  as  missing,  have  returned  home 
or  been  heard  from."  This  memorandum  is  made  monthly,  and  is  to  be  returned, 
with  a  report  made  opposite  each  name. 

A  description  of  the  missing  person  is  also  furnished  to  the  Superintendent 
of  the  Morgue. 

In  Rooms  5  and  6  are  located  the  Detective  offices. 

Architect  Nathaniel  D.  Bush  has  his  office  in  a  room  adjoining.  He  has 
been  Architect  to  the  Department  since  1862.  He  built,  reconstructed  or  re- 
paired the  north  end  of  Police  Headquarters,  and  the  First,  Fourth,  Eighth, 
Ninth,  Tenth,  Eleventh,  Twelfth,  Fourteenth,  Sixteenth,  Twentieth,  Twenty-first, 


Architect  Nathaniel  D.  Bush. 

Twenty-third,  Twenty-fifth  ("  Hroadway  Squad,")  Twenty-seventh,  Twenty- 
ninth,  Thirtieth,  Thirty-first,  Thirty-second,  and  Thirty-third  Precinct  Station 
Houses,  as  they  now  st:.nd,  and  he  is  now  engaged  on  plans  for  the  new  Twenty- 
eighth  Precinct  Station  House.    He  is  nothing  if  not  thorough. 

At  the  time  that  Mr.  Bush  came  into  the  Department  as  architect,  in  1863, 
he  found  the  Police  station  houses  in  a  very  crude  condition.  But  little  had 
been  done  in  the  line  of  "modern  improvements,"  and  they  had  been  run  up, 
so  to  speak,  to  meet  pressing  emergencies,  and  without  much,  if  any,  regard  for 
the  comfort  of  the  men,  or  the  sanitary  or  architectural  advantage  of  the  houses. 
Mr.  Bush  went  to  work  at  once  with  characteristic  energy,  and  in  a  few  years 
our  station  houses  began  to  put  on  very  different  appearances.  The  old  ones 
were  repaired  and  remodeled,  and  new  ones  designed;  and  thus  the  work  went 


OUR  ror.rcE  protectors. 


45.1 


•«n,  until  to-day  these  station  houses  are  models  for  ail  others  over  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Bush,  in  his  day,  designed  and  built  all  the  new  station  houses, 
and  rebuilt  the  old  ones.  Some  of  the  best  specimens  of  his  work  are  illus- 
trated in  this  book,  for  instance,  the  First  Precinct,  Thirty-second  Precinct, 
Fourteenth  Precinct,  Sixth  Precinct,  Twenty-ninth  Precinct,  Twelfth  Precinct, 
etc.,  etc. 

Ja.mes  Matthews  was  appointed  Police  Commissioner  March  ii,  1881,  to 
succeed  General  William  F.  Smith,  resigned. 


James  Matthews, 


On  May  i,  1882,  he  was  re-appointed  for  a  full  term,  that  being  the  date 
when  General  Smith's  term  expired.  General  Smith's  resignation  gave  Mayor 
Grace  an  opportunity  to  appoint  his  successor  without  confirmation  by  the 
Board  of  Aldermen.  General  Smith  was  originally  appointed  Police  Commis- 
sioner by  Mayor  Wickham,  May  i,  1875.  He  was  removed  by  Mayor  Cooper 
and  Governor  Robinson,  August  5,  1879,  under  charges,  and  James  E.  Morrison 
was  appointed  by  Mayor  Cooper  to  succeed  him.  Mr.  Morrison  resigned 
November  24,  1879,  and  John  R.  Voorhis  was  made  his  successor.    In  the 


454 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


meantime  General  Smith  appealed  to  the  courts  for  reinstatement,  and,  on  the 
tenth  of  June,  1880,  his  appeal  was  granted  by  the  Supreme  Court,  thus  ousting 
Mr.  Voorhis.  Mr.  Matthews  was,  therefore,  the  fourth  man  who  had  held  a 
Police  Commissionership  during  a  single  term.    Resigned  May  9,  1885. 

Commissioner  Stephen  B.  French,  President  of  the  Police  Board,  has  his 
ofifices  in  Rooms  3  and  4. 

The  following  interesting  sketch  of  Commissioner  Stephen  B.  French  is 
taken  from  a  publication,  the  "  History  of  Suffolk  County:" 

"  Stephen  B.  French  was  born  in  the  town  of  Riverhead,  Suffolk  County, 
N.  Y.,  January  16,  1829.  His  father,  Peter  French,  was  born  in  Montreal,  Can- 
ada, and  was  of  French  Huguenot  descent.  His  mother  was  a  descendant  of 
one  of  the  original  Dutch  families  who  first  settled  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y. 

"The  parents  of  S.  B.  French  removed  in  1831  from  Riverhead  to  Sag  Har- 
bor, where,  until  his  thirteenth  year,  he  attended  school.  He  then  entered  the 
office  of  Captain  John  Budd,  who  was  actively  engaged  in  the  whaling  business, 
and  with  whom  he  remained  some  eighteen  months.  Afterwards  he  entered  the 
employ  of  Thomas  Brown,  a  very  energetic  merchant,  who  pursued  the  like 
business. 

"The  bewitching  desire  to  sail  on  the  sea  impelled  him  to  ship  for  a  whaling 
voyage,  which  continued  three  years.  On  this  voyage  he  visited  Brazil,  Chili, 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  many  other  islands  of  the  South  Pacific.  Returning 
home  in  June,  1847,  in  the  ship  "Aeasta,"  of  Sag  Harbor,  he  had  resolved  to 
follow  whaling  as  the  business  of  his  life.  His  father  died  while  he  was  on  this 
voyage.  An  elder  brother  was  following  the  sea.  The  urgent  entreaties  of  his 
mother,  and  his  reverence  for  her,  constrained  him  to  remain  at  home  and  en- 
gage in  mercantile  pursuits. 

Within  eighteen  months  came  the  startling  news  of  the  gold  findings  in  Cal- 
ifornia. On  the  eighth  of  February,  1849,  Mr.  French  sailed  in  the  ship 
"  Sabina,"  in  a  company  of  ninety,  from  Sag  Harbor,  bound  for  San  Francisco. 
Rounding  Cape  Horn,  they  reached  that  port  August  8,  1849.  Then  commenced 
a  life  full  of  adventure,  arduous  and  changing  fortune  :  working  on  Denison's 
exchange,  ascending  to  the  mines  in  a  whaleboat,  digging  for  gold,  returning  to 
San  Francisco  and  keeping  a  hotel  there,  running  a  vessel  thence  to  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  projecting  an  express  to  the  northern  mines,  starting  a  store  in 
Marysville,  making  and  losing  in  five  years  two  or  three  moderate  fortunes.  He 
sailed  for  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  found  there,  as  shipmaster,  his  brother, 
whom  he  had  not  seen  for  eight  years;  and  returned  home  in  the  same  ship, 
reaching  Sag  Harbor  in  June,  1854. 

As  might  be  anticipated,  the  visit  home  strangely  lengthened  out  from  week 
to  week,  until  his  marriage  with  a  young  lady,  pure,  beautiful,  true  and  accom- 
plished, whom  the  angel  of  death  early  summoned  to  the  land  of  the  blessed. 
During  these  years  Mr.  French  was  engaged  in  mercantile  life  as  one  of  the  firm 
of  H.  &  S.  B.  French. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1865,  he  sought  to  forget  his  grief  by  inter- 
esting himself  in  politics  and  public  affairs.  He  had  been  a  Whig,  and  always 
afterwards  a  Republican.    In  1868,  on  the  resignation  of  Joseph  H.  Goldsmith, 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  455 

as  treasurer  of  Suffolk  County,  he  was  appointed  to  fill  the  position  thus  vacated. 
He  was  elected  to  this  office  in  November,  1869,  and  re-elected  in  1872,  running 
hundreds  ahead  of  his  ticket.  In  1874,  as  a  candidate  for  Congress,  he  was  de- 
feated, although  carrying  the  district  outside  of  the  vote  in  I.ong  Island  City. 
In  1875,  as  a  candidate  for  County  Treasurer,  he  was  carried  down,  in  the  over- 
whelming defeat  of  the  Republican  party,  by  the  meagre  majority  of  twelve 
votes,  running  nearly  six  hundred  ahead  of  his  ticket.  In  February,  1876,  he 
was  appointed  Appraiser  at  the  Port  of  New  York  by  President  Grant.  He  re- 
moved to  New  York  in  March,  1877;  was  appointed  Police  Commissioner  of 
that  city  in  May,  1879;  was  elected  President  of  the  Board  in  the  year  following, 
and  still  holds  the  position. 

Trained  in  the  hard  school  of  adversity,  and  subjected  to  conditions  fluctua- 
ting and  varied,  tried  in  the  perils  of  sea  and  land,  on  the  shores  of  the  Pacific 
and  Atlantic  coasts,  few  men  have  gained  the  large  experience  in  a  long  lifetime 
which  has  been  crowded  into  the  few  years  of  the  early  life  of  this  man.  .Mr. 
French  has  great  rapidity  of  perception,  strong  i)owers  of  concentration,  large 
capacity  of  endurance,  and  almost  intuitive  knowledge  of  the  material  and  imma- 
terial facts  of  a  case.  He  has  extraordinary  executive  capacity,  is  well  versed  in 
human  nature,  with  rare  tact  to  adapt  himself  to  changing  circumstances  in 
human  affairs.  He  never  forgets  a  favor  or  forsakes  a  friend.  His  sympathies 
are  with  the  masses  of  mankind  and  their  aspirations  for  freedom,  education  and 
mental  culture;  his  character  is  positive;  his  convictions  are  decided;  his  action 
is  prompt  and  resolute,  and  sometimes  impulsive;  his  great  generosity  and  kind 
heart  are  best  known  to  his  intimate  friends. 

He  is  short  in  stature,  well  knit  in  frame,  athletic  in  physical  development. 
The  dark,  luminous  eyes,  that  gleam  under  a  capacious  forehead,  tell  of  the 
thought,  penetration,  energy  and  daring  he  is  so  well  known  to  possess.  There 
is  great  magnetism  to  his  friends  in  his  very  presence,  with  something  like  uncon- 
scious defiance  to  foes.  His  positiveness  is  as  attractive  to  the  one  as  repellant 
to  the  other.  As  an  organizer,  his  capacity  to  master  a  multiplicity  of  details, 
to  judge  of  men  as  agents  to  execute  or  obstruct,  his  tenacity  of  purpose,  powers 
of  endurance  and  clearness  of  conception,  conjoin  to  fit  him  admirably  for  the 
position  he  now  occupies  as  chief  of  the  Commissioners  of  Police  in  the  empire 
city  of  this  continent,  and  as  a  power  in  any  political  party  to  which  he  may 
belong." 

The  term  for  which  Mr.  Henry  Smith  was  appointed  a  Police  Commissioner 
expired  on  the  first  day  of  May,  1877;  he  died  before  the  expiration  of  that  time, 
and  Mr.  Joel  B.  Erhardt  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  thus  created.  Had 
Mr.  Smith  lived,  his  term  of  office  would  have  expired  on  the  first  day  of  May, 
1877.  Under  the  provisions  of  Section  25,  Chapter  335,  Laws  of  1873,  the  suc- 
cessor of  Mr,  Smith  or  of  Mr.  Erhardt  was  entitled  to  the  office  for  six  years 
from  the  first  day  of  May,  1877,  or  until  the  first  day  of  May,  1883,  Mr.  Stephen 
B.  French  was  appointed  a  Police  Commissioner  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  May, 
1879,  succeeding  Mr.  Exhardt,  who,  up  to  this  date,  had  continued  to  act  under 
no  other  appointment  than  that  by  virtue  of  which  he  was  to  serve  the  unexpired 
term  of  Mr.  Smith.    Mr.  Erhardt  continued  so  to  hold  over  until  Mr.  French's 


456  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

appointment,  thereby  holding  into  the  term  of  his  successor.  On  November  24, 
1884,  Stephen  B.  French  was  appointed  for  the  term  of  six  years  from  the 
first  day  of  May,  1883,  to  succeed  himself.  Mr.  McClave's  certificate  was 
for  the  balance  of  the  unexpired  term,  beginning  with  May  i,  1884,  and  ending 
May  I,  1890.  The  certificates  had  been  duly  entered  on  the  minutes.  A  motion 
was  made  and  adopted  making  Commissioner  McClave  Treasurer  in  place  of 
Mr.  Mason,  and  assigning  the  latter's  rooms  and  his  membership  on  the  various 
committees  to  him. 

WiLLiA.M  Delamater,  P'irst  Deputy  Clerk  of  the  Police  Department,  was 
appointed  Patrolman  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  December,  1866,  and  assigned 
to  the  Nineteenth  Precinct  for  duty.  After  attending  the  School  of  Instruction 
for  the  required  term,  he  was  immediately  detailed  to  clerical  duty  in  the  office 
of  the  Chief  Clerk- — a  duty  for  which  he  was  specially  fitted  by  experience  and 

service  as  Chief  Clerk  in  the 
Second  Army  Corps  during 
the  war.  On  the  eighth  of 
April,  1 87 1,  he  was  appointed 
a  clerk,  and  was  promoted 
Second  Deputy  Clerk  on  the 
twenty-fifth  of  March,  1881, 
the  rules  of  the  Department 
being  on  that  date  amended 
for  that  purpose.  After  the 
death  of  Mr.  Hawley,  Chief 
Clerk,  Mr.  Delamater  was 
})romoted  to  the  responsible 
position  of  First  Deputy 
Clerk. 

Since  April  23,  1870,  Mr 
Delamater  has  kept  the  min- 
utes of  the  Board, and  devised 
a  system  of  indexing  the  same  whereby  any  matter  of  infor  mation  may  be 
found  at  a  moment's  notice.  He  prepares  the  quarterly  and  annual  reports 
of  the  Department,  and  formulates  the  charges  and  specifications  made 
against  members  of  the  Police  force.  He  is  one  of  the  most  systematic  of  men, 
and  manages,  by  reason  of  punctuality,  regularity,  rule  and  application,  to 
accomplish  an  immense  amount  of  work.  Mr.  Delamater  has  literary  tastes  and 
capacity,  and  is  a  contributor  to  several  city  publications.  On  subjects  con- 
nected with  Police  affairs  he  is  a  cyclopedia  to  whom  application  is,  and  may  be, 
constantly  made.  Of  temperate  habit.s,  quiet  and  unostentatious  demeanor, 
retiring  disposition,  and  without  egotism,  he  performs  his  every  public  duty,  and 
enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  superiors. 

Edmund  C.  Gay,  Clerk  to  Committee  on  Repairs  and  Supplies,  has  his 
office  in  Room  5  (Treasurer's  Office).  Charles  L.  Gott,  Assistant  to  Bookkeeper. 

Charles  A.  Grant  is  Secretary  to  Commissioner  McClave;  Hugh  Thomas 
is  Secretary   to   Commissioner   Porter;   John   Matthews  is   Secretary  to 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


457 


-Commissioner  Voorhis;  and  Emanuel  DREVFOUsis  Secretary  to  Commissioner 
French.  Officer  Harvey  is  detailed  to  Commissioner  Porter's  office.  Peter 
Masterson,  Records  of  Lost  Children;  Walter  E.  Derby,  Time  Clerk. 

In  the  Chief  Clerk's  office,  the  following  corps  of  clerks  is  employed: 
William  Delamater,  First  Deputy,  Minute  Clerk;  George  B.  Stone,  Second 
Deputy  Clerk,  F'orce  Clerk;  George  F.  Hasbrouk,  Arrest  Clerk;  Thomas  J. 
Doran,  Statistic  Clerk;  Thomas  Feeley,  Violations  of  the  Corporation  Ordinances. 

The  P)UREau  of  Records  and  Complaints  is  located  at  the  rear  of  the 
building,  on  the  Mott  Street  side,  and  occupies  Rooms  7  and  8.  Robert  S. 
Peterson  and  Seth  Hawley,  Jr., 
are  in  charge.  Colonel  Parker 
is  Supply  Clerk. 

John  F.  Harriot,  Property 
Clerk,  occupies  Room  9,  first 
floor. 

The  following  figures  do  not 
show  the  property  left  over  or 
unclaimed,  and  sold  at  auction. 
By  including  which,  the  value  of 
lost,  stolen  and  unclaimed  prop- 
erty handled  by  the  Police,  is, 
in  round  figures,  a  million  a 
year.  The  unclaimed  goods  are 
sold  by  auction  semi-annually, 
and  everything,  from  a  needle  to 
an  anchor,  and  from  a  thimble 
to  a  diamond,  is  included  in 
these  sales.  Mr.  Harriot's  col- 
lection has  no  equal  outside  of 
a  pawnbroker's  shop.  It  is 
strikingly  miscellaneous  in  char- 
acter, and  as  interesting  in  its 
history  as  Mother  Mandelbaum 
could  desire. 

Value  of  property  delivered  from  the  office  of  the  Property  Clerk,  as  fixed 
by  the  several  parties  receiving  the  same,  for  the  year  ending  December  31,  1884: 


First  cpiarter,  March  31  $19,163  49 

Second  cpiarter,  June  30  20,114  20 

Third  cpiarter,  September  30  29,469  66 

Fourth  quarter,  December  31  9,643  74 


§78,391  09 

Delivered  to  the  Property  Clerk,  in  addition  to  the 
above,  by  the  several  Precincts,  Court  and  De- 
tective Squads,  for  the  year  ending  December 
31,  1884,  the  sum  of  .$831,320  67 


Grand  total 


S909.7M  76 


4S8 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Joel  W.  Mason  was  appointed  Mr.  Wheeler's  successor,  May  25,  1880,  and 
remained  a  Police  Commissioner  until  November  24,  1884.  He  was  born  in 
this  city  about  fifty-three  years  ago.  He  has  been  in  business  here  as  a  manu- 
facturer of  chairs  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  has  accumulated  a 
large  fortune  by  his  extensive  trade.  Mr.  Mason  has  been  connected  with  the 
Republican  party  from  its  infancy.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  he  was 
Adjutant  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  of  New  York  Militia,  of  which  General  Joseph 
C.  Pinckney  was  the  Colonel,  and  he  went  with  the  organization  to  the  field. 


After  three  months'  service  they  returned  to  this  city,  and  Mr.  Mason  was  made 
Colonel  of  the  regiment,  which  office  he  held  for  twelve  years.  Mr.  McCl^ve 
became  his  successor. 

Commissioner  Fn  z  John  Porter  has  his  office  in  Rooms  4  and  5. 

FiTZ  John  Porter  was  ai)pointed  a  Police  Commissioner  by  Mayor  Edson 
on  October  28,  1884,  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term  of  Sidney  P.  Nichols,  deceased. 
Fitz  John  Porter,  on  March  i,  1875,  ^^'^^^  appointed  Commissioner  of  Public 
Works  by  Mayor  Wickham,  and  served  one  year.  General  Porter  was  born  in 
New  Hampshire  in  1822.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point  in  1845,  and  served  with  distinction  under  General  Scott  in  the  Mexican 


/ 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  459 

war.  During  the  earlier  part  of  the  Civil  war  he  was  employed  in  various 
capacities,  and  in  the  fall  of  1862  enjoyed  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General.  After 
the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  charges  of  insubordination  to  his  superior 
officer,  General  Pope,  were  preferred  against  him.  He  was  court-martialed, 
convicted,  and  sentenced  to  be  "forever  disqualified  from  holding  any  office  of 
trust  or  profit  under  the  United  States  Government."  Since  the  sentence  was 
imposed  General  Porter  has  made  every  effort  to  have  the  case  re-opened. 
Last  winter  Congress  passed  a  bill  restoring  him  to  the  rank  of  Colonel  in 
the  army.  The  President  vetoed  the  bill.  It  was  passed  over  his  veto  by  the 
House  in  its  closing  days,  but  not  by  the  Senate.  The  original  sentence,  there- 
fore, stands.  General  Porter  is  a  Democrat,  but  not  a  member  of  any  of  the 
local  organizations. 

John  B.  Voorhis  was  born  at  Pompton  Plains,  Morris  County,  N.  J.,  on 
the  twenty-seventh  of  July,  1S29,  and,  when  one  year  old,  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  this  city,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  He  attended  private 
schools  from  his  fourth  to  his  thirteenth  year.  Upon  leaving  school  he  procured 
employment  as  messenger  and  clerk,  and  was  thus  occupied  for  three  years. 
Upon  attaining  his  si.xteenth  year,  he  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  stair-builder. 
When  twenty  years  of  age  he  was  made  foreman  of  the  shop,  and  six  years  later 
he  was  admitted  to  partnership  in  the  business. 

In  1861,  when  thirty-two  years  old,  he  became  the  successor  and  sole  pro- 
prietor of  the  business  establishment  in  which  he  had  been  brought  uj).  In  1873 
he  was  nominated  by  Mayor  W.  F.  Havemeyer,  and  confirmed  by  the  Board  of 
Aldermen,  as  Commissioner  of  Excise.  The  succeeding  year  he  was  appointed 
by  Mayor  Havemeyer  as  Commissioner  of  Police  to  succeed  Oliver  Charlick, 
and  served  in  such  capacity  until  the  expiration  of  the  term  in  1876.  In 
November,  1879,  Mr.  Voorhis  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Edward  Cooper  a  Police 
Commissioner  to  succeed  James  E.  Morrison,  and  served  until  July,  1880.  The 
following  year  Mr.  Voorhis  was  appointed  by  Mayor  AVilliam  R.  Grace  a  Com- 
missioner of  the  Deparment  of  Docks.  He  served  until  May  1 1,  1885,  on  wiiich 
date  he  was  appointed  by  the  Mayor  a  Commissioner  of  Police. 

Successively,  while  a  Police  Commissioner,  he  has  acted  as  Treasurer  of  the 
Board,  Chairman  of  the  ex-Street  Cleaning  Bureau,  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Rules  and  Discipline,  Chairman  on  Repairs  and  Supplies,  etc. 

Notwithstanding  the  number  of  public  positions  that  Mr.  Voorhis  has  filled, 
he  has  never  sought  office  in  his  life;  he  never  gave  a  pledge  to  obtain  office, 
and  has  always  regarded  a  public  office  as  a  public  trust. 

Mr.  Voorhis  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  politics  from  a  purely 
unselfish  standpoint.  He  is  an  adherent  of  the  County  Democracy.  Mr. 
Voorhis  brings  the  strict  business  methods  which  obtain  in  the  workshop — where 
he  has  spent  the  greater  portion  of  his  life — to  bear  upon  his  official  duties. 

Mr.  Voorhis  is  the  most  democratic  of  men.  His  private  office  at  Police 
Headquarters  is  always  open  to  receive  visitors  who  call  on  business  matters. 
While  urbane  and  polite,  Mr.  Voorhis  has  settled  convictions  and  positive  ideas 
of  his  own.  He  is  in  the  habit  of  running  himself  and  of  conducting  the  affairs 
of  his  office  with  an  eye  single  to  the  public  good. 


460 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


William  H.  Kipp,  Chief  Clerk,  occupies  Room  6. 

Captain  William  H.  Kipp,  the  present  capable  and  experienced  Chief 
Clerk,  succeeded  the  late  Seth  C.  Hawley.  Captain  Kipp  came  into  the  Depart- 
ment in  1873.  He  is  a  member  of  the  bar,  and  has  been  a  captain  in  the 
Seventh  Regiment  since  1866.  He  joined  the  regiment  in  1857.  During  the 
war  he  went  three  times  to  the  front.  He  was  appointed  Chief  Clerk  on 
November  14,  1884. 

John  J-  O'Brien,  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Elections,  is  located  at  Rooms  7 
and  8.  His  staff  is  composed  of  the  following  detailed  Policemen:  Henry 
Hildebrandt,  William  H.  Plunkett,  Stejjhen  Walmsley,  and  Denis  F.  Ryan. 

Third  Floor. — Isaac  L.  Moe  has  charge  of  the  Police  supplies,  and  has  his 
office  in  Room  i.    Room  2  is  the  meeting  room  of  the  Board. 


Captain  William  H.  Kipp. 

Robert  L.  Wood,  Stationery  Clerk,  is  located  in  Room  5;  George  F. 
Mellish  and  Daniel  J.  Craig,  Stenographers,  have  their  offices  in  Rooms  6  and 
7;  and  Room  8  is  the  Police  Trial  Room  and  School  of  Instruction. 

Fourth  Floor. — Janitor  Webb's  apartments  take  up  Rooms  i,  2,  3  and  4. 
Room  5  is  set  apart  for  lost  children,  who  are  placed  in  the  care  of  Matron 
Webb.    Rooms  6,  7,  8  and  9  are  used  as  storage  rooms  for  books  and  records. 

First  Floor. — The  First  Inspection  District  (Inspector  William  Murray) 
have  their  offices  in  Rooms  i,  2  and  3. 

Inspector  Murray's  staff  are:  District  Sergeants  William  Meakim  and 
Alexander  B.  Wartz;  Roundsmen  Charles  Tiernan,  John  Harley,  and  Thomas 
O'Brien,  who  receive  the  returns  in  the  morning  from  the  several  precincts  com- 
prising the  district.    Two  Roundsmen  and  one  Sergeant  are  on  duty  at  a  time 


J* 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


461 


in  the  office;  and  the  other  two  Roundsmen  and  Sergeant  are  on  patrol  visiting 
the  ])recincts,  they  being  on  duty  at  all  times,  day  and  night.  Their  duty  is  to 
exact  a  strict  compliance  with  the  rules  and  regulations  throughout  the  district. 
They  make  their  rounds  in  plain  clothes. 

The  S.wiTARY  Company. — Room  5,  in  the  bas-ement,  is  set  apart  for  the 
Sanitary  Company  and  Steam  Boiler  Inspector.  This  branch  of  the  Police  force 
is  divided  into  two  squads;  the  Steam  boiler  Inspection  and  Engineer  Bureau, 
and  the  Tenement  House  Squad.  The  former  has  supervision  over,  and  annu- 
ally inspects,  and  tests  by  hydrostatic  pressure,  all  steam  boilers  and  engines  in 
the  city,  certifies  to  their 
condition,  condemns  those 
found  unsafe,  and  prevents 
their  further  use. 

There  are  upwards  of 
seven  thousand  places 
where  steam  boilers  are  in 
use  in  the  city,  underneath 
buildings,  sidewalks,  and 
the  streets.  The  lower  part 
of  the  city  is  completely 
honeycombed  with  steam 
boilers,  and  only  for  the 
careful  and  constant  super- 
vision by  the  attaches  of 
this  bureau,  boiler  explo- 
sions, with  great  loss  to  life 
and  property,  would,  no 
doubt,  be  frequent.  They 
also  have  the  supervision 
over  all  persons  who  take 
charge  of  and  operate 
steam  boilers  and  other 
steam  apparatus  in  the 
city,  and  it  is  a  misde- 
meanor for  any  person 
to  operate  such  without  a  certificate  of  qualification  from  the  officer  in  com- 
mand of  the  Sanitary  Company. 

These  examinations  number  eight  thousand  a  year,  and  about  one-third  of 
the  applicants  are  refused  certificates  for  incompetency. 

Sergeant  Washington  Mullix  has  been  in  command  of  this  Company  for 
the  past  four  years.  He  was  appointed  on  the  force  October  6,  1864,  previous 
to  which  he  served  his  apprenticeship  as  a  machinist  and  engine  builder. 

The  force  under  his  command  are  selected  for  their  particular  knowledge 
of  the  duties  required  in  this  branch  of  the  service,  and  consists  of  the  follow- 
ing officers:  Henry  Wheeler,  Acting  Sergeant;  George  E.  Smith  and  Frederick 
R.  Fielding,  Examining  Engineers;  George  W.  Church,  Thomas  O'Brien,  Warren 


Matron  Webb's  Room  for  Lost  Children. 


462  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

Harrington,  and  Owen  Wheeler,  Boiler  Inspectors;  Henry  M.  Quinn,  Boiler 
Record  Book;  Francis  B.  Fabri,  Engineers'  Record  Book;  John  Minnick, 
George  E.  Woolfe,  John  W.  McGloin,  Patrick  CoUi- 
gan,  Joseph  Gilligan,  and  Bernard  Tully,  Inspectors; 
Wm.  H.  Palmer,  Wagon  Driver;  William  Luther, 
Doorman. 

The  Tenement  House  Squad  consists  of  thirty 
men,  detailed  to  enforce  the  Health  Ordinances,  and 
to  make  inspections  of  all  tenement  and  lodging 
houses,  ascertaining  the  sanitary  condition  of  such, 
reporting  all  violations  of  the  sanitary  code  to  the 
Board  of  Health,  and  abating  all  nuisances  under  the 
Sergt.  Washington  Mullin.    direction  of  that  Board. 

Acting  Sergeant  John  W.  Haggerty,  is  Superintendent  of  the  mechanical 
department  at  Police  Headquarters.  He  has  been  twenty  years  in  the  depart- 
ment, and  has  charge  of  fif- 
teen men. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  Mar- 
ble Palace,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  is  a  veritable  human 
kaleidoscope.  Here  we  find 
the  vast  machinery  of  our 
municipal  Police  concen- 
trated, and  here  are  the 
mainsprings  of  Police  official 
life  and  action. 

Outside  and  beyond,  at 
their  several  posts,  move  on 
their  several  parts  the  men 
who  protect  life  and  prop- 
erty, who  keep  in  subjection 
the  army  of  criminals  whose 
energy  is  untiring,  whose  evil 
influences  are  ever  living  forces,  and  who  are  a  constant  menace  to  society  and 
good  government. 

The  Police  Surgeons  are:  Charles  Phelps,  John  H.  Dorn,  Samuel  B.  McLeod, 
Stephen  G.  Cook,  Augustus  W.  Maclay,  F.  LeRoy  Satterlee,  Sigismund  Water- 
man, George  Steinert,  Francis  M.  Purroy,  William  A.  Varian,  Samuel  K.  Lyon, 
William  F.  Fiuhrer,  David  Matthews,  Benjamin  F.  Dexter,  Reese  H.  Voorhees, 
Benjamin  Wood,  Jr.,  John  H.  Nesbitt,  Martin  A.  McGovern. 


Cloth  Department,  Police  Headquarters. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


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OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


465 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


DUTIES  OF  A  POLICEMAN. 


A  Terror  to  the  Wicked  and  Depraved,  a  Protector  to  the  Up- 
right AND  Virtuous.  —  His  Responsibilities  and  Labors.  —  Neces- 
sary Qualifications  :  Youth,  Strength,  Intelligence,  and  a  Stain- 
less Reputation. — The  School  of  Instruction. — Doing  Patrol 
Duty. — The  Laws  he  has  to  Study  and  Enforce. — Ex-Co.mmissioner 
Erhardt's  Exposition  of  a  Policeman's  Life. — A  keen,  wiry,  clean-' 
cut  Set. — Always  on  Post. — An  Eye  that  Knows  no  Sleep. — Dangers 
TO  which  Policemen  are  Exposed. — Sprains,  Contusions,  Incised 
Wounds,  Fractured  Limbs,  Rheumatism,  Pneumonia,  Etc. — Sergeant 
John  Delanev,  a  Type  of  a  Brave  Policeman. 

A    WELL-INFORMED  public  need  not  be  told  how  faithfully  and  bravely 


"Our  Police  Protectors"  guard  their  interests  from  the  depredations  of 
criminals.  On  that  head  nothing  need  be  said,  as  the  facts  speak  for  them- 
selves, and  with  an  emphasis  more  convincing  than  words. 

The  duties  which  the  Police  Department  are  called  upon  to  perform  are  of 
vital  imi)ortance  to  the  city  in  its  security,  peace  and  prosiierity.  Dishonesty, 
carelessness  or  inefficiency  in  the  discharge  of  those  duties  are  followed  by  such 
grave  consequences,  as  to  lay  upon  every  one  connected  with  the  Department 
the  most  solemn  obligations  to  devote  all  his  energies  to  the  proper  protection 
of  the  city.  Every  one,  in  accepting  a  pfisition  in  the  Department,  accepts 
voluntarily  these  obligations. 

After  long  years  of  slow  development,  the  Police,  it  is  safe  to  say,  have 
reached  that  stage  that  their  efficiency  and  discipline  may  be  confidently  relied 
upon.  This  fact  has  been  practically  demonstrated  on  numerous  occasions, 
and  he  must  be  a  very  young  man  indeed,  if  brought  up  in  the  city,  who,  by 
personal  observation,  cannot  vouch  for  the  entire  accuracy  of  this  statement. 

Night  and  day,  fair  weather  and  foul,  when  his  tour  of  duty  commences, 
the  Policeman,  like  the  trusty  sentinel,  must  go  on  his  post  and  be  prepared  to 
meet  all  kinds  of  danger;  but  not  like  the  soldier  in  open  battle,  with  his  com- 
rades and  the  noise  and  strife  cheering  him  on.  He  has  to  encounter  the  hid- 
den, and  stealthy,  and  desperate  foe,  who  is  about  committing,  or  is  just  emerg- 
ing from,  the  commission  of  crime,  through  which,  by  his  arrest,  his  life  or  lib- 
erty is  forfeited.  This  causes  him  to  resist  apprehension,  even  to  the  taking  the 
life  of  the  officer  of  the  law.  Surely  tragic  incidents,  wherein  Policemen  have 
lost  their  lives,  been  wounded  and  disabled,  need  not  be  cited  to  convince  New 


466 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Yorkers  of  this  fact,, or  to  show  that  the  Patrolman's  duties  are  arduous,  respon- 
sible, and  dangerous. 

To  the  Police  are  committed  the  enforcement  of  law,  the  maintenance  of 
order,  and  the  preservation  of  the  public  peace.  The  protection  of  life  and  the 
security  of  property  largely  depend  upon  the  zeal  and  fidelity  with  which  they 
discharge  their  duties.  It  is  essential,  therefore,  that  they  should  possess  dis- 
cretion, integrity,  activity,  sobriety,  fearlessness  and  decision.  That  these  con- 
ditions are  combined  in  our  New  York  Police  Protectors,  few,  if  any,  will  be 
found  so  prejudiced  or  ill-informed  as  to  deny. 

A  stranger  in  this  city  in  quest  of  information  about  the  Police,  were  he  not 
industrious  and  disposed  to  investigate  statements,  would  come  to  an  opin- 
ion that  is  by  no  means  that  of  the  vicious,  criminal,  ignorant,  or  vulgar;  but 
is  held  by  not  a  few  persons  of  education  and  refinement  who,  if  they  were 
required  to  say  why  they  thought  ill  of  the  average  Policeman,  would  have  to 
confess  that  their  judgment  was  mainly  based  on  hearsay  and  newspaper  gossip. 
Take  a  thousand  such  persons,  and  few  will  be  found  who  have  ever  sought  to 
know  what  a  Policeman  really  is,  and  what  his  duties,  trials,  temptations,  respon- 
sibilities and  virtues  are.  Their  idea  of  a  Policeman  is  on  a  par  with  that  of  the 
boniface  who,  when  asked  what  a  gentleman  was,  replied,  with  assurance,  "  A 
gentleman's  a  man  wot  keeps  a  hoss  and  gig."  The  most  vulgar  conception  is 
that  of  a  bloated,  drunken,  brutal  fellow,  who  depends  on  craft  and  i)olitical  in- 
fluence to  retain  his  sinecure  situation,  and  who  perfunctorily  does  his  "  s\xty 
minutes  to  the  hour,"  from  pay  day  to  pay  day,  and  from  one  blackmailed  rum- 
hole  to  anotlier.  These  prejudices  have  been  fostered  by  newspapers,  which  will 
one  day  record,  as  a  "police  outrage,"  an  act  of  self  defense  by  an  officer  that 
should  be  commended,  and  then,  when  fully  aware  of  the  injustice  of  the  asper- 
sion, refuse  or  omit  to  correct  the  impression  that  thousands  of  readers  have 
formed.  The  same  exultant  shout  is  vented  over  a  Policeman's  backsliding,  as 
when  a  minister  or  a  citizen  of  good  repute  falls  from  grace,  as  if  a  Policeman 
were  less  of  a  man  or  less  liable  to  be  tempted  than  other  people.  It  has  been 
suggested,  and  there  is  some  basis  for  the  explanation,  that  our  free  institutions 
tend  to  make  men  who  enforce  the  law  and  deprive  others  of  their  liberty,  objects 
of  contempt.  In  Europe  it  is  not  rare  to  see  a  Police  Officer,  unable  to  cope 
with  one  or  more  persons  he  has  in  custody  or  wishes  to  arrest,  call  on  bystand- 
ers, in  the  name  of  the  representatives  of  law  and  order,  to  aid  him,  and  the 
appeal  is  seldom  disregarded.  Here  such  a  request  would  be  received  with  a 
guffaw,  and  an  escaping  prisoner  gets  more  aid  from  a  crowd  than  his  pursuer, 
while  in  a  Police  Court  sympathy  with  defendants  is  evinced  daily.  Logic  is 
rarely  applied  when  the  question  of  the  morale  of  the  working  members  of  the 
Police  force  is  discussed,  but  detractors  invariably  refrain  from  meeting  the  issues 
involved  in  such  a  question  as:  "Take  twenty-five  hundred  clergymen,  brokers, 
tradesmen,  lawyers,  laborers,  or  average  citizens,  compare  them  with  the  Patrolmen 
of  the  force  of  New  York,  and  say,  conscientiously,  if  the  officers  are  viler  than  the 
others,  or  if  there  is  any  vice  that  a  Policeman  has  that  the  others  are  not  guilty 
of."  The  trouble  with  Policemen  is  that  they  are  men,  and  rather  more  of  men 
than  the  rest  of  the  community.    They  start  in  their  career  from  the  mill  which 


OUR  ror.icF.  PRorRcroRS. 


467 


grinds  them  out  at  Police  Headtiiuirtcrs  witli  many  brands,  guaranteeing  their 
manhood,  both  physically,  intellectually  and  morally,  on  them.  The  uniform 
and  badge  of  the  force  were  never  permitted  to  be  worn  by  an  idiot  or  a  rogue, 
if  he  were  known  to  be  such  when  he  was  appointed,  and  no  such  man  ever 
remained  on  the  force  after  there  was  good  evidence  given  of  his  being  either. 
It  should,  however,  be  remembered  that  men  have  been  dismissed  for  cause,  and 
have  been  reinstated  by  the  courts. 

It  is  not  every  one  who  wills  it  that  becomes  a  roliceman,  and  some  of  the 
best  Policemen  are  those  who  have  been  compelled  to  join  the  force  through 
necessity.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  nearly  every  appointmnit  is  made  tlirougli  jjor- 
sonal  or  political  influence. 
Those  who  cavil  at  this 
should  remember  that  this 
almost  invariably  secures  for 
the  department  men  who 
have  lived  long  enough  in 
the  city  to  know  it,  for  poli- 
ticians and  friends  of  Police 
Commissioners  are  not  dis- 
posed to  interest  themselves 
in  strangers.  A  young  man 
having,  then,  secured  a  spon- 
sor, makes  his  first  step  to- 
wards appointment  by  going 
in  his  company  to  one  of  the 
Police  Commissioners.  Here 
the  first  weeding  out  system 
is  encountered.  A  Commis- 
sioner rarely  passes  a  man 
with  a  grog-blossomed  nose, 
or  one  so  uncouth  or  ill-fav- 
ored as  to  be  a  laughing  stock. 
If  he  objects  to  the  man,  he 
does  not,  however,  always  tell 
the  sponsor,  but  the  candi- 
date has  a  chance  of  getting 
very  gray  before  he  is  sworn  in.  If  the  Commissioner  is  disposed  to  favor  the 
application,  the  candidate  for  appointment  must  be  less  than  thirty  years  old, 
able  to  read  and  write  English,  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  a  resident  of 
this  city  from  a  year  back,  of  spotless  character,  so  far  as  conviction  of  crimes 
is  concerned,  of  a  stature  not  less  than  five  feet  seven  inches  and-a-half, 
more  than  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  pounds  in  weigiit,  and  sound  in 
body  and  mind.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  in  running  this  gauntlet  of  qualifications 
forty  out  of  one  hundred  applicants  find  themselves  ineligible.  The  applicant  is 
sent  by  the  Commissioners  before  the  Board  of  Surgeons,  who  pass  on  his  height, 
weight,    and    sanity.     The   examination    is  thorough,  the   candidate  beinfi 


School  of  Instruction. 


468 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


stripped.  He  may  be  rejected  for  obesity,  or  his  stature,  weight,  and  chest  cir- 
cumference may  be  so  disproportionate  as  to  make  him  unfit  to  be  a  Policeman. 
Once  passed  by  the  Surgeons  he  w  ould  be  an  excellent  risk  for  a  life  insurance 
company  to  take.  If  the  candidate's  sponsor  is  active,  or  has  influence  which  is 
recognized  and  respected,  the  candidate  is  advanced  another  step.  He  fills  out 
a  blank  with  his  pedigree,  a  statement  of  his  arrest  or  non-arrest,  a  conviction  or 
non-conviction  for  crime  or  misdemeanor,  and,  among  other  questions,  answers  one 
which  inquires  if  he  has  paid,  or  promised  to  pay,  or  gave  money  or  any  consider- 
ation for  aid  or  influence  towards  procuring  his  appointment.  These  state- 
ments he  swears  to.  He  also  procures  the  signatures  of  at  least  ten  respectable 
citizens  to  a  petition  for  his  apj)ointmcnt,  wliich  declares  that  the  signers  know  him 


.  Station  House  Lodging  Room, 

intimately,  that  he  is  of  good  moral  character,  sober,  temperate,  and  industrio;is, 
a  man  of  truth  and  integrity,  of  sound  mind,  good  understanding,  and  of  a  temper, 
habits  and  manners  that  fit  him  for  the  duties  of  a  Policeman.  When  the  signa- 
tures are  appended,  the  Chief  Clerk  marks  them,  or  a  few  of  them,  and  the  persons 
thus  indicated  are  required  to  visit  the  Central  Office  and  make  affidavit  to  the 
truth  of  the  statements  in  the  petition.  Next,  Detectives  are  employed  to  investigate 
the  candidate's  antecedents,  and,  on  their  favorable  report,  he  may  be  enrolled  as 
eligible  for  appointment.  A  candidate  is  then  only  "  a  little  lower  than  the 
angels  "  if  all  that  has  been  sworn  to  in  regard  to  him  is  true.  What  business 
man,  in  engaging  an  employee,  would  hesitate,  with  such  a  series  of  safeguards  ? 
The  candidate  is  now  on  the  anxious  seat,  and  if  his  support  is  not  of  the  best,  he 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


469 


may  fail  at  the  threshold  of  success.  The  system  of  dealing  out  orders  for 
examination  by  the  Surgeons,  application  papers,  and  examination  papers, 
without  regard  to  the  i)robable  vacancies  on  the  force,  has  been  not  too 
harshly  criticised  as  pernicious.  It  puts  a  i)remium  on  political  and 
personal  influences  if  it  does  no  more,  encourages  false  hopes,  and  leads 
many  young  men  to  throw  up  positions,  refrain  from  accepting  employ- 
ment, and  to  spend,  not  only  their  savings,  but  those  of  relations  and  friends. 
In  one  case,  known  to  the  writer,  a  man,  who  had  waited  two  years  for 
his  appointment,  spent  all  his  cash,  disposed  of  his  wife's  money  and  property, 
sold  his  furniture,  and  was  such  a  financial  wreck  when  he  was  sworn  in  that  it 
took  him  three  years  to  re- 
cover himself.  Instances  are 
known  of  men  waiting  more 
than  four  years  for  their 
shield.  Once,  certain  Com- 
missioners resolved  on  can- 
celling applications  for  ap- 
pointment whii  li  dated  back 
more  than  si.x  months,  and 
between  seven  and  eight  hun- 
dred were  destroyed.  I5ut 
this  was  when  appointment 
papers  were  given  out  by  the 
ream.  However,  we  will  sup- 
pose our  friend,  John  Brown, 
safely  landed  on  the  siiores 
of  official  duty  after  running 
the  gauntlet  of  the  Civil  Ser- 
vice examination.  Onehap])y 
day  the  Board  has  met,  and 
he  is  recorded  as  having 
been  voted  on  and  apj)oint- 
ed.  He  takes  the  official 
oath  and  receives  his  num- 
bered shield.  Then  he  busies 
himself  about  his  uniform,  buying  the  regulation  cloth  from  the  Police  clerk, 
and  his  hat  and  insignia  at  Police  Headquarters,  also  his  baton  and  belt. 
Half  uniformed,  he  is  directed  to  the  School  of  Instruction,  where  he  passes 
at  least  a  month  as/'  citizen  "  Brown  under  the  new  rule,  and  he  does  one  tour 
of  night  duty — six  p.  M.  to  midnight — with  an  officer  of  the  precinct  to  which  he 
is  assigned.  In  the  School  of  Instruction  he  begins  to  cast  aside  any  citizen's 
prejudices  he  may  have  formed  in  regard  to  the  little  knowledge  required  to 
enable  a  man  to  twirl  a  locust,  patrol  a  post,  and  draw  pay  at  the  end  of 
each  month.  The  instructor  at  present  is  Roundsman  Michael  Smith.  His 
duty  is  to  "instruct  the  members  of  the  School  in  all  the  duties,  discipline,  and 
■exercises  of  Patrolmen,  including  the  Police  law,  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New 


Station  House  Dormitory. 


47° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


York,  the  laws  and  ordinances  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the  rules,  regu- 
ations  and  orders  of  the  Board  of  Police,  and  their  powers  and  privileges  under 
the  same,"  only  this  and  nothing  more.  A  matter  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
rules  and  regulations,  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  general  orders,  many  of  them 
amending,  altering,  and  changing  the  rules  and  regulations,  gentle  dalliance  in 
"the  position  of  the  soldier,"  "riots,"  "commands,"  "steps,"  "alignments" 
"marching,"  "wheelings,"  "turnings,"  "baton  exercise,"  etc.,  a  little  healthy 
mental  exercise,  with  such  questions  as  "  When,  going  or  returning  from  court  or 
meals,  there  are  more  than  two  Policemen  on  the  sidewalk,  how  should  they 
conduct  themselves  ?"  "  What  disposition  are  you  required  to  make  of  all  pris- 
oners you  may  arrest  while  on  duty?"  "In  case  you  should  arrest  a  person  so 
much  under  the  influence  of  liquor  as  to  be  unable  to  comprehend  the  proceed- 
ings at  court,  what  would  be  required  of  you?"  "In  case  you  should  arrest  a 
person  having  stolen  property  in  his  or  her  possession,  what  disposition  would 
you  make  of  prisoners  and  property?"  "In  case  you  come  in  possession  of  lost 
property  of  a  dangerous  nature,  what  would  be  your  duty  ?"  "  How  about  carr)'ing 
umbrellas  or  walking  canes  when  on  duty?"  "What  is  the  best  evidence  of  an 
officer's  efficiency  when  on  post  duty  ?"  "  What  information  should  you  be  pre- 
pared to  give  to  strangers  and  citizens  who  may  inquire  of  you?"  "If  any 
person  had  a  long  communication  in  regard  to  Police  matters,  what  would  be  your 
duty?"  "What  are  you  to  refrain  from  doing  while  on  jjost  duty?"  etc.  The 
answers  to  some  of  these  cpiestions  would  make  a  bronze  statue  of  sorrow  howl 
with  merriment.  The  laws  of  the  State  and  the  city  ordinances  are  other  sources 
of  innocent  recreation.  How  much  a  candidate  can  learn  about  them  in  thirty 
days  remains,  and  can  well  remain,  a  mystery.  Few  of  the  superior  officers  of  the 
force  claim  to  fairly  well  understand  them,  and  some  of  our  best  lawyers  are  at 
times  at  fault  in  regard  to  them,  especially  the  ordinances  which  include  those  of 
the  Board  of  Health. 

Then  there  are  digressions  to  tlie  Sunday  Law,  Excise  Law,  the  societies 
for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Children  and  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to 
Animals.  No  wonder  if  the  callow  "  cop's "  head  wliirls  and  he  is  distrait 
when  doing  his  "  first  night  tour  "  with  his  more  experienced  or  more  callous 
mentor.  Well,  at  last  lie  is  discharged  from  the  school,  and,  in  new  uniform, 
blossoms  into  a  full-fledged  Policeman  and  begins  his  "  day,"  which  is  really  one 
of  ninety-six  hours.  He  is  now  at  the  mercy  of  the  public,  the  press,  the 
criminal  classes,  his  superior  officers,  the  Roundsman,  and  his  own  weakness.  , 

What  is  known  as  the  Police  day  begins'at  six  a.  m.  and  ends  at  six  p.  M. 
The  Police  night  begins  at  six  p.  M.  and  ends  at  six  .\.  m.  But  the  scheme  is  an 
extremely  complicated  one,  and  was  probably  devised  to  get  all  the  duty  out  of 
a  Patrolman  that  liis  system  will  stand.  There  is  what  is  known  as  the  "  dog 
watch,"  from  six  a.  m.  to  eight  a.  m.,  and  we  will  suppose  John  Brown  to  have 
done  this  trick.  He  goes  to  breakfast,  to  return  to  his  station  house  at  a  quarter 
past  nine  a.  M.,  and  is  then  "in  reserve  "  till  noon.  "In  reserve  "  does  not 
inqily  that  he  lounges  in  the  sitting  room  of  the  station  house  reading  news- 
])a])ers,  jilaying  checkers,  or  talking  station  house  scandal.  If  he  has  not  pris- 
oners locked  up  the  night  before  or  during  the  "  dog  watch,"  he  may  have  to  go 


OUR  rOTJCF.  PROTF.CTORS.  471 

to  the  Courts  of  Special,  or  General  Sessions,  or  Civil  Courts,  to  testify  against 
criminals  or  violators  of  ordinances.  On  one  of  a  hundred  excuses  he  may  be 
ordered  to  don  citizen's  garb  and  play  detective  on  ball  players,  hucksters,  and 
others.  Rain  or  shine,  in  temperate,  as  well  as  in  inclement  weather,  he  can  be 
called  away  at  any  instant  to  help  form  fire  lines  in  his  own  or  another  precinct;  a 


Crossing  Broadway. 


parade,  unusual  excitement  among  workmen,  weddings,  festivals,  political  gath- 
erings, election  business,  (juotas  reduced  by  funerals  or  merrymaking  in  other 
commands,  excursions,  and  a  hundred  other  matters  conspire  against  his  ease 
"on  reserve."  At  noon  he  is,  in  time  of  peace,  and  providing  he  be  at  the 
station  house,  allowed  one  hour  for  dinner.     At  one  o'clock  he  must  go  on  post 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Familiar  Incidents  ir)  the  Life  of  a  New  York  Policeman. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


473 


again,  brushed,  blacked,  clean-shirted,  and  trim.  At  six  p.  m.  he  goes  back  to  the 
station  house,  has  *ip  to  quarter  past  seven  for  supper,  and  is  back  "on  reserve  " 
until  midnight.  Sleep  claims  him,  and  he  is  lucky  if,  at  a  quarter  to  twelve, 
when  the  doorman  rounds  his  section — a  command  is  divided  into  two  platoons, 
and  each  platoon  into  two  sections — he  has  not  been  called  from  bed  to  do  fire 
or  other  duty.  John  Brown  is  now  a  sidewalk  inspector  from  midnight  to  six 
A.  M.  Ho  has  a  sinecure,  has  he?  Let  us  glance  at  some  of  his  duties. 
In  any  precinct  but  the  Twenty-fourth,  Twenty-fifth,  Twenty-sixth,  Nine- 
teenth-Sub, the  Second  Precinct,  the  five  I'olice  Courts,  the  Sanitary  Com- 
pany, the  Special  Service  Squad,  and  generally  the  Thirty-second,  Thirty- 
third,  Thirty-fourth  and  Thirty-fifth  Precincts,  which  he  may  not  belong  to 
unless  he  has  seen  years  of  service,  and  merits  and  secures  a  "  j*?/"/ place,"  or 
unless  he  be  a  horseman,  he  has  to  "try  his  doors."  That  is  to  say  he  should 
ascertain  beyond  i)eradventure  that  no  aperture  through  which  a  thief  could 
enter,  whether  it  be  windows,  areas,  area  gates,  door,  grating,  cellar  flaps,  or  coal 
chutes,  is  open  or  unsecured.  Tiiis  he  is  to  do  "frequently  "  during  his  tour  of 
duty,  according  to  the  rules.  While  doing  this  he  may  be  called  upon  to  give 
advice,  make  arrests,  aid  the  sick  and  injured,  quell  brawls,  and  he  should  dis- 
cover fires,  burglaries,  and  jiropcrty  imperiled  in  various  ways.  All  this  time 
he  should  resist  temptation.  Free  lic^uor  is  his  at  every  saloon  on  his  post, 
providing  he  return  the  compliment  by  closing  his  eyes  to  violations  of  the  ex- 
cise law. 

He  has,  at  every  step,  some  rule  to  observe,  and  may,  on  the  report  of  a 
Roundsman  or  superior  officer,  be  tried,  convicted,  reprimanded,  or  fined  from 
one-half  of  a  dax  's  pay  to  his  pay  for  a  montli,  for  intoxication,  disrespect  toward 
superior  officers  or  citizens,  "  neglect  of  duty  " — a  comprehensive  term,  violation 
of  any  one  of  the  hundreds  of  rules,  disobedience  of  orders,  "conduct  unbe- 
coming an  officer,"  sitting  down,  conversing,  not  properly  patroling,  absence  from 
post,  or  "  breach  of  discipline."  The  monotony  of  such  an  existence  is  often 
varied  by  tussles  with  refractory  prisoners.  Some  drunkards,  especially  females, 
never  think  a  carouse  satisfactory  without  winding  it  up  with  provoking  arrest, 
and  trying  issues  with  a  "  cop,"  and  this  means  for  the  Policeman  violent  walking 
exercise,  varied  with  wrestles,  blows,  kicks,  tumbles  in  the  street  and  gutter, 
torn  clothes,  and  general  demoralization  by  the  time  the  prisoner  is  landed  at 
the  station  house.  Now  and  then  an  officer  has  to  tote  a  couple  of  drunkards 
each  as  refractory  and  belligerent  as  the  other,  and  he  is  in  the  position  of  a 
man  with  two  lusty  shoats  bent  on  going  their  own  way,  and  "led"  by  a  string. 
In  the  day  time  John  Brown  is  not  so  much  hampered  by  "trying  doors,"  but 
any  relief  in  this  respect  is  made  up  by  the  vigilance  required  in  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  ordinances,  the  Policeman's  bete  iwire.  John  Brown  leaves  the 
street  at  six  a.  .m.  If  he  has  prisoners  he  conquers  sleep,  goes  to  court,  and 
awaits  the  pleasure  of  the  Magistrate.  It  is  his  "  day  off,"  that  is  to  say,  he 
does  not  go  to  the  station  house  in  quiet  times  until  six  p.  m.,  but  he  may  be 
robbed  of  his  rest  by  dilatory  court  proceedings,  witness  duty,  riots,  parade 
duty,  trials  at  Police  Headquarters,  etc.  At  six  p.  m.  he  goes  out  until  midnight, 
and  then  it  is  his  "  morning  home,"  or  in  other  words  he  has  no  [)atrol  duty  until 


474 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


eight  A.  M.  Ordinary  patrol  duty  is  made  all  the  more  irksome  when  the  com- 
mand is  short-handed,  because  of  "nights  off,"  which  occur  once  a  month  per 
man,  sickness,  etc.,  by  "  doubling  up  "  or  requiring  one  Patrolman  to  cover  two 
posts.  This  doubles  his  duties  and  responsibilities.  After  eight  a.  m.  on 
"morning  home"  days,  he  is  on  patrol'till  one  p.  m.,  when  he  goes  to  dinner  till 
a  quarter  past  one  p.  m.  He  is  again  "  on  reserve  " — this  is  his  "  short  day  " 
— till  midnight,  when  he  goes  on  post  till  six  a.  m.  Then  comes  another 
"day  off;"  he  follows  with  patrol  duty  from  six  p.  m.  till  midnight;  is  a  "re- 
serve" from  midnight  to  six  A.  M.,  and  takes  his  "dog  watch  "  anew  from  six 
A.  M.  to  eight  a.  m. 


Drilling  a  Squad  of  Policemen. 

When  John  Brown  has  been  a  year  on  the  force  he  will  begin  to  appreciate 
a  Patrolman's  duties,  and  be  indifferent  to  those  who  malign  the  force,  except 
when  he  is  personally  attacked.  By  this  time  he  will  have  acquired  a  certain 
practical  and  theoretical  knowledge  of  surgery,  and  be  in  a  small  degree  a  diag- 
nostician. This  from  cases  he  has  had  under  his  observation  and  lectures  on 
First  Aid  to  the  Injured  that  he  has  attended.  He  will  know  much  of  the  prac- 
tice of  Criminal  and  Police  Courts,  and  have  become  careful  in  making  arrests. 
He  will  have  passed  through  perils  and  exposed  life  and  limb  often  if  he  has 
done  average  duty  in  a  brisk  precinct.  It  is  more  than  probable  he  will  have 
seen  the  sunny  side  of  burglar  catching,  and  record  a  "night  off"  —  the  reward 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


475 


irl*any  well  regulated  command  for  such  an  exploit.  At  any  rate,  he  has  shared 
in  the  capture  of  seventy  thousand  prisoners,  of  whom  twenty  thousand  were 
drunkards  and  five  thousand  felons,  each  of  whom,  with  State  Prison  staring 
him  in  the  face,  would  have  taken  any  chance,  even  to  the  life  of  the  officers, 
and  sacrificed  even  his  own  limbs  or  life  to  escape.  Of  the  felons,  seven  hundred 
were  guilty  of  felonious  assaults,  seven  hundred  burglars,  one  hundred  forgers, 
ninety  to  one  hundred  murderers  or  slayers  of  others  in  some  fashion,  one  thou- 
sand had  attained  such  dignity  in  thieving  as  to  be  charged  with  grand  larceny, 
and  he  may  have  come  across  one  or  more  of  a  score  of  escaped  prisoners.  He 
sent  in  his  share  of  the  two  hundred  thousand  reports  of  violation  of  ordinances, 
and  "  took  in  "  some  of  the  seven  thousand  prisoners  arrested  for  violation  of  the 
"Aldermen's"  Laws,  the  Excise  Laws,  the  Sanitary  Code,  the  Lottery  Law,  the 
Pool  Law,  the  United  States  Internal  Revenue  Law,  the  School  Law,  the  Election 
Law,  the  Theatre  Law,  the  Building  Law,  the  Hotel  Law,  the  Penal  Code,  the  Rail- 
road Law,  the  Gambling  Laws,  the  Opium  Laws,  the  Barrel  Act,  the  Squatter's 
Law,  and  the  Game  Law.  It  is  more  than  probable  he  has  been  tried  and  has 
contributed  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  of  '*  sick  time  "  and  the 
funds  derived  from  fines.  He  has  shared  in  securing  one  thousand  buildings, 
left  open  in  various  ways;  has  attended  many  of  the  fifteen  hundred  fires;  taken 
some  of  the  twenty-five  hundred  lost  children  to  the  Central  Office  matron,  buy- 
ing them  dainties  on  the  way  to  keep  them  in  good  humor,  and  may  have  done 
the  "  baby  act,"  by  carrying  tenderly  and  well  swathed,  an  abandoned  foundling, 
to  the  same  place,  and  borne  the  ridicule  of  the  vulgar  while  exciting  the  ad- 
miration of  the  proper  minded.  Some  of  the  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  property  turned  over  to  the  Property  Clerk,  as  taken  from  prisoners  or 
found  in  the  street,  has  passed  through  his  hands;  and  of  the  five  thousand  five 
hundred  persons  succored  by  the  Police,  he  has  seen  men  and  women  suffocated, 
sick,  injured  by  assaults,  in  fits,  knocked  down,  injured  by  falls,  cut,  scalded,  shot, 
burned,  stabbed,  crushed,  rescued  from  the  water,  frozen  and  benumbed,  and 
otherwise  helpless;  and,  if  John  Brown  is,  as  ninety-nine  out  of  one  hundred 
officers  are,  large-hearted,  plucky,  attentive  to  duty,  po.ssessed  of  an  esprit  du 
corps  —  which  is  a  shield  against  malignant  criticism  and  falsehood  —  healthy  and 
ambitious,  he  will  either  die  in  harness,  or  linger  a  little  while  on  a  pension  and 
go  to  Heaven,  just  as  certainly  as  his  foes,  who  are  not  all  there,  to  whom  apply 
the  lines: 

A  rogue  ne'er  felt  the  halter  draw. 
With  good  opinion  of  the  law. 

Joel  B.  Erhardt,  United  States  Marshal  and  ex-Police  Commissioner,  at  the 
banquet  given  by  the  Police  Inspectors  and  Captains,  at  Delmonico's.  on  January 
21,  1884,  spoke  to  the  toast  of  "the  Police."  Speaking  for  the  Police  force 
generally,  he  said: 

"  Now,  we  do  not  think  we  are  a  bad  lot  of  men.  Superintendent,  nor  In- 
spector, nor  Captain,  Sergeants,  nor  Patrolmen.  In  the  first  place  we  are  men 
who  do  their  work  in  uniform,  under  rules  and  regulations  prescribed,  and  which 
we  are  bound  to  ol)ey.  We  are  charged  with  the'  enforcement  of  all  laws.  Fed- 
eral, State  and  Municipal.     We  are  a  very  hard  working  class  ;  once  a  year, 


476 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


of  late  years,  we  have  permission  to  give  a  dinner,  and  a  few  of  us  assemble  as 
you  see  us;  at  twelve  to-night  we  shall  again  l)e  on  our  posts,  there  to  remain. 
Almost  all  of  us  have  families,  and  try  to  bring  up  our  children  so  that  they  will 
not  fall  under  the  ban  of  the  law,  or  in  the  custody  of  our  successors;  we  send 
them  to  school,  and  we  clothe  them  as  well  as  we  are  able.  We  have  a  home, 
not  a  very  large  one— still  it  is  a  home  ;  and  we  are  not  well  off  in  the  world's 
goods;  once  in  a  great  while  some  kind  friend  gives  one  of  us  a  point,  and  we 
make  a  few  hundred  dollars;  but,  generally,  we  get  pricked,  and  attend  to  our 


Mounted  Policeman  Stopping  a  Runaway  Team. 


legitimate  business.  There  is  no  class  of  citizens  who  fall  from  grace  less  fre- 
([uently  than  we,  and  we  are  never  better  pleased  than  when  the  morals  of  society 
improve  and  we  have  no  cause  to  make  arrests. 

"  Please  to  remember  that  when  the  old  world  has  done  with  her  criminals 
they  seek  our  shores,  so  that  we  have  some  of  the  worst  of  the  world,  which,  with 
the  aid  of  the  best  commanded  and  managed  Detective  force  in  the  world,  we 
keep  in  sul)jection  or  in  jail;  while  we  have  the  real  po])ulation  of  New  York,  we 
have  the  floating  i)opulation  of  the  cities  in  close  proximity,  giving  a  population 
of  nearly  two-and-a-half  millions  to  protect  and  watch. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


477 


■*  "Our  hours  of  duty  vary  a  little — we  have  a  long  day  for  patrol  and  a  short 
one — but  we  are  always  on  duty,  subject  to  call  at  any  hour  of  the  night  or  day. 
We  cannot  change  our  residences  without  notice  to  the  Board  of  Police,  and  we 
are  obliged  to  change  if  we  are  transferred,  if  we  ever  expect  to  see  our  fireside; 
so  that  we  have  no  settled  habitation.  We  are  out  in  all  sorts  of  weather,  often 
unprepared,  and  from  exposure  we  have  lost  about  seventy  within  the  last  few 
years.  This  is  aside  from  the  death  rate;  and  we  have  had  six  killed,  and  any 
number  stabbed  or  maimed.  As  we  are  not  permitted  to  engage  in  any  other 
business  our  income  is  always  limited.  We  have  a  few  days  vacation  annually, 
and  at  the  end  of  five  years  we  are  fit  for  nothing  else  than  to  be  a  Policeman. 
We  thus  lose  many  social  rights,  such,  for  instance,  as  assembling  together, 
and  have  not  even  the  right,  as  a  body,  to  petition. 

"If  you  will  peruse  recent  history  you  will  see  how  much  crime  we  have  de- 
tected and  punished,  and  it  requires  no  great  stretch  of  imagination  to  realize 
how  much  we  have  ])revented. 

"  We  ask  you,  the  legislature,  to  pay  all  of  our  men  the  same  salary  when  they 
perform  the  same  work.  Now,  this  is  fair.  And  we,  here  assembled,  must  not 
forget  the  twenty-seven  hundred  Policemen  on  duty  in  this  city,  who  patrol 
their  posts  as  regularly  and  continuously  as  the  great  dipper  in  the  sky  above  us, 
which  knows  no  setting — some  of  them,  after  deducting  expenses  of  uniform 
and  other  necessaries,  net  two  dollars  and  thirty-seven  cents  per  day,  while  others 
only  one  dollar  and  twenty-eight  cents.  This  is  not  fair;  it  is  scandalous.  Do 
not  be  misled  by  the  alleged  price  of  cheap  labor — ours  is  not  cheap  labor;  it  is 
labor  of  the  highest  order.  We  act  instantly  as  a  committing  Magistrate  and 
Policeman  in  the  same  breath;  we  are  acquainted  with  Federal,  State  and  city 
laws,  and  are  bound  to  keep  pace,  as  far  as  possible,  with  the  decisions  of  the 
Courts;  we  are  bound  to  learn  the  rules  of  evidence  so  as  to  be  able  to  apply 
them  to  the  case  in  hand;  to  say,  therefore,  that  our  labor,  which  knows  no  rest, 
can  be  gauged  by  the  market  value  of  a  porter  who  unlocks  doors  and  sweeps 
the  floor,  is  not  sound  reasoning.  Nor  should  you  be  misled  by  those  who  cry 
that  the  taxes  are  high;  if  they  are  we  did  not  make  them;  on  the  contrary,  our 
efforts  and  our  labor  keep  them  as  low  as  they  are;  our  eyes,  which  are  never 
closed  in  slumber,  prevent  small  as  well  as  large  public  thefts.  And  pertinent  to 
this  is  the  statement  which  the  Comj)troller  told  me  not  long  since,  that  with  the 
increase  of  the  Sinking  P'und,  New  York  City  will  be  free  from  debt  in  another 
eighteen  years. 

"We  ask  you  to  provide  means  for  those  of  us  who  are  broken  down  in 
the  service  of  the  State — some  have  been  on  the  force  twenty-five  up  to  forty 
years — and  the  service  in  which  we  have  participated  would  sound  like  a  romance. 

"  Their  associate  and  commander  for  over  three  years — commander  by  reason 
of  power  delegated  to  me  by  my  colleagues — my  first  acquaintance  ripened  into 
a  friendship,  on  my  part,  which  will  last  as  long  as  I  shall  live.  I  found  them 
obedient  without  being  servile;  I  found  them  tractable  and  honest,  courteous  and 
uncomplaining;  and  1  take  pleasure  in  stating  whenever  an  officer  was  sent  for 
and  asked  for  facts,  he  never  told  me  a  lie:  decline  to  answer  he  might,  but 
answering,  he  told  the  truth. 

"  I  could  tell  you  of  their  past,  which  comes  down  to  us  glorious,  and,  with 
the  additional  lustre  of  our  times,  will  pass  to  posterity  increasing  in  splendor 
and  brilliancy.  Were  you  to  ask  me  of  the  battles  they  had  fought,  their  tat- 
tered flag,  the  undulating  ground  in  the  valley  of  the  James  and  Shenandoah  or 
Spottsylvania,  would  answer  more  eloquently.  Were  you  to  ask  me  of  the  riots 
or  incipient  revolution  they  have  prevented  or  overcome,  let  your  own  memory 
answer  that  from  T863  down  to  the  threatened  eruption  which  did  not  take 
place  in  1876,  when  Pittsburgh  and  our  western  cities  were  in  flames,  v/ith  a 
larger  communistic  population  than  elsewhere  in  the  country  and  every  oppor- 


478 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


tunity  to  do  their  work,  the  power  and  discipline  of  the  Police  force  of  the 
present  prevented  a  second  conflagration,  and  bloodshed  which  would  have  far 
exceeded  the  cruelties  of  1863.  What  prevented  it  is  the  knowledge  that  when 
the  Police  force  of  the  present  charge,  they  know  nothing  but  duty,  and  ties  of 
friendship,  of  kindred,  of  religion,  count  as  nothing  to  stay  their  progress  in 
enforcing  the  law — they  are  irresistible. 

"  They  are  a  keen,  wiry,  clean-cut  set,  with  perceptive  faculties  sharpened  by 
contact  with  the  world,  who  wish  to  do  right,  and  who  will  always  do  right  if  the 
politicians  will  let  them  alone.  Far  be  it  from  me  to  cast  a  slur  on  politi- 
cians; politics  is  a  noble  profession;  and  he  is  a  poor  American  citizen  who  is 
not  a  politician,  and  is  not  proud  of  being  one;  but  neither  they  nor  their  ways 
have  place  in  the  discipline  or  movements  of  an  army  which  is  always  in  line  of 
action  and  always  engaged.  For  so  long  "  As  master  passions  in  the  breast,  like 
Aaron's  serpent,  swallow  all  the  rest,"  so  long  as  restless,  ignorant  and  frail  hu- 
manity shall  fall,  so  long  there  must  be  a  body  of  men,  well  organized,  subject 
to  rigid  discipline,  doing  sentry  duty  or  sleeping  on  their  arms,  and  the  directors 
of  that  body  have  the  right  to  say  to  camp-followers:  You  shall  not  tamper  with 
our  men — and  if  they  still  persist,  the  culprits  should  be  held  up  to  the  execra- 
tion of  honest  men,  put  in  the  pillory  with  slit  ears  and  punctured  noses. 

"  As  Dickens'  character.  Tiny  Tim,  says:  'God  bless  them  all,  every  one  of 
them.'  " 

Those  who  sneer  when  the  life  of  a  Policeman  is  called  a  hard  one  would  do 
well  to  read  the  following  regulations: 

Rule  550. — Each  member  of  the  Police  force  shall  devote  his  whole  time 
and  attention  to  the  business  of  the  department,  and  is  expressly  prohibited  from 
following  any  other  calling,  or  being  employed  in  any  other  business.  Although 
the  members  of  the  force  are,  by  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  service,  relieved 
at  certain  hours  from  the  actual  performance  of  duty  on  ordinary  occasions,  yet 
they  are  held  to  be  at  all  times  on  duty;  and  must  be  prepared,  while  relieved  as 
aforesaid,  to  act  immediately  on  notice  that  their  services  are  required. 

Rule  594. — Each  member  of  tlie  force  shall  be  deemed  to  be  always  on  duty, 
subject  to  such  relief  therefrom  as  shall  be  allowed  by  proper  authority;  and  the 
same  responsibility,  as  to  the  suppression  of  disturbances  and  the  arrest  of  of- 
fenders, rests  upon  them  when  not  in  uniform,  as  when  in  uniform  on  post  duty. 

No  better  idea  ot  the  risks  run  by  officers  can  be  had  than  by  a  perusal  of 
one  of  the  monthly  reports  of  the  Police  Surgeons.  Take  for  example  that  of 
a  recent  one,  so  as  to  illustrate  how  a  Patrolman's  life  exposes  him  n(  t 
only  to  wounds  and  broken  limbs,  but  to  sickness:  It  appears  that  in  one  month 
eight  men  were  suffering  from  sprains,  sixty-one  from  rheumatism,  one  from 
malarial  fever  contracted  from  a  Police  station  being  badly  drained;  six  from 
contusions  received  from  vehicles,  struggles  with  refractory  prisoners,  etc. ;  two 
from  bad  bruises,  six  from  pneumonia,  twenty-six  from  bronchitis,  sixteen  from 
injuries  due  to  falls,  nineteen  from  severe  colds,  three  from  incised  wounds, 
seven  from  fractured  limbs,  and  fourteen  from  phthisis,  the  result  of  duty  in  all 
weathers  and  neglect  of  colds,  because  of  a  desire  to  continue  to  draw  full  pay 
by  doing  duty  when  unfit  for  it. 

A  thousand  examples  of  the  gritty,  plucky,  manly  stuff  the  "  common  cop  " 
is  made  of,  might  be  given.  Here  are  half  a  dozen  taken  at  random:  On  the 
thirty-first  of  May,  1879,  Officer  V.  H.  Marron,  of  the  Twenty-first  Precinct, 
encountered  an  ex-convict,  Joseph  Murphy,  who  "  owned  the  street  "  and  terrified 


1.  WilUcr  Hat.    2.  Summer  Hat.    3.  Day  Slick.    4.  Shield.    5.  Revolver.    6.  Nicht  Slick.    7.  Rosewood  Baton 
for  Parade.    8.  Belt  and  Frog.    9.  Nippers.    10.  New  Style  UandcufTs. 

Part  of  a  Policeman's  Equipment. 


48o 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


law-abiding  citizens.  The  officer  could  have  knocked  the  fellow  insensible, 
and  made  his  task'of  taking  him  to  the  station  house  easy  and  devoid  of  danger, 
but  he  treated  the  felon  decently,  to  be  assaulted,  shot  or  knocked  down,  and 
severely  injured.  But  Murphy  went  to  the  station  house,  nevertheless,  Marron's 
hand  on  his  collar.  Marron  was  laid  up.  In  March,  1880,  Officer  Martin  Fin- 
nerty,  of  the  Twentieth  Precinct,  had  a  desperate  tussle  in  Fortieth  Street,  near 
Eighth  Avenue,  with  an  ex-convict,  Thomas  Tuite,  who  tried  to  kill  Finnerty  with 
a  pistol,  and  inflicted  one  wound,  but  Tuite  was  subdued,  and  Finnerty  went  to 
the  West  Thirty-seventh  Street  Station  House  to  lock  him  up  and  call  for  a 
surgeon  for  himself. 


.  .CIiur>CIaflc  Pf...J»mt. 

Reduced  fac-simile  of  a  Policeman's  Certificate  of  Appointment. 

Not  less  heroic  was  the  conduct  of  Officer  J.  J.  Reilly,  of  the  Eighteenth 
Precinct,  who  struggled  with  a  desperado,  John  Ruddy,  on  the  fifth  of  September, 
1880,  after  he  had  dangerously  stabbed  him,  and  persisted  in  escorting  him  to  the 
East  Twenty-second  Street  Station  House,  when  he  should  have  been  in  the  care 
of  a  surgeon.  Officer  C.  S.  Pike,  of  the  Fifth  Precinct,  tackled  a  desperate 
burglar,  William  Livingstone,  at  dawn  on  the  nineteenth  of  September,  1881,  at 
West  Broadway  and  Franklin  Street,  and  immediately  received  what  was  for 
some  time  considered  a  fatal  wound  in  the  abdomen,  but  he  sprang  on  the  man, 
disarmed  him,  and  took  him  to  the  Leonard  Street  Station  House,  to  faint  as 
soon  as  he  arraigned  his  would-be  assassin  before  the  Sergeant  on  duty.  Detec- 
tive Sergeant  Jacob  Tooker  will  never  again  be  the  man  he  was  on  the  fourteenth 
of  February,   1882,  before  he  confronted  and  commanded  to  halt  Thomas 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


481 


rfennessy,  a  burglar,  who  had  laid  concealed  in  a  house  that  the  officer  had  watched, 
llennessy  was  prepared,  for  he  had  a  cocked  revolver  in  his  pocket, 
and  his  first  act  was  to  fire  at  tlic  officer  and  wound  him  dangerously  in 
the  head.  Tooker  held  on  to  the  man  after  disarming  him,  and  might  have  killed 
him  had  he  willed  it,  but  he  forbore  to  harm  him,  and  two  processions  went  to 
the  station  house,  one  with  the  prisoner  and  the  other  with  the  wounded  officer. 
Tooker  was  laid  up  a  year  by  his  injury,  and  at  times  he  is  compelled  to  abstain 
from  all  duty. 

The  best  example  of  Police  grit  ever  exhibited  can  be  found  in  the  case  of 
Sergeant  John  Delaney,  of  the  Nineteenth  Precinct.  On  the  second  of  January, 
1883,  he  was  virtually  a  Patrolman  of  the  Tombs  Police  Court  Squad,  although  he 
had  the  rank  of  Acting  Sergeant.  He  had  been  highly  and  honorably  mentioned 
three  years  before,  for  risking  his  life  to  save  that  of  George  McFadden,  a  boy, 
at  the  foot  of  East  Thirty-third  Street,  and  had  received  the  gold  medal  from 
Congress,  On  the  day  above  mentioned,  Delaney  was  given  a  war- 
rant for  the  arrest  of  a  man  who  had  swin- 
dled a  provincial  visitor  at  the  low  groggery, 
No.  144  Hester  Street,  and,  while  seeking 
the  rascal,  encountered  Patrick  McGowan,  a 
burly  ruffian  employed  by  "  Billy  "  McGlory 
at  Armory  Hall.  McGowan  was  at  that 
stage  of  drunkenness  when  men  become 
brutal.  Delaney  refused  to  drink  with  him, 
and  was  followed  up-stairs  by  McGowan, 
who  attacked  him  on  the  landing,  and  laid 
open  his  head  with  a  pistol  butt.  Delaney 
was  as  nothing  in  the  ruffian's  hands,  as  he 
was  very  low  with  a  pulmonary  trouble  con- 
tracted in  the  saving  of  the  boy  McFadden. 
But  when  McGowan  went  away,  exulting,  to 
escape  in  a  carriage,  in  which  sat  a  strumpet 
with  whom  he  had  caroused  during  the  night,  Delaney  crawled  down 
stairs,  and,  hailing  McGowan  as  he  was  entering  the  vehicle,  commanded  him  to 
halt,  and  advanced  on  him.  McGowan  replied  foully  and  sprang  into  the  carriage, 
telling  the  driver,  a  "night  hawk,"  to  go  on.  Delaney  followed,  to  be  shot  in 
the  eye  through  the  rear  window  of  the  carriage  and  disfigured  for  life.  An  in- 
stant later  he  fired,  killing  McGowan.  Delaney  has  not  yet  recovered  from  his 
injury,  but  he  was  rewarded  by  substantial  promotion. 

On  the  twenty-second  of  last  August,  Officer  Patrick  Rabbett,  of  the  Twenty- 
second  Precinct,  arrested  a  man  in  West  Forty-seventh  Street,  for  robbery,  and, 
while  taking  him  to  the  station  house,  was  stabbed  by  John  Connors.  He  would 
have  landed  both  in  a  cell  but  for  Connors,  who  beat  off  the  officer,  to  be 
arrested  and  "taken  in." 

The  new  Civil  Service  rules,  in  their  application  to  the  Police  Department, 
caused  no  little  trouble  and  confusion  at  first.  These  regulations  went  into 
effect  on  August,  29,  1884. 


Sergeant  John  Delaney. 


482 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Schedule  C,  regulation  18,  provides,  first,  that  an  applicant  for  a  place  in  the 
Police  Department  must  present  his  application  to  the  Police  Commissioners, 
giving  full  particulars  of  his  qualifications,  accompanied  by  testimonials  that  he 
is  a  man  of  good  moral  character,  of  solder  and  industrious  habits,  and  never 
known  to  be  guilty  or  convicted  of  any  criminal  act  or  disorderly  conduct. 
Those  who  sign  these  testimonials  must  consent  that  their  certificates  may  be 
made  public,  and  they  must  be  willing  to  furnish  any  other  information  respect- 
ing the  applicant  that  they  may  possess.  Each  application  must  be  accompanied 
by  a  full  description  of  the  applicant,  a  thorough  description  of  his  physical  quali- 
fications, and  various  particulars  of  his  life,  amounting  to  a  considerable  autobio- 
graphy. The  applicant  must  swear  that  he  has  not  promised  to  pay  for  any  aid  or 
influence  toward  procuring  his  appointment.  The  character  of  the  applicant  must 


[{II 

Police  Trial  Room. 

be  inquired  into  by  the  Captain  of  the  precinct  in  which  he  resides,  and  his  physical 
qualifications  must  be  certified  to  by  the  examining  surgeons.  The  applicarvt  is 
questioned  closely  as  to  the  diseases  with  which  he  or  his  family  may  have 
been  afflicted.  He  must  tell  whether  he  has  had  fits  or  injury  of  the  head  or 
spine,  or  piles  or  rheumatism.  His  stature  must  not  be  below  five  feet  seven 
inches.  He  must  have  at  least  thirty-three  inches  circumference  of  chest,  and 
weigh  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  pounds.  Obesity  is  a  good  cause 
for  rejection.  "  There  must  be  a  difference  of  at  least  two  inches  at  forced 
expiration  and  on  full  inspiration."  The  examining  surgeons  must  swear  to  the 
results  of  their  examinations.  Then  there  must  be  a  test  by  the  Examining 
Board  of  the  strength,  activity,  and  physical  capacity  of  the  applicant  by  suit- 
able examination  of  his  strength,  his  swiftness  and  endurance  in  running,  his 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


48? 


skill  in  the  use  of  the  club  and  firing  at  a  mark.  His  general  health,  eyesight, 
and  hearing  are  examined.  He  is  then  ready  for  examination  as  to  further  general 
qualifications,  such  as  habits  and  reputation,  experience,  reading,  writing,  ciphering, 
rules  of  the  Police  Department,questions  relating  to  the  city  government,  location 
of  streets,  public  buildings,  and  other  subjects  respecting  which  strangers  in  the 
city  naturally  inquire.  Here  is  the  luminous  rule  by  which  the  standing  of  tlie 
applicant  is  determined: 

"  The  general  average  sliall  be  ascertained  by  multiplying  tiie  ascertained 
average  standing  of  the  applicant  in  each  qualification  by  the  value  attached, 
and  dividing  the  united  products  by  the  sum  of  the  values  by  ten." 

No  person  whose  standing  on  any  of  the  qualifications  or  obligatory  subjects 
enumerated  above  is  less  than  sixty,  or  whose  ascertained  average  on  all  is  below 
seventy,  shall  be  entered  on  the  eligible  list. 

At  first  no  provision  was  made  for  the  payment  of  the  provisional  or.i)rol)a- 
tionary  corps.  Not  being  Policemen,  they  could  not  either  claim  the  tenure  of 
office  or  receive  the  pay  of  Policemen.  The  law,  as  originally  framed,  deprived 
these  men  of  pay  for  the  first  six  months.  The  law  was  remedied,  making  the 
probationary  period  thirty  days,  and  finally  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportion- 
ment provided  the  necessary  funds  to  pay  the  probation  men  regularly  from  the 
date  of  their  appointment,  the  same  as  the  regular  Police. 

The  quota  of  officers  and  men  allowed  by  law  to  the  Police  Department  is 
as  follows:  One  Superintendent,  four  Inspectors,  eighteen  Surgeons,  thirty-six 
Captains,  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  Sergeants,  eighty  Doormen,  forty  Detective 
Sergeants,  eight  Acting  Sergeants,  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  Roundsmen, 
two  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy-four  Patrolmen;  making  a  grand  total 
of  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety-one. 

The  actual  force  varies  from  this  in  the  following  particulars:  thirty-five  Cap- 
tains, one  hundred  and  forty-seven  Sergeants,  seventy-nine  Doormen,  and  two 
thousand  three  hundred  and  eight  Patrolmen.  The  rest  of  the  force  is  the  same 
as  allowed  by  law.    The  force  is  apportioned  as  follows: 


District 
Courts. 

I 

2 

3 
4 

5 
6 

I 

2 

w 


Inspector.  Sergeants. 


Court  Squads. 

Rounds- 


Men. 

3 

ID 

8 
8 
8 
12 


Doormen. 


Acting 
Sergeants. 


Inspection  District  Office. 
242 
I  4 


S.ANIT.'VRV  CoMP.\NV. 
I  4  42 

Tenement  House  Officers. 

30 

Speci.\l  Service  Squad. 


484 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Pi 


"rccinct.  n'^I^', 
Posts.' 

Men  to 
cover. 

Captain. 

Sergeants. 

Rounds- 
men, 

Total  Pa- 
trolmen. 

Doormen, 

J 

02 

I 

4 

5 

90 

2 

2 

8 

I 

3 

5 

23 

2 

96 

3 

Posts.  18  [ 

I 

3 

6 

102 

X 

4 

3" 

7^ 

I 

3 

5 

0  0 

88 

2 

5 

3° 

70 

I 

4 

4 

87 

2 

7  A 

70 

I 

4 

4 

70 

2 

7 

26 

54 

I 

3 

4 

57 

2 

s 
o 

3" 

74 

I 

4 

4 

74 

2 

9 

1  A 

34 

70 

I 

4 

4 

75 

2 

lo 

^0 

58 

I 

4 

4 

64 

2 

1 1 

2  0 

42 

I 

4 

4 

48 

2 

1 2 

28 

_  0 

58 

I 

4 

4 

66 

2 

'3 

20 

42 

1 

3 

6 

46 

2 

24 

50 

I 

4 

4 

52 

2 

T  ^ 

32 

66 

I 

4 

4 

73 

2 

10, 

^  0 

58 

I 

4 

4 

64 

2 

17 

26 

54 

I 

4 

4 

62 

2 

I  0 

3« 

78 

I 

4 

5 

66 

2 

'9 

28 

58 

I 

4 

5 

64 

2 

20 

28 

58 

I 

4 

5 

62 

2 

2 1 

28 

58 

I 

4 

4- 

62 

2 

2  2 

36 

74 

I 

4 

4 

80 

2 

9 1 
^5 

30 

62 

I 

4 

4 

06 

2 

*>  A 

Steamboat  Patrol 

2 

4 

2 1 

I 

^  c 
■^0 

Broadw 

ay  Squad 

I 

2 

4 

3" 

2 

26 

City  Hall  Squad 

I 

3 

r 
0 

45 

2 

^  1 

36 

74 

I 

4 

4 

00 

2 

28 

28 

58 

I 

4 

4 

"3 

2 

29 

51 

104 

I 

4 

5 

1 06 

2 

30 

17 

36 

I 

4 

4 

41 

2 

31 

26 

54 

I 

4 

4 

55 

2 

32 

25 

52 

I 

4 

4 

56 

2 

33 

16 

34 

I 

4 

4 

37 

2 

34 

12 

26 

I 

4 

4 

27 

2 

35 

12 

26 

I 

3 

3 

26 

2 

In  all  ages  and  all  lands,  those  who  risk  their  lives  or  liberties  to  save  their 
fellow-beings  from  suffering  or  death,  are  accorded  the  highest  praise  and  honor. 
Not  always,  however,  do  such  heroes  receive  such  substantial  recognition  as  their 
deeds  deserve.  Occasionally  a  titled  personage,  or  some  one  still  higher  m 
social  rank,  through  personal  or  political  considerations,  dispense  their  favors 
(jiiite  liberally  in  requital  for  gallant  services.  Such  deeds  as  are  briefly  and 
prosaically  chronicled  in  the  annexed  list  are  worthy  of  the  days  of  chivalry. 
Men  who  can  make  such  sacrifices — who  can  jeopardize  their  health  and  lives  to 
snatch  from  the  jaws  of  death  poor  wretches,  who,  in  a  number  of  cases,  have 
grown  weary  of  life,  are  surely  made  of  that  sterling  stuff  which  distinguishes 
heroes  from  common  men. 

In  their  huinble  way,  these  men  are  more  than  public  benefactors:  always 
on  the  alert,  never  shirking  their  arduous  duties,  they  are  ever  prepared  to 
orotect  the  innocent  and  to  alleviate  suffering. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 
ROLL  OF  HONOR. 


485 


HONOKAHt.K  MKNTION  MADK.  HV  THE  HOARD  OK  POLICE  FOR  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICES  RENDERED 

BY  POLICEMEN. 


Name. 


Michael  Crowley, 
Chas.  Burns, 
Jas.  McAuley,  . 
Geo.  J.  Radford,  . 
Philip  Farley, 
Bernard  Tully.  . 
Win.  H.  McConnclI, 
Marlin  F.  Conlon, 

Jas.  S.  Mead, 
I'eter  Fox,    .     .  . 

John  McElwain, 

John  J.  McGinn,  . 
Thos.  Bradley, 
Edwd.  J.  Buckley, 
Wni.  Henderson, 
Clilhert  Carr, 
Hugh  O'Reilly,  . 
J  no.  H.  McCullash 
NVm.  Schultz,  . 
Thos.  Riley,  . 
August  Browning,  . 
James  Monell, 
Thos.  Muldoon, 
Thos.  Kearney,  . 
Bernard  Kiernan,  . 
J.as.  McAdam, 
Jno.  Lavden, 
Philip  Mohr,  .  . 
Edward  Moloney,  . 
Isaac  Ward,  . 
Patrick  McGrath,  . 
Edwd.  H.  Johnson, 

Patrick  Pendergast, 

Geo.  W.  Gibson, 

Richard  Jackson,  . 
Edwd.  Maloney,  . 
Thos.  Nugent,  . 
Michael  Crowley, 

Owen  Haley, 

Patrick  F.  Byrnes, 
Mich.ael  Walsh,  . 
Jas.  !McCool,  . 
Jno.  Morris, 
Chas.  Hughes, 
Chas.  Watson,  .  . 
Jas.  Walstead,  . 
Rob.  J.  Cromie,  . 

Harrison  Wilson, 

John  Doyle,. 
Jas.  Irving, 
Thomas  S.ampson, 
Philip  F'arley, 


Rank.    Precinct.  Date, 


Patrol 


Del.  Sqd 

Patrol 
Sergt. 
Patrol 


Capt. 

Patrol 
R'dsm'n 


Patrol 


Capt. 
Sergt. 
R'dsm'n 
Patrol 


R'dsm'n 
Patrol 


Capt. 
Patrol 


28 
28 


19 
28 
6 


14 


25 
15 
15 
15 
15 
15 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 


27 

7 

8 
8 
4 
4 

25 
8 
7 

4 

00 


N.VTURE  OK  Service. 


June  12,  )  870 

April  18,  1 87 1 

June  15,  1871 

Aug.  17,  1871 
Jan.  4,  1S72 
Feb.  9,  1872 

April  28,  1872 
Sept.  8,  1872 
Nov.  3,  1873 


18 

Mt'd  Sqd  J 
19 

Det.  Sqd 


Nov.  29,  iSy 


/  Fearless  arrest  of  Jno.  Butler,  who  ^liot 
\     at  them. 

Rescued  child  from  burning  building. 

/  Detection  and  arrest  of  robbers  Cen- 

f     tral  Park  Savings  Bank. 
Arrest  burglar,  risk  of  life,  medal  given. 
Prompt  report  of  break  in  elevated  railway. 

\rrest  of  three  burglars. 

)  Prompt  extinguishment  of  fire,  incen- 

j  diarism. 

I  Brave  in  presence  of  mob  assaulting  him 
f     with  bricks. 

/  Arrest  of  Donohoe,  n\urderer  of  FKw- 
\     ence  Scannell. 


Nov.  23,  1872  Stop  runaway  team  at  risk  of  life,  medal. 


Dec.  30,  1S70 


Jan.  29,  1873 
Mch  28,  1873 

Mch  29,  1873 

April  25,  I 
June  12,  1873 

July  II,  1873 

July  22,  1873 
July  25,  1873 
Aug.  20,  1873 
Aug.  26,  1873 
Oct.  21,  1873 
Dec.  2,  1S73 
Jan.  6,  1874 
an.  6,  1874 

Jan.  17,  1874 

Feb.  4.  1874 


April  24,  1874 


Saved  ten  persons  from  a  burning  build- 
ing, Nos.  718  and  720  Broadway. 


1  Saved  a  number  of  lives  at  a  fire,  Nos. 
'     156  and  158  Mercer  Street. 


Jumped  in  river  at  risk  of  life  and  saveU 
a  man. 

)  Grappled  and  held  an  infuriated  bull — 
\  medal. 

j-  Arrested  two  notorious  burglars. 

873  Arrest  of  Andrew  Cluff. 

Rescued  man  from  drowning. 
/  Arrest  of  17   pickpockets   and  shop- 
f     lifters,  from  May  30  to  July  7,  1873. 
.A.  brave  arrest. 

Rescued  a  man  from  drowning. 
Arrest  of  desperado. 
Arrest  of  two  rullians. 
.\rrest  and  successfully  resisting  a  mob. 
Courage  in  arresting  a  murderer. 
Arrest  mysterious  letter-box  robber. 
Courage  when  assaulted  by  a  mob. 
I  Promptness  and  energy  in  extinguishing 
)     a  fire. 

Coolness  in  rescuing  three  boys  from  a  fire. 


Breaking  up  well  organized  conspiracies 
to  control  stock  operations. 


486 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Name. 


Wm.  G.  Elder,.  . 
Richd.  Fields,  . 
Richd.  King,  . 
Holly  Lyons,  . 
J  as.  Irving,  . 
Thos.  Sampson, 
Philip  Farley,    .  . 
Michael  Walsh,  . 
Daniel  Frazier, 
James  Darwin,  . 
Geo.  \V.  Skidmore, 

Michael  Farley,  . 

Lawrence  Clarson, 

Adam  Corell, 
Patrick  F.  Doyle,  . 
Alonzo  Powell,  . 
Gustavus  Dahlgren 
Abm.  Livingston,  . 
Philip  Reveille,  . 
John  E.  Coombs,  . 
Michael  Gorman, 

Wm.  H.  Thomas, . 

Bernard  TiiUy, 
Michael  Walsh,  . 
Wm.  Burke,. 

Wm.  Londrigan,  . 

George  Davis, 

Barth.  Gaffney, 
James  .Stewart,  . 
Benj.  Mallane,  . 
Thos.  Brennan,  . 
Wm.  Granger,  .  . 
John  O'Brien, 
Bernard  McEveety, 
Thos.  Burkitt,  .  . 
Manus  McBride, . 
J.  W.  Dyckman,  . 

Thos.  W.  Thome, 

John  McGowan,  . 
Chas.  McDonnell,  . 
Peter  P.  Lamb, 
James  Gannon,  . 
("has.  Hughes,  . 
John  Watson, 
Eilvvard  Sullivan,  . 
-Selden  A.  Woodruff, 
Wm.  Darke,    .  . 
Wm.  O'Conner,  . 
Michael  O'Ryan,  . 
James  Gannon,  . 

James  J.  Hart, 

Patrick  Green, 
John  Jefferson, 
John  Delaney. 
Michael  Gorman,  . 


Rank. 


Patrol 


Capt. 
Patrol 


Precinct. 


R'dsm'n 
Patrol 


R'dsm'n 
Patrol 


Inspect'r 

Patrol 
Capt. 
Patrol 

R'dsm'n 
Patrol 


Det.  Sqd 


7 

22 
21 

5 
i8 

i8 

5 
7 
7 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 

19 

19 
7 
16 


26 

18 
18 
9 
9 
19 

19 
9 
18 

25 


19 

8 

4 

Mt'd 


Date. 


Nature  of  Servick. 


April  24, 1874 


April  24,  1874 


June  19, 
Sept.  8, 
Dec.  23, 
Jan.  12, 

Jan.  12, 

Jan.  12, 
Jan.  29, 
Feb.  16, 


1674 
1874 

1874 
1875 

1875 

1875 
1875 
1S75 


Mch  24,  1875 


Sqd 


5 
25 
25 
16 

Mt'd  Sqd 

14 
21 
22 
29 
13 


Mch  24,  1875 

Mch  24,  1875 
Mch  31,  1875 
May  13,  i«75 

May  10,  1875 

May  89,  1875 

June  8,  1875. 
June  10,  1875 
July  2,  1875 

July  20,  1875 

Aug.  3,  1S75 
Aug.  17,  1875 
Sept.  3,  1875 

Oct.  I,  1875 

Oct.  8,  1875 
Oct.  26,  1S75 
Dec.  24,  1S75 
Jan.  21  1876 

Mch  21,  1876 

.Vpril  I,  1S76 
.\pril  I,  1876 
May  2,  1876 
June  20,  1876 

June  26,  1876 

July  21,  1876 
Sept.  19,  1876 
Sept.  IQ,  1876 
Nov.  29,  1876 


) Courage,  etc. ,  in  arrest  and  conviction 
of  gang  of  masked  burglars. 

1  Skill  in  working  up  case  against  "  Steu- 
>  rer,"for  furnishing  burglars'  tools, clear- 
)    ing  up  mystery  of  Sing  Sing  escapes. 

Rescued  boy  from  drowning. 

Courage  in  arresting  John  Branstein. 

Assistance  to  Health  Department. 

Rescued  two  children  from  burning. 
)  Arrest  burglar;  left  sick  bed  and  partly 
)     clothed  at  time. 

/  Brave  arrest  of  desperadoes,  who  shot 
f     at  him. 
For  bravery. 

-  Gallant  conduct  at  fire. 

.Courage  at  fire,  saving  lives  of  nine 
I  children. 

J 

(Courage  at  fire;  saved  nine  lives  No. 

)     1 106  Second  Avenue. 
Series  of  officer-like  acts,  etc. 
Bravery  in  arresting  desperado. 
Pursuing  and  arresting  a  thief. 

/  Risked  life  to  save  two  persons,  runa- 

^     way  horse. 

/  Prompt  action,  assault  on  Deputy 
f     Comptroller  Earle. 

-  Bravery  in  arrest  of  four  burglars. 
Rescue  of  man  from  drowning. 

Rescue  of  boy  from  drowning. 

Arresting  desperado;  McEveety  shot  at 
J     the  time. 
Arrest  of  two  burglars. 
Stopping  runaway  horse. 
Stopping  runaway  at  risk  of  life. 
>^  Zeal,  energy  and  ability  in  case  of  mur- 
)      der  of  .\bm.  Wessbig. 
)  Arrest  of  one  of  the  murderers  of  Abm. 
)  Wessbig. 

Jumped  in  river,  saved  a  man.  ' 
.Stopped  a  runaway  team. 

Extraordinary  courage  in  arresting  bur- 
glars. 

Stopped  runaway  team  at  great  risk. 


\  Arrest  burglar;  severe  and  prolonged 

)  struggle. 

Vrrest  escaped  convict, 
.vrrest  of  murderer. 
Arrest  of  escaped  convict. 
Saving  man  from  drowning. 


OUR  PO/JCF.  PROTECTORS. 


487 


Name. 


Tolin  McDowell, 
William  Murray,  . 
Patrick  F.  liyrnes, 
Christopher  \Vall,  . 
John  ^lu^phy, 
Chas.  McDonnell,  . 
Philip  C.  Uleii,  . 
John  H.  McCullagh. 
tieo.  K.  Holme,  . 
Clemens  Miller,  . 
Jose])h  Johnson,  . 
Philip  C.  Bleil,  . 

l.ester  Lewis, 

John  Nugent,  . 
Thomas  Regan,  . 
John  McSweeny,  . 
Daniel  Fitzpatrick, 
Patrick  Walsh,  .  . 
Geo.  W.  Paddock, 
Peter  O'Neil,    .  . 
Philip  C.  Bleil,  . 
Harry  Green,  . 
Francis  J.  McCarthy 
Gerard  K.  15eekman 
Patrick  McGloin, 

Michael  Gorman,  . 

Thomas  McCormick 
James  Quigley, 
Max  Meiers,  . 
Stephen  O'Brien,  . 

Oliver  Vail,  . 

Michael  Gorman,  . 

Thomas  Byrnes,  . 
James  K.  Price, 

John  Delaney, 

Thos  J.  Crystal,  . 

Patrick  H.  Marron, 

Chaunc'yT.Quintard 
(ieorge  A.  Bennett, 
Michael  Fanning,  . 
John  Delaney, 
John  H.  (ienore,  . 
Aug.  Starboro, 
Gilbert  Carr, 
John  Breen,  . 
Thomas  Farley, 

Martin  Finnerty, 

Richard  Cahill,  . 

Chas.  A.  L.  Schier, 
Daniel  Quigley, 
Miles  Keon,  . 

Ernest  Linderman, 
James  Quigley,   .  . 


Rank.  Precinct. 


Patrol 
Capt. 
R'dsm'n 
Patrol 

Capt. 
Patrol 
Capt. 
Patrol 


R'dsm'n 
Patrol 


R'dsm'n 
Patrol 


Date. 


Capt. 
R'dsm'n 

Patrol 


Sergt. 

R'dsm'n 

Patrol 

R'dsm'n 

Patrol 

R'dsm'n 
Patrol 


R  'dsm'n 
Patrol 

R'dsm'n 
Patrol 


20 

Jan.  12,  1877 

4 

Jan.  12,  1877 

8 

Jan.  12,  1877 

8 
8 

Jan.  12,  1877 

8 

Feb.  27,  1877 

9 

Mch  5,  1S77 

17 

Mch  5,  1877 

19 

Mch  5,  1877 

8 
8 

Mch  30,  1877 

g 

April  13,  1877 

25 

.\pril  13,  1877 

7 
7 

.April  13,  1877 

7 

4 

May  2q,  1877 

9 

Sept.  5,  1877 

25 

Sept.  5,  1877 

8 

Dec.  31,  1877 

S.  B.  S. 

Dec.  31,  1877 

32 

Mch  19,  1878 

20 

Aprils,  1878 

S   T!  <? 
0.  IJ.  0. 

ocpi.   0,  10,0 

16 

Sept.  6,  1878 

13 

^CL*    Of  .0/0 

20 

i8 

Oct.  22,  1878 

13 

Jan.  30,  1879 

13 

jail,  ju,  lo/y 

4 

Jan.  30,  1879 

13 

Feb.  4,  1879 

15 

Feb.  26,  1879 

29 

Feb.  28,  1879 

21 

Mch  25,  1879 

10 

April  25,  1879 

31 

June  22,  1879 

32 

July  22,  1879 

In 

18 

Dec.  23,  1879 

21 

Dec.  23,  1879 

29 

Jan.  25,  1880 

4 
4 

Jan.  25,  1880 

Mt'd  Sqd 

Mch  17,  1880 

13 

ivicn  17,  IQQO 

;  20 

Mch  26,  1880 

21 

May  4,  1880 

24 

1  24 

May  14,  1880 

24 

9 

June  29,  1880 

8 

June  29,  1880 

Nature  of  Service. 


Arrest  burglar  in  act;  officer  shot;  medal. 
Arrest  burglars. 

Rescued  child  from  burning  building. 

\  Rescue  of  man,  wife  and  two  children 

)      from  burning. 

Rescue  of  woman  and  two  children. 

Jumjiing  in  river,  saving  a  man. 

Seizure  of  stolen  pro]ierty. 

Rescue  of  man  from  drowning. 

-  Rescued  two  children  from  burninc. 
) 

Jum])ing  in  river,  saving  drunken  man. 
)  Stopped  runaway  horse  after  being  hurt 
S     by  it. 

)  Rescued  old  people  from  burning  build- 

>  ing  after  great  ditticulty  and  danger; 
)     special  mention  of  Nugent. 
Rescued  man  from  burning. 

Rescued  woman  from  burning. 
Arrest  of  bank  robber. 
.Arrest  of  thief  after  struggle;  wounded. 
Jumped  in  river,  saved  woman. 
Earnest  endeavors  to  arrest  two  thieves. 
Rescued  lady  from  drowning. 
Rescued  man  from  drowning. 
Arrest  of  ex-convict. 

)  Rescued  woman  from  drowning;  risk  of 

i      life  (suicide). 

Saved  life  of  man  assaulted. 

Rescued  man  from  drowning;  risk  of  life. 

Rescued  woman  from  burning. 

Rescued  three  persons  from  burning. 

j  Rescued  from  drowning  a  woman;  risk 

)     of  life  (suicide). 

I  Rescued  woman  and  three  children  from 
)  burning. 

Arresting  highway  robbers;  medal. 
Arrest  of  thief;  property  recovered. 
)^  Stopped  runaway  team,  saving  number 

>  of  lives. 

Arrest  of  notorious  burglar. 

Arrest  of  ex-convict  after  being  shot  at 

>  and  knocked  down. 
Rescued  child  from  drowning. 
Rescued  boy  from  drowning. 
Arrest  of  two  desperadoes. 

Rescued  boy  from  drowning;  risk  of  life. 
Brave  conduct  at  a  lire. 

|-  Arrest  of  murderer  of  Pietro  Balbo. 

Stopped  runaway  team. 

Rescued  man  from  drowning;  risk  of  life. 

)  Arrest  of  escajied  convict;  shot  at  four 

)     times;  wounded. 

)  Rescued  woman  and  five  others  from 
)      burning;  risk  of  life. 

\  Rescued  four  persons  from  drowning; 
^      risk  of  their  own  lives. 

\  Arrest  of  highway  robber  and  live  others, 
)      severely  wounded. 
/  Jumped  in  river  and  saved  man;  risk 
1  f     of  life. 


488 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Name. 


John  McGinley, 
William  Gardner, 
Thos.  B.  Holland, 

Louis  De  Gan,  . 

James  Gannon, 
Patrick  Kearney, 
John  J.  Reilley, 
Thos.  B.  Holland, 
\Vm.  J.  Huston,  . 
Chas.  S.  Pike, 

Thomas  Byrnes,  , 

Richard  J.  Barry, 

M.  F.  Schmittberger. 
Dennis  O'Hara,  . 
Thos.  G'eeson, 
Jacob  Tooker, 
James  Gannon, 
M.  F. Schmittberger 
Wm.  B.  Deeves,  . 
Patrick  Reynolds, 
John  O'Neill,  No.  i 
George  Nolan, 

John  Cottrell,  . 

George  Bicknell,  . 

John  Delaney,  . 

John  T.  Clarker, 
Thos.  Gilbride, 
Herman  Intenian, 
John  Kavanagh, 

Patrick  Rabbit.  . 

John  Sanders,  . 
Wm.  Nelson, 
Chas.  H.  Francis, 
James  K.  Price,  . 
James  J.  Connor, 
James  Dougherty, 
David  H.  Crowley 
Thos.  Byrnes, 
Edward  Slevin, 
Thos.  Dusenberry 
Dennis  O'Hara, 
Oscar  Ha  vie,  . 
James  Taggart, 
(jeorge  Walsh,  . 
John  J.  Meagher, 
George  Gick,  . 
Dennis  Murphy, 
John  Kelly,    .  . 
Andrew  Bradley, 
Thomas  Gilbride, 
John  D.  Herlihy, 

Patrick  Brogan,  . 

Wm.  Wright,  . 


Rank. 

Precinct. 

Date. 

Patrol 

27 
.S.  B.  S. 
Mt'd  Sqd 

Aug.  2,  1880 
Jan.  28,  1881 
Jan.  31,  1881 

" 

S.  B.  S. 

Feb.  15,  1881 

R'dsm'n 
Patrol 

Mt'd  Sqd 

1>  c 

s.  n.  15. 
18 

Mt'd  Sqd 

5 

April  30,  1881 
May  12,  lool 
June  15,  iSSi 
June  15,  1S81 
June  30,  1881 
Sept,  29,  1881 

Inspect'r 

Nov.  15,  1881 

R'dsm'n 

D 

Nov.  30*  1881 

Patrol 

R'dsm'n 
Patrol 

29 
27 
17 
19 

Mt'd  .Sqd 

29 
18 

l-'Cv-.  1001 

Dec.  13,  1881 
Jan.  31,  1882 

r  eo.  21,  looj 

June  7,  1882 
July  7,  1882 

18 
18 

July  31,  1882 

0.   u.  0. 

6 

Sept.  I,  1882 

*  * 

Mfd  Sqd 

Sept.  28,  1882 

R'dsm'n 

1st  Court 

Mch  23,  1883. 

Patrol 

4 
4 

May  22,  1883 

10 
12 

June  I,  1883 

Ann-     T  tRSi 

22 

Sept.  II,  1883 

Capt. 
F'atrol 

R'dsm'n 
Patrol 

23 
2 
32 

Det.  Sqd 
14 
14 

Sept.  22,  1883 
Oct.  27.  1883 
Nov.  5,  1883 
Nov.  25,  18S3 

Dec.  15,  1883 

Sergt. 
Inspect'r 
Sergt. 
Det  Sgt. 
Patrol 

'  * 
•• 

R'dsm'n 

7 

27 
25 
15 
5 
5 
27 
18 
18 
i8 
18 
18 

Dec.  18,  1883 

Dec.  21,  1883 

Jan.  21,  1884 
Jan.  21,  1884 
Ian.  25,  1884 
Feb.  20,  1884 

r  ei).  ZU,  1 004 

Mch  25,  1884 
April  II,  1884 
April  II,  1884 
.April  II,  1884 
April  II,  1884 
April  24,  1884 

Patrol 

27 

Aug.  13,  1884 

S.  B.  S. 

Oct.  2t,  1884 

Nature  of  Service. 


Rescued  man  from  drowning. 

Rescued  man  from  drowning. 
Stopped  runaway  team. 

Mumped  in  river,  saved  man;  risk  of 

S  life. 

.Stopped  runaway  team. 

Jumped  in  river;  saved  two  men. 

Vrrested  desperado;  stabbed  dangerously. 
Stopped  runaway  team. 
Stopped  runaway  team. 
Arrested  burglar;  shot  dangerously. 

/  Detection  and   arrest   of  blackmailer 

f  (medal). 

[  Good  service  at  falling  buildings  in 
j     Grand  Street. 

Arrest  of  thieves;  property  recovered. 

Detection  and  arrest  of  truck  thieves. 

Detection  and  arrest  of  two  burglars. 

Arrest  of  burglars  after  being  shot  at. 

Stopped  runaway  team. 

Arrest  expert  thief,  Michael  Dowdell. 
Rescuing  fourteen  women  and  children 
from  burning  building,  103  Washing- 
ton Street,  on  July  21,  1882;  silver 
medals  given. 
Rescued  woman  and  child  from  burn- 
ing building. 

-Stopped  runaway  horse;  rescued  child. 
After  being  shot,  faint  and  bleeding, 
shot  and  killed  a  ruffian  named  Mc- 
Gowan. 

In  arresting  an  insane  man  who  had 
killed  Patrolman  F  rancis  Mallon. 
Arresting  two  burglars. 
.Saving  boy  from  drowning. 

)  After  being  stabbed,  brought  prisoner 

\     to  station  house. 
Saving  several  persons  from  drowning. 
Stopping  runaway  horse. 
Stopping  runaway  team. 

Arrest  of  thieves;  property  recovered. 


Saving  lives  from  burning  building. 


f 

Saving  lives  from  burning  building. 

\^  Arrest  and  conviction  .of  Edward  G. 
^      Raugh,  for  crime  of  arson. 

Rescued  woman  and  child  from  drowning. 

Stopping  runaway  team. 

Saved  man  from  being  killed  by  falling. 

)  Rescue     of     family     from  burning 

)  building. 

Rescue  of  woman  from  burning  building. 


Saved  four 
building. 


persons    from  burning 


Rescued  a  lady  from  burning  building. 

(  Arrest  of  ruffian,  after  being  knocked 

\     down  and  beaten. 
Rescued  man  from  drowning. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


489 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


SKETCH  OF  THE  POLICE  PENSION  FUND. 


Cre.\ted  by  Act  of  1857. — The  Fund  m.ade  up  of  the  S.\les  of  Unclaimed 
Propertv. — Police  Life  .\nd  Health  Insurance  Fund. — Beneficiaries  of 
THE  Act. — Metropolitan  Reward  Fund. — Police  Life  Insurance  Fund. — 
The  Police  Co.mmissioners  a  Board  of  Trustees. —  I  he  Treasurer  of  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. — Receipts 
AND  Disbursements. —  The  L.^te  Commissioner  Nichols. —  Commissioner 
McClave. — Bookkeeper  George  P.  Gott. — Paying  Pensioners. — Finan- 
cial Statement  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund. 

T^HE  Metropolitan  Police  Act,  1857,  provided  for  the  establishment  of  a  Life 


and  Health  Insurance  Fund,  for  the  benefit  of  Policemen  disabled  by 
wounds  received  in  sers-ice,  or,  if  killed,  for  the  support  of  their  families.  The 
fund  was  made  up  of  the  sales  of  unclaimed  stolen  property,  of  rewards,  and  of 
voluntar}'  contributions,  and  fines  collected  for  violation  of  Sunday  laws.  The 
sums,  in  the  latter  part  of  1858,  received  from  these  sources  amounted  to  two 
thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-three  dollars  and  ten  cents,  a  portion  of  which 
was  invested  in  N  ew  York  City  bonds,  bearing  seven  per  cent,  interest  per  annum. 

There  were  then  two  pensioners  on  the  fund;  one,  the  widow  of  Thomas 
Sparks,  Patrolman,  who  was  killed  by  rioters  on  the  third  of  July,  1857;  the 
other,  the  widow  of  Horatio  Sanger,  who  died  from  wounds  received  while 
attempting  to  arrest  disorderly  persons  in  November,  1857.  From  the  insuffi- 
ciency of  the  fund  in  1858,  neither  had  received  relief.  When  the  revenue 
should  become  adequate,  it  was  proposed  to  pay  them  each  the  interest,  quarter- 
yearly,  on  two  thousand  dollars,  at  six  per  cent,  per  annum. 

The  Police  Life  and  Health  Insurance  Fund  (Chapter  569,  Laws  of  1857) 
provided  that  all  rewards,  fees,  proceeds  of  gifts  and  emoluments  that  might  be 
allowed  by  the  Board  of  Police,  should  be  paid  and  given  for  account  of  extra- 
ordinar)'  services  of  any  member  of  the  Police  force,  and  all  moneys  arising  from 
the  sale  of  unclaimed  goods  should  constitute  a  fund  to  be  called  the  "  Police 
Life  and  Health  Insurance  Fund."  The  persons  who  from  time  to  time  should 
fill  the  office  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Police,  and  that  of  the  Comptroller 
of  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  were  declared  the  Trustees  of  said  fund, 
and  might  invest  the  same  as  they  should  see  fit,  either  in  whole  or  in  part.  The 
following  were  entitled  to  the  benefits  of  this  fund: 

I.  Whenever  any  member  of  the  Police  force,  in  the  actual  performance  of 
duty,  should  become  bodily  disabled,  his  necessarj'  expenses,  on  the  certificate 


49° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Police  Monument,  Cypress  Hill  Cenfietery. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTRCrORS.  49' 

of  a  Police  Surgeon,  stating  the  manner,  cause  and  condition  of  injury,  and  ap- 
proved by  the  Board,  during  the  time  his  disabling  as  aforesaid  should  continue, 
might  become  a  charge  upon  the  fund,  provided  for  in  the  above-mentioned 
chapter. 

2.  If  sucli  injuries  were  likely  to  continue  for  lite,  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
dollars  might  be  charged  upon  the  said  fund  to  be  paid  to  the  i)erson  so 
injured. 

3.  If  any  member  of  the  I'olice  force  should  be  killed  in  the  performance  ot 
his  duty,  or  should  die  from  the  effects  of  any  mjury  received  by  him  whilst  in 
such  performance,  and  that  there  should  be  any  person  absolutely  interested, 
pecuniarily,  in  the  continuance  of  his  life,  a  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  might 
be  chargeable  against  the  said  fund,  to  be  paid  to  the  person  so  interested. 

This  act  was  amended  April  10,  i860,  substantially  as  follows:  All  fines 
im|)osed  by  the  Board  of  Policj  upon  members  of  the  force,  by  way  of  dis- 
cipline; and  all  moneys  remaining  for  the  space  of  one  year  in  the  hands  of  the 
Property  Clerk,  or  arising  from  the  sale  of  unclaimed  goods;  and  all  proceeds  of 
suits  for  penalties,  should  be  deposited  to  the  credit  of  the  Police  Life  Insurance 
Fund.  The  Board  of  Metropolitan  Police,  and  the  Comptrollers  of  the  cities  of 
New  York  and  Brooklyn,  were  declared  the  Trustees  of  the  fund.  Those  whom 
the  fund  were  designed  to  benefit,  and  the  pensions  they  were  entitled  to,  are  as 
follows:  (i)  Any  member  of  the  force  who  should,  in  the  actual  discharge  of  lii> 
duty,  become  permanently  disabled,  so  as  to  render  his  dismissal  from  member- 
ship necessary,  or  if  such  member  became  superannuated  after  ten  years  of 
membership,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  as  an  annuity  was  to  be 
paid  such  member;  (2)  should  a  member  be  killed,  or  die,  from  the  immediate 
effects  of  any  injury  received  by  him  whilst  in  the  discharge  of  duty,  should  he  leave 
a  widow,  or  if  no  widow,  any  child  or  children  under  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  a 
like  sum  by  way  of  annuity  should  become  chargeable  upon  the  said  fund,  to  be 
paid  to  such  widow  so  long  as  she  remained  unmarried,  or  to  such  child  or  chil- 
dren under  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  The  Board,  in  its  discretion,  might  at  any 
time  order  such  annuity  to  cease. 

All  property  and  money  that  should  remain  in  the  custody  of  the  Property 
Clerk  for  the  period  of  six  months  without  any  lawful  claimant  thereto,  after 
having  been  three  times  advertised  in  ])ublic  newspapers,  should  be  sold  at  ])ublic 
auction,  and  the  jjroceeds  of  such  sale  paid  into  the  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund. 

An  amended  Act  (April  25,  1864)  made  similar  provisions  regarding  the 
sources  from  which  the  revenue  should  be  derived.  Moneys  and  unclaimed 
goods  remaining  in  the  possession  of  the  Property  Clerk  one  year  (not  six  months, 
as  above)  and  all  proceeds  of  suits  for  penalties  under  this  amended  act,  should 
be  deposited  and  kept  as  a  fund  to  be  called  the  "  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund." 
The  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Police,  and  the  Com])trolIer  of  the  cities  of 
New  York  and  Brooklyn,  were  declared  the  Trustees  of  the  said  fund. 

The  clause  having  reference  as  to  who  should  be  the  beneficiaries,  and  the 
amounts  they  should  be  entitled  to  by  way  of  pensions,  was  the  same  as  detailed 
in  the  last  paragraph  of  the  preceding  Act. 

An  Act  to  enable  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county  of  New  York  to 


492 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


raise  money  by  tax  for  certain  county  purposes,  and  to  provide  the  auditing  and 
payment  of  unsettled  claims  against  said  county,  passed  the  legislature  April  25, 
1867.  This  act  authorized  the  Board  of  Police  to  offer  rewards  to  induce  all 
persons  to  give  information  which  should  lead  to  the  detection,  arrest,  and  con- 
viction of  persons  guilty  of  homicides,  arson,  or  receiving  stolen  goods  knowing 
them  to  be  stolen;  and  to  pay  such  rewards  to  such  persons  as  should  give  such 
mformation.  Such  rewards  should  be  paid  from  "The  Metropolitan  Reward 
Fund,"  which  fund  should  be  formed  by  investing  from  money  deducted  from 
the  pay  of  members  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  force,  on  account  of  lost  time,  at 
a  rate  not  exceedmg  fifty  cents  per  month  for  each  member  respectively;  to 
which  should  be  added  all  sums  subscribed  or  contributed  by  insurance  com- 
panies and  other  citizens.  The  Commissioners  of  Police  to  be  the  Trustees  of 
the  said  fund,  and  to  invest  and  manage  the  same. 

The  Act  also  authorized  the  Board  of  Police,  in  their  discretion,  to  pay  out 
of  the  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund:  (i)  an  amount  not  exceeding  three  hundred 
dollars,  to  the  members  of  the  force  who  might  be  disabled  while  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  duties.  (2)  In  the  case  of  death  by  injuries,  the  annuities  should 
be  continued  to  the  widow,  or  children,  or  both,  as  the  Board  might  deem  best. 
The  Board  was  constituted  Trustees  of  the  fund. 

An  amendment  to  the  above  chapter,  passed  May  2,  1868,  declared  that 
the  revenue  of  the  Pension  Fund  should  be  derived  from  the  following  sources: 
All  fines  imposed  by  the  Board  of  Police  upon  members  of  the  force, 
by  way  of  discipline,  and  collectable  from  pay  or  salary;  and  all  rewards,  fees, 
proceeds  of  gifts  and  emoluments  that  might  be  paid  and  given  for  account  of 
extraordinary  services  of  any  member  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  force  (except 
when  allowed  to  be  retained  by  such  member);  and  all  moneys  remaining  for 
the  space  of  one  year  in  the  hands  of  the  Property  Clerk,  or  arising  from  the 
sale  of  unclaimed  goods;  and  all  proceeds  of  suits  for  penalties  under  the  Act 
thereby  amended,  should  be  deposited  and  paid  into  the  bank  wherein  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Board  should  keep  an  account.  The  payments  so  made  to 
constitute  a  fund  to  be  called  the  "  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund."  The  Com- 
missioners of  Police  were  declared  the  Trustees  of  the  said  fund. 

The  beneficiaries  of  the  Pension  Fund  were  in  this,  as  in  subsequent  Acts, 
classified  as  follows: 

1.  Any  member  who  should,  whilst  in  the  actual  performance  of  duty, 
become  permanently  disabled,  physically  or  mentally,  so  as  to  be  unfit  for  duty;,  or 
any  such  member  who,  after  ten  years' membership,  should  be  superannuated  by 
age,  or  rendered  incapable  of  performing  Police  duty  by  disease  contracted  with- 
out misconduct  on  his  part. 

Each  were  granted  and  ])aid  a  ])cnsion  not  exceeding  lliree  hundred  dollars 
per  annum. 

2.  If  any  member  of  the  force,  while  in  the  actual  discharge  of  duty,  should 
be  killed,  or  should  die  from  the  effects  of  any  injury  received  by  him  in  like 
manner,  or  should  die  after  ten  continuous  years  of  service  (such  death  not 
being  caused  by  misconduct  on  his  part),  leaving  a  widow,  the  name  of  such 
widow  miglit  be  placed  on  said  pension  roll,  and  a  like  pension  i)aid  to  her  from 


OUR  POrJCF.  PROTECTORS. 


49."? 


said*fund,  so  long  as  she  remained  unmarried.  If  such  member,  dying  as  afore- 
said, should  leave  any  minor  child  or  children,  but  no  widow  (or  if  a  widow, 
then  after  her  death),  the  name  or  names  of  such  child  or  children  under  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  might  be  placed  on  the  i)ension  roll,  and  a  pension  from 
said  fund  paid  to  such  child  or  children;  if  more  than  one,  to  be  divided 
equally  between  them,  such  pension  or  share  of  pensions  to  cease  when  the  said 
child  or  the  children  respectively  arrive  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  or  when- 
ever earlier  discontinued  by  order  of  the  IJoard. 


Bookkeeper  Gotf  s  Office. 

(Pensioners  Drawing  their  Pay.) 

The  charter  of  1870  (April  5)  re-organizing  the  local  government  of  the 
city  of  New  York,  made  some  new  provisions.  After  the  Board  had  ascer- 
tained what  portion  of  the  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund  and  Metropolitan  Re- 
ward Fund,  respectively,  of  the  Metropolitan  Police,  belonged  to,  or  should  be 
set  apart  for,  the  Police  of  the  city  of  New  York,  the  amount  so  found  was 
paid  over  to  the  Chamberlain  of  the  city  of  New  York,  as  trustee,  for  the 


494 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


benefit  of  the  Police  of  the  city  of  New  York,  as  contemplated  in  the  creation 
of  said  funds.  'AH  fines  imposed  by  the  Police  Board  on  the  members,  by  way 
of  discipline,  all  rewards,  fees,  proceeds  of  gifts  and  emoluments  that  might  be 
paid  and  given  for  account  of  extraordinary  services  of  any  members  of  the 
force,  and  all  moneys  remaining  for  the  space  of  two  years  in  the  hands  of  the 
Property  Clerk,  or  arising  from  the  sale  of  unclaimed  goods,  and  all  proceeds 
of  suits  for  penalties  under  this  Act — payments  so  made  should  constitute  a  fund 
to  be  called  the  "  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund." 

The  City  Chamberlain  was  made  the  trustee  of  said  fund,  with  power  to 
invest  the  same,  in  whole  or  in  part,  as  he  should  deem  most  advantageous  for 
the  objects  of  the  fund. 

All  property  and  money  remaining  in  the  custody  of  the  Property  Clerk  for 
the  period  of  six  months  without  any  lawful  claimant,  after  having  been  three 
times  advertised  in  public  newspapers,  should  be  sold  at^public  auction,  and  the 
proceeds  paid  into  the  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund. 

•  A  subsequent  Act,  passed  April  26  of  the  same  year  (1870),  made  further 
provisions  for  an  addition  to  the  sources  of  income  of  the  Police  Life  Insurance 
Fund,  namely:  there  should  be  taken  monthly  out  of  the  moneys  deducted  from 
the  pay  of  members  of  the  force  on  account  of  lost  time,  a  sum  calculated  at 
the  rate  of  fiftv  cents  per  month  for  each  member  of  the  force,  which  sum 
should  be  paid  to  the  City  Chamberlain,  and  invested  by  him  as  part  of  the  Po- 
lice Life  Insurance  Fund.  Such  portion  of  the  "  Metropolitan  Reward  Fund  " 
as  should  belong  to,  or  be  awarded  to  the  city  in  the  division  thereof,  should  be 
paid  over  to  the  City  Chamberlain,  as  trustee  of  the  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund, 
and  become  a  part  of  said  last-named  fund,  and  be  invested  as  such.  The 
Board  of  Police  were  empowered,  in  their  discretion,  by  resolution  to  be  adopted 
by  a  unanimous  vote,  to  dismiss  from  office  any  Captain  or  Sergeant,  and  place 
the  person  so  dismissed  on  the  pension  roll  of  said  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund, 
and  allow  him  an  annual  retiring  pension  of  (not  exceeding  in  amount)  one-half 
the  annual  salary  or  compensation  of  such  office.  In  like  manner,  the  Board 
might  dismiss  any  Patrolman,  and  place  him  upon  the  pension  roll,  and  allow 
him  an  annual  retiring  pension  (not  exceeding  in  amount)  four  hundred  dollars 
per  annum. 

An  Act  concerning  "  The  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund,"  and  the  powers  and 
duties  of  the  Police  Department,  was  passed  March  17,  187 1,  by  which  the  Com- 
missioners of  Police  were  constituted  a  Board  of  Trustees  of  "  The  Police' Life 
Insurance  Fund."  They  might  organize  as  such  Board  by  choosing  one  of  their 
number  to  be  Chairman,  and  appointing  a  Secretary.  The  Treasurer  of  the 
Board  of  Police  should  be  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  Such  Board 
of  Trustees  should  have  cliarge  of  and  administer  said  fund,  and  from  time  to 
time  invest  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof,  as  they  should  deem  most  bene- 
ficial to  said  fund.  The  said  Board  of  Trustees  were  constituted  the  legal  success- 
ors of  the  City  Chamberlain,  and  also  of  the  Board  of  the  Metropolitan  Police. 

The  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund  consisted  of: 

First.  The  capital,  income,  interest,  dividends,  casli,  deposits,  securities  and 
credits,  then  belonging  to  said  fund,  with  the  addition  thereto  from  time  to  time  of — 


OUR  POIJCE  PROTECTORS. 


495 


*  Second.  All  fines  imjioscd  by  the  Hoard  of  Police  ujjon  ineniljcrs  of  tlie 
Police  force;  and 

Third.  All  rewards,  fees,  gifts,  testimonials  and  eniolinnents  that  might 
be  presented,  paid,  or  given  to  any  member  of  the  Police  for  account  of  Police 
service  (except  such  as  should  be 'allowed  by  the  Board  to  be  retained  by  said 
member);  and 

Fourth.  All  lost  or  stolen  moneys  remaining  in  the  hands  of  the  Property 
Clerk  for  tlie  space  of  one  year,  subject  to  the  usual  conditions. 

Fifth.  One  dollar  per  month  for  each  member  of  the  force,  taken  monthly 
by  the  Treasurer  from  moneys  deducted  from  the  i)ay  of  members  on  account 
of  lost  time. 


The  Board  was  given  power,  in  its  discretion,  to  grant  pensions  of  not 
exceeding  three  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  to  the  persons  mentioned,  and  in 
the  manner  previously  descrided. 

George  P.  Gorx  was  born  in  the  City  of  Albany.  Having  received  an 
academical  education,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  was  placed  in  a  hardware 
store,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  the  year  1853.  He  then  came  to 
New  York,  and  entered  the  hardware  house  of  Edward  Corning  &  Co.,  81  John 
Street.  After  a  short  service  he  was  placed  in  a  confidential  position,  which  he 
(ontinued  to  occupy  until  1858,  when  he  resigned.  In  August,  1858,  he  received 
a  notice  to  appear  at  Police  Headquarters,  then  on  the  corner  of  Broome  and 
Elm  Streets,  and  was  offered  the  position  of  Bookkeeper  of  the  Metropolitan ' 
Police.  After  some  hesitation  he  consented  to  accept  the  situation,  and  was 
tluly  appointed  by  the  Board,  which  office  he  still  holds. 


George  P.  Gott. 

(Treasurer';  Bookkeeper.) 


496 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


The  law  was  again  changed  on  April  30,  1873,  wherein  by  resolution  adopted 
by  a  full  Board,  aijy  Inspector,  Captain,  Sergeant,  Patrolman,  or  Surgeon,  if  dis- 
abled in  the  actual  performance  of  duty,  could  be  retired  from  office  on  an 
annual  pension  not  exceeding  in  amount  one-third  their  annual  salary  or  com- 
pensation. But  no  such  Inspector,  Captain,  Sergeant,  Patrolman  or  Surgeon 
should  be  so  retired  from  office  and  placed  on  the  pension  roll  except  at  his 
own  request  in  writing,  unless  due  notice  was  given  him  of  the  intention  so  to  re- 
tire him;  nor  unless  it  should  be  certified  to  the  Board  by  two  of  the  Police 
Surgeons  that  he  was,  in  their  opinion,  permanently,  mentally  and  physically 
incapacitated  from  duty;  nor  unless  the  Board  should  concur  in  such  opinion; 
nor  unless  the  nature  and  origin  of  such  incapacity  should  be  stated  in  the 
resolution  so  retiring  him.  The  Board  was  empowered  to  forfeit  or  withhold 
pay  for  certain  specified  offenses  from  members  of  the  force,  but  no  more  than 
thirty  days  pay  should  be  so  forfeited  for  any  offense.  All  such  fines  to  be  paid 
by  the  Treasurer  of  the  Police  Department  to  the  account  of  the  Police  Life  Insur- 
ance Fund.  All  property  and  money  remaining  in  the  hands  of  the  Property 
Clerk  for  six  months  without  any  lawful  claimant,  after  having  been  advertised 
for  ten  days,  should  be  sold  at  public  auction,  and  the  proceeds  paid  into  the 
Police  Life  Insurance  Fund. 

A  supplementary  Act  to  the  above  was  passed  June  13,  1873.  It  empowered 
the  Police  Board  to  grant  a  pension  to  any  widow  of  any  deceased  member  of 
the  Metropolitan  Police  force,  from  the  time  of  his  death,  if  any  such  member 
was,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  assigned  to  duty  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  his 
widow  at  the  time  entitled  to  receive  a  pension,  provided  that  no  such  pension 
should  have  been  previoifsly  granted. 

The  Legislature,  on  June  4,  1878,  framed  an  Act  to  create  a  Police  Pension 
Fund  for  disabled  and  retired  Policemen  in  the  city  of  New  York,  which,  sum- 


marized,  is  as  follows: 

Widow 
$300. 

'I'o  terminate  wlien  remarried  or  at  dis- 
cretion of  the  Board. 

Of  Member  of  force  killed  in  performance  of  duty, 
or  shall  have  died  from  effects  of  injuries  received 
whilst  in  the  actual  discharge  of  such  duty,  or  died 
after  ten  years'  service,  provided  such  death  shall 
not  have  been  caused  by  mi>conduct  on  liis  part. 

Child  or  Children 
Uniler  i8  years,  not  exceeding  $300.  To 
terminate  at  18  years  of  age,  or  at  dis- 
cretion of  the  Hoard. 

Of  Member  of  Force  killed  or  dying  as  aforesaid, 
but  leaving  no  widow,  or  if  a  widow,  then  after 
her  death  to  such  child  or  children  yet  unjer 
eighteen  years  of  age. 

Policeman 
Not  to  exceed  one-half  nor  less  than  one- 
([uarter  rate  of  compensation.    To  ter- 
minate at  discretion  of  the  Board. 

While  in  performance  of  police  duty,  and  by  reason 
of  same,  and  without  fault  or  misconduct,  become 
liermanently  disabled,  physically  or  mentally,  so 
as  to  be  uniittcd  to  perform  full  police  duty. 

Policeman 
$300. 

To  terminate  at  discretion  of  the  Board. 

After  ten  years'  membership,  superannuated  by  age, 
or  rendered  incapable  of  performing  full  police 
duty  by  reason  of  disability  or  disease,  contracted 
without  misconduct  on  his  part. 

OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


497 


Policeman 
$4iX). 

To  terminate  at  discretion  of  the  Board. 

After  fifteen  years'  membership,  superannuated  by 
age,  or  rendered  nicapable  of  performing  full 
police  duty  by  reason  of  disability  or  disease,  con- 
tracted without  misconduct  on  his  part. 

Policeman 
Not  to  exceed  one-half,  or  less  than  one- 
ijuarter  full  pay,  and  not   to  exceed 
$i,ooo.    I'or  natural  life,  and  not  to  be 
revoked,  repealed  or  diminished. 

After  twenty  years  or  upwards,  upon  his  own  ap- 
plication, or  upon  certificate  of  lioard  of  Sur- 
geons as  to  permanent  disability,  so  as  to  be  unlit 
for  police  duty,  may  be  retired  l)y  the  unanimous 
vote  of  the  full  Board. 

NOTE. 

In  case  any  officer  shall  have  voluntarily  left  the  Police  Department  and  entered  into  the 
United  States  service  and  served  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge, and  afterwards  shall  have  been  reinstateil  in  the  Police  Department,  the  time  of  his  ser- 
vice in  the  army  shall  be  consitlercd  as  a  portion  of  his  service  in  the  Police  Department. 

In  determining  the  time  of  service  of  any  member  of  the  Force,  continuous  service  in  the 
late  Metropolitan  Force,  and  subseciuently  in  the  Police  Department,  shall  be  held  to  be  Police 
service. 

Pensions  on  account  of  physical  or  mental  disability  or  disease,  not  to  be  granted  unless 
upon  certificate  of  Board  of  Surgeons,  setting  forth  cause,  nature  and  extent  of  disability,  dis- 
ease or  injury,  and  if  same  was  incurred  or  sustained  in  the  performance  of  Police  duty. 

FUND. 

First. — Capital,  income,  interest,  dividends,  cash  deposits,  securities  and  credits  belonging  to 

the  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund. 
Second. — All  fines  imposed  by  the  Board  of  Police  upon  members  of  the  Police  Force. 
Third. — All  rewards,  fees,  gifts,  testimonials,  and  emoluments  to  members  of  the  Force,  except 

such  as  shall  be  allowed  by  the  Board  of  Police  to  be  retained  by  such  member. 
Fourth. — All  lost  or  stolen  money  in  the  hands  of  the  Property  Clerk  for  one  year  unclaimed, 

and  moneys  arising  from  sale  of  unclaimed  Property. 
FlKfll. — A  sum  of  money  equal  to  three  dollars  per  month  for  each  member  of  the  Force,  to  be 

paid  monthly  from  moneys  deducted  for  lost  time. 

Section  seven  of  the  foregoing  Act  was  amended,  June  19,  1879,  to  read  as 
follows: 

"  In  determining  the  term  of  service  of  any  member  of  the  Police  force 
under  the  provisions  of  this  Act,  service  in  the  late  Mimicipal  and  Metropolitan 
Police  Dep  irtinents,  and  subsequently  in  the  Police  Department  of  the  city  of 
New  York,  should  be  counted  and  held  to  be  Police  Service  of  the  Police  De- 
partment of  the  city  of  New  York  for  all  purposes  of  this  Act." 

On  June  8,  1882,  the  legislature  passed  an  Act  to  create  a  Police  Pension 
Fund  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  to  provide  for  the  equalization  of  pensions, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  summary: 


Widow 
$300. 

To  terminate  when  remarried  or  at  discre- 
tion of  the  Board. 


Of  member  of  force  killed  in  performance  of  duty, 
or  shall  have  died  from  effects  of  injuries  re- 
ceivetl  whilst  in  the  actual  discharge  of  such  duty, 
or  died  after  ten  years'  service  in  the  Police  De- 
partment or  Force  of  the  City  of  New  York. 


Child  or  Children 
Under  18  years,  not  exceeding  S"oo. 
terminate  at  iS  years  of  age,  or  at  discre- 
tion of  the  Board, 


Of  member  of  force  killed  or  dying  as  aforesaid,  hut 
leaving  no  widow,  or  if  a  widow,  then  after  her 
death  to  such  child  or  children  yet  unmarried  and 
under  eighteen  years  of  age. 


498  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Member  of  Police  Department  or  Force, 
not  to  exceed  $300,  to  terminate  at  dis- 
cretion of  the  Board. 

While  in  performance  of  police  duty,  and  by  reason 
of  same,  and  without  fault  or  misconduct,  become 
permanently  disabled,  physically  or  mentally,  so 
as  to  be  unfitted  to  perform  full  police  duty. 

Member  of  Police  Department  or  Force, 
not  less  than  $300,  nor  exceeding  $600. 
To  terminate  at  discretion  of  the  Board. 

After  ten  years'  and  less  than  twenty  years'  mem- 
bership, superannuated  by  age,  or  rendered  in- 
capable of  performing  full  police  duty  by  reason 
of  disability  or  disease,  contracted  without  mis- 
conduct on  his  part. 

Member  of  Police  Department  or  Force, 
not  less  than  $300.  nor  exceeding  $500. 
To  terminate  at  discretion  of  the  Board. 

Permanently  insane  or  mentally  incapacitated. 

Member  of  Police  Department  or  Force, 
not  less  than  one-half  full  pay,  and  not 
to  exceed  $J,ooo,  except  to  Superinten- 
dent, for  natural  life,  and  not  to  be  re- 
voked, repealed  or  diminished. 

After  twenty  years  or  upwards,  upon  his  own  appli- 
cation, or  upon  certificate  of  Board  of  Surgeons  as 
to  permanent  disability,  so  as  to  be  unfit  for  police 
duty,  may  be  retired  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the 
full  Board. 

The  First,  Second,  Third  and  Fourth  Sections  of  the  fund  were  the  same  as 
in  the  preceding  Act.    Section  Five  is  as  follows: 

A  sum  of  money  not  exceeding  four  dollars  per  month  for  each  member  of  the  Force,  to  be  paid 
monthly  from  moneys  deducted  or  withheld  from  the  pay  of  members  of  the  Police  Force  on 
account  of  lost  time. 


An  Act  to  consolidate  into  one  Act,  and  to  declare  the  special  and  local 
laws  affecting  public  interests  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  provide  a  Tension 
Fund  for  the  Police  Department  of  the  city,  was  passed  July  i,  1882. 

An  Act  to  amend  Chapter  410  of  the  Laws  of  1882  (Chapter  180  of  the 
Laws  of  1884,  passed  April  21,  1884),  introduced  the  following  changes: 

The  revenue  of  the  fund  is  the  same  as  in  the  preceding  chapters,  with  the 
following  exceptions:  All  moneys,  pay,  compensation,  or  salary,  or  any  part 
thereof,  forfeited,  deducted  or  withheld  from  any  member  or  members  of  the 
Police  force  for  or  on  account  of  absence  for  any  cause;  lost  or  sick  time,  sickness 
or  other  disability,  physical  or  mental,  to  be  paid  monthly  by  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  Police  Pension  Fund.  Twenty-five  per  cent,  annually  of  all  excise 
moneys  or  license  fees,  derived  or  received  by  the  Board  of  Excise;  provided, 
however,  that  said  twenty-five  per  cent,  thereof  shall  not  exceed  one  hundred 
I  thousand  dollars  in  any  one  year;  moneys  derived  from  granting  or  issuing  per- 
mits to  carry  pistols;  all  moneys  derived  or  received  from  the  granting  or  issuing 
of  permits  to  hold  or  give  masked  balls,  entertainments,  or  parties;  moneys 
derived  or  received  from  the  issuing  or  granting  certificates  of  qualification  to 
operate  steam  boilers;  moneys  derived  or  received  from  the  suspension  of  Police 
officers;  the  Board  being  empowered  for  cause  to  suspend  a  Police  officer  with- 
out pay,  for  a  term  not  exceeding  thirty  days. 

The  Board  of  Police,  under  this  Act,  was  empowered  to  pension  the  widow 
of  a  retired  Police  officer. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


499 


SIDNEY  P.  NICHOLS. 

The  late  Sidney  P.  Nichols  was  fifty-three  years  old,  and  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont. His  father  was  a  Presbyterian  clergyman.  Receiving  a  common  school 
education,  the  boy  determined  to  strike  out  a  career  for  himself,  and  accordingly 
came  to  New  York,  where  he  secured  employment  as  a  clerk.  After  a  few  years, 
having  saved  some  money,  he  embarked  in  the  livery  stable  business  near  the 
site  of  the  Ashland  House,  and  prospered  in  the  undertaking. 

In  a  contest  for  the  State  Senate,  Mr.  Nichols  was  defeated  by  James  W. 
Booth,  but  in  recognition  of  the  gallant  struggle  he  had  made,  was  a})pointed  a 
Police  Commissioner  in  May,  1876.  Meantime  he  had  become  one  of  tiie  pro- 
prietors of  the  Ninth  Avenue  line  of  stages,  which  proved  a  prosperous  under- 
taking. On  account  of  his  extensive  knowledge  of  the  city,  his  expert  judgment 
of  horseflesh,  and  his  experience  in  organizing  considerable  bodies  of  men,  his 
colleagues  insisted  on  making  Mr.  Nichols  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Street 
Cleaning,  which  task  was  then  imposed  by  law  on  the  Police  Board. 

During  Mayor  Ely's  term  of  office  an  attempt  was  unsuccessfully  made  to 
remove  Mr.  Nichols  from  the  Police  Board  on  a  charge  of  neglect  of  duty. 
During  the  incumbency  of  Mayor  Cooper  the  attempt  was  repeated  (April  17. 
1879),  and  gave  rise  to  a  notable  legal  contest.  The  Commissioner  demanded 
to  be  heard  through  counsel  and  to  be  brought  face  to  face  with  specific  charges. 
He  was  summarily  removed,  however,  with  the  re(juisite  formal  approval  of 
(lOvernor  Robinson.  Charles  F.  Mcl,ean  being  appointed  his  successor. 

After  protracted  litigation,  a  decision  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  restored  Mr. 
Nichols  to  his  office,  February  7,  1880,  thereby  establishing  a  very  important 
precedent.    He  was  re-appointed  by  Mayor  Edson  January  10,  1883. 

Mr.  Nichols  was  a  member  of  the  Democratic  State  Committee. 

Mr.  Nichols  was  of  medium  stature  and  firmly  built,  of  fair,  ruddy 
complexion,  with  bright,  sparkling  eyes,  and  pleasant  mouth,  and  his  face  always 
wore  a  cheerful  smile.  He  was  the  life  and  soul  of  the  Police  Board.  It  was 
always  said  that  he  could  get  through  more  work  than  anv  other  two  Commis- 
sioners who  ever  sat  in  the  marble  palace  in  Mulberrv  Street.  His  executive 
powers  were  in  constant  demand.  He  was  a  prime  favorite  throughout  the 
force.  His  death,  which  was  due  to  aneurism  of  the  lieart,  took  jilace  at  his 
residence.  No.  417  West  Twenty-fifth  Street,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  October, 
1884.  Commissioner  Nichols  was  Treasurer  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund.  The 
interment  was  in  Greenwood  Cemetery. 


500 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Commissioner  John  McClave  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Edson,  November 
24,  1884.  He  was  born  in  this  city  in  1839,  and  is  the  youngest  of  twelve 
children  of  the  late  James  McClave,  who  was — for  many  years  prior  to  1854, 
when  he  retired  from  business — a  lumber  merchant.  John  McClave  was  grad- 
uated from  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York  in  1856.  Following  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father,  he  entered  the  lumber  business,  and  has  been  engaged  in  it 
ever  since.  He  now  has  a  large  lumber  yard  on  the  North  River,  between 
Twenty-first  and  Twenty-second  Streets,  and  is  the  owner  of  considerable  real 
estate.  He  entered  politics  in  1878,  when  he  was  elected  Alderman,  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  from  the  Eighth  Senatorial  District.  He  was  re-elected  from 
the  same  district  in  1879,  and,  in  1880,  was  elected  Alderman-at-Large.  In 
1 88 1  he  received  the  unanimous  Republican  nomination  for  Alderman-at- 
Large,  but  declined  to  run.  Before  the  meeting  of  the  Republican  County 
('onvention  in  October  last  his  name  was  mentioned  among  the  possible  Repub- 
lican candidates  for  Mayor.  He  is  President  of  the  Republican  Association  of 
the  Seventeenth  Assembly  District. 

Mr.  McClave  is  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Police,  and  of  the  Police  Pension 
Fund.    He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Repairs  and  Supplies. 

There  is  no  exaggeration  in  the  statement  that  Mr.  McClave,  whether  as  a 
business  man  or  a  public  functionary,  is  the  most  active,  industrious,  and  pains- 
taking of  men.  The  amount  of  hard  work  he  gets  rid  of  without  seeming  to  be 
busy  at  all  is  really  marvelous.  In  fact,  it  is  a  necessity  of  his  nature  that 
his  mental  faculties  must  always  find  occupation.  The  ordinary  man  would  find 
more  than  enough  to  do  in  the  management  of  a  large  business  concern  which 
gives  employment  to  a  large  number  of  hands.  Not  so  Mr.  McClave,  who,  while 
punctually  attending  to  his  own  private  business  affairs,  bestows  all  the  necessary 
time  and  labor  to  the  duties  he  is  called  upon  to  discharge  at  Police  Head- 
quarters. Mr.  McClave  spends  a  large  part  of  every  week  day  at  his  office 
attending  to  Police  matters.  He  has  brought  to  the  transaction  of  these  duties 
the  same  comprehensive  and  intelligent  management  which  has  so  characterized 
him  as  one  of  our  leading  business  men. 

None  but  those  conversant  with  the  inside  history  of  Police  affairs  can  form 
anything  like  an  adequate  idea  of  the  immense  amount  of  labor  that  devolves 
upon  the  Police  Commissioners.  Every  day  brings  its  own  particular  duties  and 
responsibilities,  which  can  neither  be  ignored  nor  relegated  to  subordinates. 
Through  them  the  vast  and  complicated  machinery  of  the  Police  Department 
is  put  in  operation,  and,  if  the  governing  body  be  not  attentive  and  intelligent, 
demoralization  is  likely  to  ensue  in  the  ranks — to  the  great  and  lasting  detriment 
of  the  public  service.  No  greater  compliment  could  be  paid  the  present  Board 
of  Police  Commissoners  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  present  efficient  condition  of 
the  Police  force.  Towards  this  improved  state  of  affairs  no  official  has  con- 
tributed more  largely  than  has  Commissioner  McClave. 

As  T:  easurer  of  the  Board,  and  of  the  Police  Pension  P'und,  for  which  he 
receives  no  additional  compensation,  Mr.  McClave  has  a  vast  amount  of  labor 
and  responsibility  imposed  upon  him.  But,  where  system  and  order  prevail, 
much  can  be  done  which  otherwise  would  be  impossible  of  accomplishment. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


50' 


Statement  of  Disbursements  and  Receipts  of  the  Police  Life  and  Health 
Insurance  Fund,  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund,  and  the  Police  Pension  Fund,  from 
1857  to  1885,  for  the  subjoined  years: 


Year. 


Police  Life  and  Health  Insurance  Fund, 


Police  Life  Insurance  Fund, 


Police  Pension  Fund, 


r  1857 
\  I  1858 
1859 
i860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
18S2 
1883 
1884 


Disbursements. 


30  00 
244  12 
811  64 
1.425  75 
2,133  32 
2,642  32 
3,906  59 
6,680  72 
7.436  50 
7,965  04 
13.788  63 
19,808  64 
50,037  09 
45.757  54 
57.305  95 
61.434  38 
74.908  29 
64,684  21 
59.802  73 

75.845  67 
71.342  84 
S0.750  28 
101,067  83 
108,358  15 
116,593  91 
220. 6og  74 
187.855  35 


$1,443,227  23 


Receipts. 


423  10 
2,200  00 
3.650  49 
5.023  41 
1 1,242  81 
9.657  76 
8.545  53 
19,920  99 
27,647  09 
43.476  40 
31.456  63 
32,212  61 
36,449  78 
85,910  89 
64,709  56 
64,459  02 
63,360  97 
78,846  74 
69.481  54 
61,306  91 
60,484  18 

91.715  29 
114,293  55 
113,869  56 
117,696  90 
87,489  21 
96,034  97 
184,419  42 


$1,585,985  26 


Note. — In  1S66  the  donation  by  the  Japanese  Embassy  was  credited  to  the  Police  Life 
Insurance  Fund. 

In  1870  an  adjustment  of  the  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund  and  the  Metropolitan  Reward 
F'und  was  made  in  pursuance  of  Chapter  383,  passed  April  26,  1870,  and  the  balance  remaining 
to  the  credit  of  the  Metropolitan  Reward  Fund  was  placed  to  the  credit  of  (he  Police  Life 
Insurance  Fund,  and  the  amount  due  from  the  Police  Life  Insurance  Fund  and  charged  to 
said  fund,  was  as  follows:  City  of  Brooklyn,  $23,441.24;  Yonkers,  $55.76,  and  Richmond 
County,  S14.76. 

In  1883  $77,420.29  was  paid  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund  for  judgments 
obtained  against  the  Board  for  sick  time  deducted  from  members  of  the  force,  which  amount  was 
credited  to  the  fund  for  the  five  years  prior  to  the  year  1882.  This  sum  was  paid  in  pursuance 
of  a  decision  rendered  by  the  Court  of  Appeals,  in  the  case  of  John  Ryan  against  the  Board,  to 
recover  the  sick  lime  deducted  from  his  salary. 

The  invested  capital  of  the  Police  Pension  Fund,  ending  December  31,  1884,  is  invested 
in  bonds  of  the  City  and  County  of  New  York,  and  amounts  to  the  sum  of  $142,0^x3;  the  cash 
balance  on  said  date  was  $758.03,  m.-iking  a  total  capital  of  $142,758.03,  and  at  said  date  there 
were  540  persons  beneficiaries  of  the  fund,  classified  as  follows:  303  males,  199  females,  and  38 
orphans. 

The  Board  of  Police  during  the  year  1884  pensioned  si.\  sergeants,  eighty-nine  patrol- 
men and  twenty-wne  orphans,  drawing,  in  the  aggregate,  $66,925.  The  deaths  during  said  year 
were  :  one  captain,  two  sergeants,  twenty-five  patrolmen,  and  si.\  females,  drawing  in  the  aggre- 
gate $14,615,  making  a  total  added  to  the  Pension  Fund  during  the  year  of  $52,310. 


502  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

Statement  of  appropriations  made  to  the  Metropolitan  Police  (New  York 
Force),  and  the  Municipal  Police  and  the  Police  Department  of  the  City  Of 


New  York: 

$825,000  00 

1857   471.031  79 

1858   930,209  95 

1859,   1,294,812  51 

i860   1,352,736  73 

1861   1,716,189  18 

1862,   1.751,263  73 

1863,   1.747.555  67 

1864,   2,061,184  18 

1865,       ...........  2,222,083  60 

1866   2,174,688  54 

1867,   2,654,184  85 

1868   2,815,715  54 

1869,   2,885,175  55 

1870   3,263,525  66 

1871,   3,349,160  17 

1872,   3,168,000  00 

1873   3.890.133  33 

1874   3.391,491  14 

1875,   3,376,400  00 

1876,   3,352.400  00 

1877,  .   3.292,400  00 

1878   3,286,150  00 

1879,   3,346,150  00 

1880,   3,270,150  00 

i88i,   3,423,120  00 

1882,   3,350,450  00 

1883   3.453,150  00 

1S84,   3,641.534  61 


On  the  first  of  January,  1885,  there  were  three  hundred  and  three  males, 
one  hundred  and  ninety-nine  females,  and  thirty-eight  orphans,  beneficiaries 
of  the  Pension  Fund,  who  drew  in  the  aggregate  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven 
thousand  and  eighty-seven  dollars  and  thirty-seven  cents  for  the  year  1884. 
During  this  year  the  Board  pensioned  six  Sergeants,  eighty-nine  Patrolmen, 
thirty-five  widows,  and  twenty-one  orphans. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


503 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


THE  WAY  OF  THE  TRANSGRESSOR. 


Our  Police  Courts. — Arraignment  of  Prisoners  and  How  their  Cases  are 
Disposed  ok. — The  Poi-ick  Justices;  Efficient  and  Discriminating. — 
Courts  of  Special  Sessions,  General  Sessions,  Oyer  and  Terminer,  Etc. 
District  Attorney  Martine  and  His  Deputies. — Fines  Received  from 
Police  Courts. — Number  of  Prisoners  Arrested,  Arraigned  and  Con- 
victed.— The  Ambulance  System. — Evils  of  Intemperance. — A  New 
Criminal  Agency. — The  Opium  Habit. — "Hitting  the  Pipe." — Uses 
AND  Abuses  of  Opium. — An  Opium  Smoker's  Outfit. — Vice  Fostered  by 
the  Herding  Together  in  Crowded  Tenements. — Some  Gaudy  Resorts. 
— Criminals  and  Their  Haunts. 


WIFTLY,  surely,  and  systematically,  move  the  wheels  of  justice.  Turn  where 


he  will  the  criminal  finds  himself  confronted  with  the  visible  forms  of  the 
law.    Sooner  or  later  justice  overtakes  him. 

The  Police  Courts  have  to  deal  each  day  with  the  big  haul  of  prisoners  that 
are  gathered  within  the  Police  nets.  There  the  process  of  "  sorting "  these 
unfortunates  takes  place.  Some,  whose  sins  are  venial,  are  turned  loose  with  an 
admonition  from  the  bench;  others  are  fined;  others  again  are  sentenced  to 
short  terms  of  imprisonment,  while  a  small  remnant  is  held  for  trial. 

Almost  every  offender  known  to  the  law  passes  daily  through  the  hands  of 
the  Police,  from  the  red-handed  murderer  down  to  the  case  of  simple  assault  or 
drunk  and  disorderly. 

The  work  of  the  Police  is  never  done — the  task  allotted  to  Sysiphus  was 
not  more  recurrent  and  periodical  than  theirs.  There  is  no  cessation  to  their  war- 
fare on  the  criminal  classes. 

The  Police  Courts  are  held  by  eleven  Police  Justices  or  Magistrates  ap- 
pointed by  the  Mayor  of  the  city,  under  the  provisions  of  the  statute  of  1873,  and 
holding  office  for  terms  of  varying  duration.  They  receive  salaries  of  eight  thou- 
sand dollars  per  annum  each,  and  are  distributed  into  six  courts,  as  follows: 
Tombs,  two  Justices;  Jefferson  Market,  two  Justices;  Essex  Market,  two  Jus- 
tices; Yorkville,  or  Fifty-seventh  Street,  two  Justices;  Harlem,  two  Justices; 
Tremont,  one  Justice;  the  last  tribunal  having  been  created  by  the  Act  which 
provided  for  the  annexation  of  the  new  Wards  formerly  in  Westchester  County. 

The  Police  Justices  that  took  office  on  the  fourth  of  November,  1873,  suc- 
ceeded to  a  Board  of  Police  Justices  elected  under  the  old  law. 

The  statute  law  of  the  State  requires  that  prisoners  shall  be  taken  to  the 
nearest  Police  Court,  and,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  the  designation  of  Police 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Courts  to  which  the  various  Police  Precincts  are  to  send  their  prisoners  is  made 
by  the  Commissioners  of  Police. 

Although  two  Justices  are  assigned  to  each  of  the  courts,  excepting  the 
court  at  Tremont,  but  one  sits  at  a  time.  For  a  week  each  assigned  Justice 
holds  court  in  his  district,  examining  prisoners,  receiving  complaints,  issuing 
warrants,  taking  bail,  and  discharging  all  the  business  of  a  Police  Court.  The 
succeeding  week  is  an  off  week  with  him,  unless  he  happens  to  sit  three  times 
during  the  week  in  the  Court  of  Special  Sessions,  or  unless  examinations  of  any 
length  are  set  down  before  him  during  the  week. 

No  Police  Courts  are  held  on  Sunday  afternoon,  and  persons  are  some- 
times arrested  after  the  close  of  the  Police  Courts  on  Sunday  morning,  who,  if 
they  cannot  get  bail,  are  locked  up  until  Monday. 

The  prisons  attached  to  the  Police  Courts  are  under  the  control  of  the  Com- 
missioners of  Charities  and  Correction,  and  difficulties  of  jurisdiction  have  arisen 
from  time  to  time. 

The  courts  are  served  by  squads  of  Police  attached  to  each  court,  who  serve 
papers,  run  errands,  and  perform  other  similar  duties  for  the  Police  Justices. 

The  Court  of  Special  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  having  jurisdiction  over 
all  misdemeanors  and  over  a  very  few  felonies,  such  as  petty  larceny,  is  held  by 
three  Police  Justices,  who  sit  alternately  for  a  month  at  a  time.  They  sit  thrice 
a  week  for  about  four  hours,  and  dispose  of  an  average  of  upwards  of  thirty  or 
forty  cases  a  day.  No  prosecuting  officer  appears  in  this  court,  and  in  many 
cases  the  Magistrates  act  as  prosecuting  attoiney.s,  as  counsel  for  the  prisoners, 
as  judges  and  as  jury,  a  loading  of  responsibility  which  ought  not  to  be  en- 
couraged. 

The  Court  of  General  Sessions  has  for  many  years  been  held  by  the 
Recorder  and  the  City  Judge.  Since  the  first  of  January,  1876,  an  additional 
Justice,  known  as  the  Judge  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions,  has  been  added. 

The  Court  of  Over  and  Terminer,  the  highest  criminal  court  in  the  city, 
is  held  four  or  five  times  a  year  by  a  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

Supreme  Court. — Noah  Davis,  Chief  Justice  ;  John  R.  Brady,  Geo.  C. 
Barrett,  Charles  Donohue,  Abram  R.  Lawrence,  Chas.  H.  Van  Brunt,  Geo.  P. 
Andrews.  ^ 

General  Sessions. — Frederick  Smyth,  Recorder;  Rufus  B.  Cowing,  City 
Judge;  Henry  A.  Gildersleeve. 

Superior  Court. — John  Sedgwick,  Chief  Judge;  Hooper  C.  Van  Vorst, 
John  J.  Friedman,  Charles  H.  Truax,  Richard  O'Gorman,  Geo.  L.  Ingraham. 

Common  Pleas. — Charles  P.  Daly,  Chief  Justice;  Richard  L.  Larremore, 
Miles  Beach,  Joseph  F.  Daly,  George  M.  Van  Hoesen,  Henry  W.  Allen. 

City  Court. — David  McAdam,  Chief  Justice;  Granville  P.  Haws,  Edward 
Browne,  Chas.  J.  Nehrbas,  S.  Burdett  Hyatt,  Ernest  Hall. 

personnel  of  the  District  Attorney's  office  comprises  the  following  : 

District  Attorney,  Randolph  B.  Martine  ;  Assistants  :  John  R.  Fellows, 
Edward  L.  Parris,  De  Lancey  NicoU,  Gunning  S.  Bedford;  Deputy  Assistants: 
James  Fitzgerald,  Ambrose  H.  Purdy,  Vernon  M.  Davis,  Bernard  S.  Douras; 
John  M.  Coman,  Deputy  and  Chief  Clerk. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


505 


*  Ranpolph  B.  Martink  is  (and  the  statement  can  be  made  without  any 
approa(  h  to  flattery)  one  of  the  most  popular  public  men  of  this  city.  He  is 
popular  not  because  of  his  election  to  the  responsible  office  of  Prosecuting 
Attorney  of  this  city  and  county,  but  for  his  own  sterling  (pialities  of  head  and 
heart.  Suave,  considerate,  generous,  and  polite  to  all,  Mr.  Martine  is  every 
inch  a  true  born  gentleman.  Mr.  Martine  was  born  in  the  Sixteenth  Ward  in 
1844.  He  is  of  French-Huguenot  and  Irish  ancestry.  His  father,  Theodore, 
was  an  extensive  grocer  and  real  estate  dealer  in  this  city.  District  Attorney 
Martine  is  a  graduate  of  Columbia  College,  where  he  also  studied  law,  and  com- 
I)letcd  his  legal  attainments  in  the  office  of  J^ds*^  Rapallo.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1866.    Mr.  Martine  is  a  lawyer  of  extensive  practice  and  wide 


experience.  He  is  the  Bayard  of  his  profession,  without  stain,  and  without 
reproach. 

John  R.  Fellows  has  served  under  six  administrations  in  the  District 
Attorney's  office,  namely,  Garvin,  Hall,  McKeon,  Peckham,  Olney,  and  Mar- 
tine. He  is  a  man  of  ready  eloquence  and  solid  legal  attainments.  His  power 
over  a  jury  in  the  handling  of  a  case  has,  in  innumerable  instances,  brought 
conviction  home  to  criminals  who  relied  upon  the  power  of  money  and  legal 
talent  to  save  them  from  the  consequences  of  their  crimes.  Colonel  Fellows  is 
one  of  the  leaders  of  the  County  Democracy,  and  is  one  of  their  most  popular 
campaign  orators. 

Gunning  S.  Bedford  has  had  a  long  experience  in  criminal  practice. 
He  was  Assistant  District  Attorney  from  1865  to  1869,  and  for  several  years 


District  Attorney  Martine. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


after  was  City  Judge.  Mr.  Bedford  discharges  the  duties  of  his  office  with 
zeal  and  ability. 

De  Lancey  Nicoll  has  been  a  member  of  the  l)ar  for  ten  years,  and  has 
built  up  a  remunerative  practice  at  his  profession.    He  is  able  and  popular. 

Edward  L.  Parris  has  been  a  practicing  lawyer  for  twenty  years  in  our 
civil  courts.  He  is  chairman  of  the  Young  Men's  Democratic  Club.  Mr. 
Parris  graduated  from  Union  College,  Schenectady.  He  is  a  native  of  Maine. 
He  is  in  the  prime  of  life,  his  age  being  forty-three  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  law  firm  of  Parris  &  Parris. 

James  Fitzgerald,  one  of  the  youngest,  and  one  of  the  ablest  as  well, 
of  Mr.  Martine's  staff  of  able  assistants,  is  a  young  man  of  talent,  who,  by  his 
own  force  of  character,  talents  and  industry,  has  forged  to  the  front  rank.  He 
is  a  graduate  of  Columbia  Law  School.  Mr.  Fitzgerald  is  an  able  pleader, 
and  is  well  versed  in  criminal  and  civil  law.    He  served  in  the  Assembly  and 

Senate,  and  has  won  golden  opinions 
for  his  ability,  affability  and  incorruptibility. 

Vernon  M.  Davis  is  a  young  lawyer  of 
note.  He  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Davis, 
Cohen  &:  McWilliam.  He  has  charge  of 
the  preparation  of  indictments. 

A.MBROSE  H.  PuRDV  is  a  lawyer  of  wide 
and  varied  experience.  He  was  a  member 
of  Assembly  from  the  Twenty-fourth  Dis- 
trict, and  is  connected  with  the  County 
Democracy.  He  is  bright,  alert,  and 
astute. 

Bernard  J.  Douras  studied  his  profes- 
sion in  the  office  of  Vanderpoel,  Green  & 
Cuming,  former  lawyers  for  the  sheriff.  He 
entered  their  office  as  office  boy,  and  worked 
himself  up  to  be  their  managing  clerk.  He 
is  possessed  of  solid  legal  attainments. 

John  M.  Coman  has  been  a  practicing 
lawyer  for  a  number  of  years.  Previous 
to  his  coming  into  the  District  Attorney's  office  he  had  been  clerk  in  Police 
Justice  White's  Court. 

William  N.  Penney,  District  Attorney  Martine's  private  secretary,  took  office 
first  under  the  late  John  McKeon.  Mr.  Penney  is  a  well-known  journalist,  and  is 
talented,  popular,  and  ambitious.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Press 
Club. 

The  Police  Magistracy  of  the  city  have  for  the  past  ten  years  been  spoken 
of  by  both  citizens  and  the  press  as  an  exemplary  body  of  public  ser\-ants,  labor- 
ing for  the  public  weal  with  moderation  and  justice.  The  Police  Justices  are: 
James  F.  Kilbreth,  Henry  Murray,  Patrick  G.  Duffy,  Jacob  M.  Patterson,  Jr., 
Maurice  J.  Power,  Andrew  J.  White,  J.  Harry  Ford,  Solon  B.  Smith,  John  J. 
Gorman,  Daniel  O'Reilly,  and  Charles  Welde. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


507 


Fines  averaging  nearly  forty  thousand  dollars  per  annum  are  collected  by 
the  Magistrates  in  the  Police  Courts,  and  with  those  collected  by  the  Warden  of 

the  City  Prison  and  the  Clerk  of  the  Court 
of  Special  Sessions,  the  yearly  average 
amount  of  fines  reaches  about  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars. 

The  First  District  Police  Court, 
jrapularly  known  as  the  Tombs,  comprises 
the  district  bounded  by  Houston  Street, 
Broadway  to  Canal  Street,  the  Bowery  and 
Catharine  Street,  the  East  and  North 
Rivers.  Seven  precincts  arraign  their 
prisoners  here.  The  Tombs  Police  Court 
tries  more  prisoners  than  any  of  the 
five  other  Police  Courts.  Of  late  years 
there  has  been  a  falling  away  in  the 
number  of  arraignments,  due,  largely, 
to  the  gradual  disappearance  of  the 
rotten  old  rookeries  of  tenements  and 
a  corresponding  increase  in  the  number 
of  a  better  class  of  dwellings  and  busi- 


Interior  View  of  "  Male  Prison." 
ness  stores  and  factories.  Statistics  show 
that  drunkenness  has  decreased  in  this  dis- 
trict from  twenty  to  forty  per  cent.  This 
is  due  largely  to  the  suppression  by  the 
Police  of  the  low  groggeries  in  the  Fourth 
and  Sixth  Wards. 

The  Tombs  is  a  huge  building  of  unique 
architecture — the  world  has  no  prison  like 
it  elsewhere;  it  receives  hundreds  of  prison- 
ers every  day;  two  courts  hold  sessions 
within  its  gloomy  walls.  At  all  hours  of 
the  day  and  night  officers  of  the  law  and 
their  prisoners  are  passing  its  portals. 

The  Tombs  was  erected  for  about  two 
hundred   prisoners.      Recently,    between  /^;|« 
three  and  four  hundred  a  day  have  been  '"^'^ 
received,  with  consequent  overcrowding, 
notwithstanding  the  utmost   diligence  on  Place  of  Execution, 

the  part  of  the  courts  in  disposing  of  its  inmates  by  sending  them,  after 
sentence,  to  the  Penitentiary  on  Blackwell's  Island,  to  the  State  Prisons  at 


5o8 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Sing  Sing  or  Auburn,  and  to  reformatories,  and  by  the  liberation  of  the 
guiltless.  Vehicles  known  as  "Black  Marias"  are  used  in  bringing 
prisoners  from  local  i)laces  of  detention  in  the  city  and  taking  them 
to  the  various  points  of  departure  to  the  jails  to  which  they  have  been 
sentenced. 

The  office  of  the  "  Female  Prison  "  is  as  pleasant  an  apartment  as  womanly 
taste  and  skill  can  make  it.  It  is  light,  and  ornamented  with  flowers  in  the 
windows  and  pictures  on  the  walls.    Cells  for  inmates   are    twenty-two  in 


Interior  of  the  Tombs  Police  Court. 

number,  and  vary  in  appearance.  Women  and  girls  have  fewer  restraints  than 
males.  They  take  their  meals  together,  flit  about  the  corridors  along  which  the 
cells  are  situated,  and  chat,  and  read,  or  sew.  Three  large  cells  are  set  apart  for 
girls  arrested  for  a  first  offense.  Each  contains  half  a  dozen  or  more  beds, 
covered  with  neat  checked  counterpanes,  and  the  coarse  sheeting  is  clean.  The 
Tombs  being  simply  a  place  of  detention,  no  unnecessary  prohibitions  are  im- 
posed. Hence  some  of  the  cells  are  as  presentable  places  as  circumstances 
will  admit  of. 

The  "  Male  Prison  "  is  by  far  the  largest  prison  structure  within  the  archi- 
tectural shell  kno^vn  as  the  Tombs.    It  is  two  hundred  feet  in  length  and  forty 


OUR  POrJCE  Ph'OVF.C'/'OA'S. 


509 


in  width,  hiiilt  of  massive  stone  four  stories  high.  The  accompanying  view  was 
taken  from  the  second  tier  of  the  four  which  complete  the  l)uilding.  Murderers' 
Row  is  on  the  first  tier,  which,  by  the  way,  has  the  roomiest  cells.  Each  tier  is 
opened  into  through  a  massive  gateway,  where  sits  the  officer  in  charge  at  his 
desk.  Arrivals  of  prisoners,  and  more  of  visitors,  keep  each  of  these  men  busy 
mspecting  papers  and  closing  and  admitting  persons.  The  corridors  on  each 
tier  front  the  cells,  over  the  grated  doorway  of  each  of  which  is  a  slate  giving 
the  prisoner's  name. 

The  Sf.cond  District  Po- 
LicF.  Court,  known  as  Jeffer- 
son Market,  vies  with  the  Tombs 
in  the  number  of  cases  brought 
there  by  the  Police.     This  is  ' 
one  of  the  handsomest  public 
buildings  in  the  city.    Here  are 
accommodations    for   a  great 
many  prisoners,   criminals  and 
vagrants.     The  latter  are  con-  % 
fined  in  one  large  apartment,  ' 
known  as  "  the  ten  day  house." 
From  thence  they  are  conveyed  : 
in  the  prison  van  to  the  foot  of 
East  Twenty-sixth  Street,  where 


Jeffe  rson  Market  Police  Court  (Ninth  Hlfrt'et  and  Sixth  Avenue.) 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


they  are  taken  on  board  the  "  Thomas  S.  Brennan,"  the  "  Minnahannock,"  or  the 
"Bellevue,"  to  Blackwell's  Island. 

The  district  comprises  the  territory  lying  south  of  Forty-second  Street,  west 
of  Fourth  Avenue,  and  north  of  Houston  Street.  The  precincts  included  in  its 
territory  are  the  Eighth,  Ninth,  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  Twentieth,  and  Twenty- 
ninth.  This  district  embraces  the  territory  known  as  Murray  Hill,  all  the 
prominent  hotels,  and  many  of  the  theaters  and  other  places  of  amusement.  The 
best  and  the  worst  of  New  York's  populace  live  within  this  district. 

The  Third  District,  or  Essex  Market  Police  Court,  has  jurisdiction  over 
"  the  great  East  Side."  Catharine  Street,  the  Bowery,  Fourteenth  Street,  and 
the  East  River,  constitute  its  boundaries.  The  precincts  repre.sented  in  the 
district  are  the  Seventh,  Tenth,  Eleventh,  Thirteenth,  and  Seventeenth. 

The  Fourth  District  Police  Court,  known  as  the  Yorkville  Polic  e 

Court,  and  located  in  Fifty- 
seventh  Street,  between 
Third  and  Lexington  Av- 
enues, is  a  roomy,  well- 
lighted  building.  The  pre- 
cincts that  arraign  their 
prisoners  here  are  the  Eigh- 
teenth, Nineteenth,  Nine- 
teenth Sub,  Twenty-first, 
Twenty-second,and  Twenty- 
eighth  Precincts. 

The  Fifth  District  Po- 
lice Court  (Harlem)  is 
held  in  the  Harlem  Market 
Building,  in  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-fifth  Street,near 
Fourth  Avenue.  Prisoners 
are  brought  here  from  the 
Twelfth, Twenty-third,  Thir- 
tieth,Thirty-first  and  Thirty- 
second  Precincts. 

The  Sixth  District 
Court  is  located  in  Morris- 
ania  on  Third  Avenue,  near 


Yorkville  Police  Court  (57tli  Street,  near  Thir< 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-eighth  Street.    The  prisoners  arraigned  here  come  from 
the  Second,  Thirty-third,  Thirty-fourth,  and  Thirty-fifth  Precincts. 

The  annual  report,  ending  November  24,  1884,  of  the  Police  Justices,  shows 
that  the  number  of  arrests  made  during  the  year  past  was  fifty  thousand  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  males,  and  nineteen  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  females,  making  a  total  of  sixty-nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-one. 
Those  arrested  on  warrant  process  were  four  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  males  and  eight  hundred  and  seventv-three  females.  There  were  thirty-five 
thousand  three  hundred  and  eight  males  held,  while  sixteen  thousand  five  hun- 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECl^ORS. 


5" 


The  Black  Mar 


dred  and  thirty-seven  females  shared  the  same  fate,  making  a  total  of  fifty-one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  forty-five;  the  number  discharged  being  eighteen  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  forty-one  men  and  three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eiglity- 
nine  women.    Twenty-two  cases  are  still  pending. 

'I'he  fines  received  from  the  various  Police  Courts  amounted  to  thirty-five 
thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  dollars,  while  from  the  Court  of  Si)ecial 
Sessions  the  sum  of  twenty-seven  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-si.\  dollars 

was  collected.  Warden  Finn,  ' 
of  the  City  Prison,  collected 
thirteen  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  two  dollars,  making  a  total 
of  seventy^si.K  thousand  three 
hundred  and  si.\teen  dollars, 
which  is  four  thousand  dollars 
short  of  the  sum  paid  by  male- 
factors the  previous  year. 

There  were  three  thousand 
si.\  hundred  and  thirty-five  per- 
sons committed  in  default  of 
bail  or  released  on  bail  for  trial 
at  General  Sessions,  and  for  trial  zX  Special  Sessions  five  thousand  six  hundred 
and  fifty.  There  were  twelve  thousand  one  hundred  and  three  persons  com- 
mitted for  good  behavior,  and  seventeen  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty-four 
persons  were  committed  in  default  of  payment  of  fine,  while  five  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fifty-seven  were  released  on  payment  of  fines.  The  report 
al.so  shows  that  three  hundred  and  ninety-seven  men  and  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  women  were  commit- 
ted as  vagrants.  There 
were  sent  to  reformatory 
institutions  one  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  males  and  one  thou- 
ii^and  and  ninety-two  t 
males.  There  were  - 
iuindred  and  forty-fi 
insane  persons  commiti^ 
— four  hundred  and  fori  \ 
four  men  and  two  hundred 
and  twenty  women. 

Of  persons  claiming  to 
be    destitute    there    were  Conveying  Pnsoners  from  Cou.-t  to  Ja,l. 

one  thousand  five  hundred  and  eighteen  men,  and  one  thousand  one  hundred 
and  fifty-three  women,  a  total  of  two  thousand  six  hundred  and  seventy-one 
persons.  There  were  six  hundred  and  sixty-five  persons  sent  to  the  Roman 
Catholic  Protectory;  to  the  Mission  of  the  Immaculate  Virgin,  five  hundred 
and  fifty-four;  Juvenile  Asylum,  two  hundred  and  eighty-three;  St.  Joseph's 


5" 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Asylum,  two  hufidred  and  thirty-seven;  Institute  of  Mercy,  two  hundred; 
House  of  Refuge,  'one  hundred  and  fifty;  and  to  the  Home  of  Good  Shep- 
herd, twenty-nine. 


Woman's  Prison:  A  Mutual  Recognition. 
The  various  charges  were:     Abduction,  fourteen;  abortion,  eight;  arson, 
sixteen;  assault  and  battery,  three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-two;  felo- 
nious assault  and  battery,  seven  hundred  and  fifteen;  assault  with  intent  to  steal, 
fifty-three;  attempted  suicide,  eighty-five;   bigamy,  thirteen;   burglary,  seven 


Blackwell's  Island  and  East  River, 
hundred  and  ninety-one;  cruelty  to  animals,  two  hundred  and  forty-two;  cru- 
elty to  children,  twenty-eight  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-six;  keeping  a 
<lisorderly  house,  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine;   disorderly  persons,  seven  hun- 
dred and  eighty-five;  and  felonies  not  classified,  ninety-two. 


01' R  POLICE  PRO'lRC'rORS. 


5'3 


There  were  fifty-four  forgers  and  thirty-nine  fugitives  from  justice.  Of  tliese 
thirty-eight  were  discharged  and  only  one  held.  The  gamblers  numbered  fifty- 
five;  homicides,  eighty-eight;  drunkards,  twenty  thousand  four  hundred  and 
forty-five;  thieves,  grand  larceny,  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty-seven; 
petty  larceny,  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  two;  larceny  from  the  person, 
six  hundred  and  ninety;  perjury,  nineteen;  rape,  thirty-five;  receivers  of  stolen 
goods,  eighty-one;  suspicious  persons,  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty; 
vagrants,  six  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-five;  violators  of  Corporation 
ordinances,  seven  iuuulrcd  and  seventy-one;  violators  of  the  Election  law,  thirty- 


Roosevelt  Hospital. 

one;  Excise  law,  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  fifty-six;  Lottery  law,  one 
hundred  and  eight;  Sanitary  Code,  four  hundred  and  twenty-one;  Sunday  law, 
twenty-nine. 

There  were  eighty-five  persons  charged  with  attempted  suicide,  eighty  being 
discharged.  The  number  of  persons  arrested  for  burglary  and  discharged  was 
one  hundred  and  fifty-one;  and  eight  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty  per- 
sons arrested  for  disorderly  conduct  were  discharged.  Thirty-four  gamblers 
were  discharged. 

The  idea  of  disseminating  among  all  classes  of  society,  by  means  of  popular 
lectures,  general  information  as  to  the  preliminary  treatment  of  the  sick  and 


514  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS 

injured,  originated  with  the  St.  John  Ambulance  Association,  which  was  organ- 
ized in  London  in  1877.  The  success  achieved  by  this  Association  led  the 
State  Charities  Aid  Association,  in  January,  1882,  to  appoint  a  committee,  under 
the  chairmanship  of  General  George  B.  McClellan,  to  establish  courses  of  lec- 
tures on  "First  Aid  to  the  Injured."  So  rapid  was  the  growth  of  the  work 
thus  undertaken  by  the  committee,  and  so  general  the  demand  for  instruction, 
as  to  necessitate  a  more  complete  organization,  and,  accordingly,  in  February. 
1883,  the  committee  re-organized  as  "The  Society  for  Instruction  in  First  Aid  to 
the  Injured." 

The  instruction  given  by  the  Society  is  intended  to  do  no  more  than  qualify 
the  pupil  to  adopt  such  remedial  measures  as  may  be  advantageous  pending  the 


Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  Sixty-sixth  Street, 
doctor's  arrival,  and  to  afford  some  knowledge  of  nursing  and  the  laws  of  heajth. 
It  teaches  what  is  to  be  done  in  emergencies,  when  tliere  are  no  proper  appli- 
ances at  hand. 

Some  of  the  earliest  efforts  of  the  originators  of  the  "  First  Aid  "  movement 
were  directed  to  the  establishment  of  a  course  of  instruction  for  the  Police,  but 
the  large  number  of  men  on  the  force,  the  short  time  allowed  them  for  recreation 
and  other  causes,  rendered  this  a  difficult  matter.  In  the  spring  of  1883.  how- 
ever, two  classes  were  formed,  and  during  the  ensuing  fall  the  Society  suggested 
to  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  the  advisability  of  making  "  First  Aid  " 
a  part  of  the  training  which  candidates  for  the  Police  force  are  required  to 
undergo  before  being  admitted  as  members.  The  suggestion  was  favorably 
received  and  adopted.    The  Society  thereupon  provided  the  necessary  lecturers 


OUR  POLICE  rR0TF.C70RS. 


S'S 


and  appliances,  and  lectures  were  commenced  on  the  twelfth  of  Fel)riiary. 
Classes  were  at  once  organized,  and,  as  a  rule,  tiie  men  have  acquitted  them- 
selves creditably,  two-thirds  jiassing  the  examination.  iMany  a  case  of  accident 
— that,  for  instance,  of  persons  run  over  in  tiic  streets,  or  injured  by  a  fall — 
would  probably  have  resulted  fatally  but  for  the  knowledge  so  gained  by  the 
Police,  who,  while  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  Ambulance  Surgeon,  are  enabled  to 
afford  temporary  relief  to  the  sufferer.  In  some  cases,  owing  no  doubt  to  unavoid- 
able or  accidental  causes,  the  ambulances  are  not  over  prompt  in  responding  to  a 
(•all,  and  the  attendance  of  the  Policeman  on  post  is  therefore  ail  the  more 
valuable. 


Nc.-.  1.:,,-.  n^^pital  (Fifteentn  uct.  Fifth  and  Sixth  Avenjes). 

The  Ambulance  Districts  are  as  follows: 
•    New  York  Hospital  District:  Sixth,  Sixteenth  and  Twcnty-nintli  Pre- 
cincts. 

Chamhk Rs  Street  Hosi-itai.  District:  First,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Seventh,  Tenth, 
Twenty-sixth  and  Twenty-seventh  Precincts. 

Beli.evue  Hospital  District:  Eleventh',  Thirteenth,  Seventeenth,  Eigh- 
teenth, Nineteenth,  Nineteenth  Sub,  Twenty-first,  Twenty-fourth  and  Twenty- 
fifth  Precincts;  also.  First,  Second,  Third  and  Fourth  District  Courts. 

St.  Vincent's  Hospitai,  District:  Eighth,  Ninth,  Fourteenth  and  Fif- 
teenth Precincts. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Ninety-Ninth  Street  Hospital  District:  Twelfth,  Thirty- Lhird, Thirty- 
fourth,  Second,  Thirty-first,  Thirty-second,  Thirty-fifth  and  Thirtieth  Precincts. 

Presbyterian  Hospital  District:  Twenty-third  and  Twenty-eighth  Pre- 
cincts. 

A  comparatively  new  criminal  agency  has  been  at  work  in  certain  sections 
of  the  city,  spreading  the  fruitful  seeds  of  contamination,  and  throwing  addi- 


Giimpsos  ot  Chinatown. 

tional  responsibilities  on  the  already  overburdened  shoulders  of  the  Police. 
The  agency  in  question  is  what  is  known  as  "the  opium  habit."  In  a  remark- 
ably short  space  of  time  this  terrible  vice  has  taken  deep  root,  and  it  is  very 
much  to  be  feared  that,  like  Bancho's  ghost,  it  will  not  down,  but  that  it  has 
come  to  stay.  The  law's  repressive  hand  has  been  placed  upon  it,  but  to-day  it 
counts  its  victims  by  the  thousand  in  this  city  alone.    Captain  McCulIagh,  of 


Ol'R  rOl.ICE  J'ROTECTORS.  517 

the  Elizabeth  Street  Station,  and  Detective  Gerovv,  have  quite  recently  made 
an  important  "  raid  "  on  one  of  these  "joints "  where  opium  is  smoked,  and 
arrested  a  number  of  the  denizens  of  Chinatown,  who  were  caught  in  the  act  o: 
*' hitting  the  pipe."  Unfortunately,  this  pernicious  haljit  is  not  confined  to  the 
children  of  the  flowery  kingdom;  a  legion  of  oi)ium  smokers  to  the  manner 
born,  and  many  of  them  people  of  respectability  and  refinement,  are  slaves  of 
this  habit.  Accurate  illustrations  of  some  of  the  opium  instruments  found  in 
the  "joint"  raided  by  Captain  McCiiilagh  are  herewith  given,  for  the  en- 
lightenment of  the  uninitiated. 

The  Opium  Law  is  designated  as  follows:  Chapter  165.  An  Act  in  rela- 
tion to  the  sale  and  use  of  opium.    Passed  May  15,  i.S(S2. 


A  Chinese  Opium  Smoker  ("  Hitting  the  Pipe  "). 

Every  person  who  opens  or  maintains,  to  be  resorted  to  by  other  persons, 
any  place  where  opium,  or  any  of  its  preparations,  is  sold  or  given  away,  to  be 
smoked  at  such  place;  and  any  person  who  at  such  place  sells  or  gives  away  any 
opium,  or  its  said  preparations,  to  be  there  smoked  or  otherwise  used,  and  any 
person  who  visits  or  resorts  to  any  such  place  for  the  purpose  of  smoking 
apium  or  its  said  preparations,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and, 
upon  conviction  thereof,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary  not  exceeding  three 
months,  or  by  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment. 

The  person  who  smokes  opium  always  does  so  reclining,  usually  stretched 
across  a  hard  wooden  bunk  covered  with  matting,  a  small  stool  or  beveled 
board  servmg  as  a  pillow.  Restmg  ii])<)n  liis  left  side,  the  smoker  takes  up  a 
little  of  the  treacle-like  mass  upon  the  steel  needle  (or  yen  /lauck)  and  holding 
it  above  the  flame  of  the  lamp,  watches  it  bubble  and  swell  to  six  or  seven 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  519 

times  its  original  size.  In  doing  so  it  loses  its  inky  hue,  and  becomes  of  a 
bright  golden-brown  color,  and  gives  off  a  pleasant  creamy  odor,  much  admired 
by  old  smokers.  Poor  opium  does  not  yield  so  pleasant  an  odor,  is  liable  to 
drop  from  the  needle  into  the  flame  of  the  lamp,  and  rarely  gives  so  handsome 
a  color,  the  yellow  being  here  and  there  streaked  with  black.  This  process  is 
known  as  "  cooking  "  the  opium.  Having  brought  it  to  a  proper  consistence, 
the  operator,  with  a  rapid  twirling  motion  of  the  fingers  holding  the  long  needle, 
rolls  the  mass  upon  the  smooth  surface  of  the  bowl,  submitting  it  occasionally 
to  the  flame,  and  now  and  then  catching  it  upon  the  edge  or  surface  of  the 
bowl,  and  pulling  it  out  into  strings  in  order  to  cook  it  through  more  thoroughly. 
This  is  called  chying  the  mass. 

Rolling  it  again  upon  the  surface  of  the  bowl  until  the  opium  is  formed 
into  a  small  pea-sized  mass,  with  the  needle  as  a  centre,  the  needle  is  thrust 
into  the  small  hole  in  the  centre  of  the  bowl,  thus  leveling  off  the  bottom  of 
the  pea.  Then,  grasping  the  stem  of  the  pipe,  near  the  bowl,  in  the  left  hand, 
the  bowl  is  held  across  the  flame  of  the  lamp  to  warm  it;  the  bottom  of  the 
opium  mass  is  also  warmed,  and  by  again  thrusting  the  needle  into  the  small 
aperture  in  the  centre  of  the  bowl  and  quickly  withdrawing  it,  the  mass,  with 
a  hole  in  its  centre  communicating  with  the  hole  in  the  bowl,  is  firmly  fastened 
upon  its  surface. 

Inclining  the  body  slightly  forward,  the  smoker  tips  the  pipe-bowl  across 
the  lamp  until  the  opium  is  just  above  the  flame,  when  it  commences  to  sizz 
and  bubble.  With  the  lips  firmly  compressed  against  the  ivory  mouth  button, 
the  devotee  inhales  strongly  and  steadily,  the  smoke  of  the  burning  drug  pass- 
ing into  his  lungs.  This  smoke,  which  is  returned  through  the  mouth  and  nose, 
is  heavy  and  white,  and  has  a  not  unpleasant,  fruity  odor.  Having  finished  this 
bolus,  which  requires  but  one  long  or  a  few  short  inspirations,  the  smoker  cools 
the  bowl  of  the  pipe  with  a  damp  sponge,  and  repeats  the  operations  of  cook- 
ing, rolling,  and  smoking  as  often  as  is  necessary  to  obtain  the  desired  effect. 
Smokers  are  classed  as  "long-draw  "  and  "short-draw  "  men,  according  as  they 
consume  the  mass  in  one  long  or  a  few  short  inspirations.  The  ''  long-draw  " 
is  un([uestionably  the  most  injurious. 

The  habitue,  after  smoking  his  allowance,  which  varies  from  seventy-five 
grains  to  two  ounces,  feels  a  pleasant  sense  of  exhilaration  that  merges  into  a 
condition  of  dreamy  wakefulness.  It  is  a  state  in  which  the  devotee  finds  him- 
self perfectly  happy  and  contented.  The  squalid  surroundings  of  the  opium  den, 
the  harassing  cares  and  trials  of  life,  are  banished,  and  an  indescribable  sense 
of  complete  satisfaction  takes  possession  of  him.  This  waking  dream,  this 
silken  garment  of  the  imagination,  will  take  its  shape  and  its  coloring  from  the 
most  cherished  and  brilliant  strands  that  run  through  the  web  and  woof  of  his 
life's  stor}".  It  hides  the  unpleasant  conditions  of  even,'-day  life,  and  gives 
birth  to  a  pleasant  bubble,  the  brilliant  play  of  colors  and  misty  outline  of 
which  are  born  of  the  pipe  alone.  As  the  smoker's  hopes,  ambitions,  aspira- 
tions are,  so  will  be  the  figures  and  incidents  of  his  opium  dolcc  far  niente. 

After  a  time  the  habitue  finds  that  the  pleasant  things  that  always  came  at 
the  pipe's  bidding  now  fail  to  appear,  and,  disgusted  with  the  pleasureless 


5,o  OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 

practice,  he  tosses  aside  the  pipe  in  disgust,  only  to  find  that  at  a  certain 
hour  the  following  day  he  must  smoke  again;  not  drawn  to  it  by  any  fascina- 
tion, but  driven  to  it  l)y  the  horrible  sufferings  that  follow  close  upon  the  heels 
of  any  attemi)t  to  abandon  it. 


Scales  for  Weighing  Opium  (Lee  thank). 


Upon  the  liabitual  smoker  we  find  the  following  effects  resulting  from  a 
prolonged  use  of  the  drug: 

Loss  of  both  desire  and  power  for  continued  mental  effort,  tendency  to  lie 


Opium  Tray  (Heen  pun), 
without  any  good  reason  for  so  doing,  vacillation,  deterioration  of  honesty  and 
morality,  decided  falling  off  of  affection  for  family  and  friends,  loss  of  ambi- 
tion, as  also  of  all  interest  in  business  pursuits.    The  temper,  at  first  made 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


more  pleasant,  soon  becomes  very  irritable,  and  the  individual  v 
He  indifferently  watches  the  approach  of  poverty  th      w  i'l 


those  who  have  been 
so  dear  to  him.  His 
every  hope  and  de- 
sire are  centered  in 
the  pipe,  and  noth- 
ing can  draw  his 
attention    from  it. 


Bowl. 


Sponge  (Scy  pou). 
apathetic.  Conjunctivitis 
narrowly  contracted,  save 
ing  off  and  he  feels  the 


His  eyelids  are  bloated  and  darkly  ui 
eyes  now  bright  and  glistening,  and  a] 
is  not  uncommon.    The  pupils  are 
when  the  effect  of  the  drug  is  wear- 
need  of  opium,  when  they  become 
widely  dilated  and  water  pro- 
fusely. 

Financially  and  morally,  the 
ruin  and  degradation  are  more 
complete  than  in  any  other  way 
Opium  Box.  of  using  the  drug.  An  ordinary 

hard  smoker  will  consume  from  one  dollar  to  two  dollars'  worth 
of  the  drug  each  day.  and  will  spend  hours  over  the  pipe  to  the 
e.xclusion  of  everything  in  the  way  of  business. 

A  full  outfit  for  smoking  con- 
sists of  the  following  :  a  pipe,  a 
small  glass  lamp,  a  pair  of  scissors 
{cmv  ien),  a  long  steel  needle  {yen 
Clam  Shell  (Heen  hoop).       hauck),  a  saucer    and    sponge,  a 
bo.x  for  the  ashes,  two  bowl  cleaners,  and  a  buffalo-horn  bo.x 
{hop  toy)  for  holding  the  opium. 

The  opium  pipe,  the  origin  and  antiquity  of  which  are 
unknown,  though  supposed  to  have  first  come  from  Arabia, 
consists  of  two  parts,  a  stem  and  a  bowl.  The  stem  is 
usually  of  bamboo,  one  joint  and  a  quarter,  or  twenty-four 
inches  in  length  and  four  inches  in  circumference.  When 
new  it  is  of  a  straw  color,  but  with  long  smoking  becomes 
black  and  glossy.  The  stem  may  be  of  ivory,  orange,  or 
briar  wood,  or  sugar  cane,  and  is  occasionally  made  of 
lemon  rind,  cut,  dried,  and  polished.  The  lemon  stem  gives 
a  peculiarly  pleasant  taste  and  odor  to  the  smoke. 

At  about  the  junction  of  the  middle  and  lower  third,  or 
just  back  of  th«f  joint,  a  place  is  hollowed  out  of  the  side  of 
the  stem  and  communicates  with  its  longitudinal  perfora- 
tion.   About  this  hollow  there  fits  closely  a  shield  of  metal, 
Needle  usually  brass,  that  rises  in  a  rim  about  the  hole.   Into  this  is 

(Yen 

hauck).  fitted  the  bowl.   On  either  side  of  the  stem  is  fitted  a  button 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECIORS. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  523 

■*  . 

of  ivory.  These  stems  may  be  plain,  or  ornamented  with  silver  and  gold,  and 
variously  carved.  The  bowl  may  be  bell-shaped,  ovate,  or  hexagonal.  It  is 
usually  of  a  hard,  red  clay,  and  hollow.  c)n  its  under  surface  is  a  neck  or  flange 
by  which  it  is  fitteil  into  the  stem.  To  make  it  fit  tightly  this  is  wrapped  with 
strips  of  soft  linen. 

The  upper  surface  of  the  bowl  is  either  llat  or  sloping  downward  and  out- 
ward. In  its  centre  is  an  opening  about  sufficient  to  admit  an  ordinary  darning 
needle.    The  whole  pipe  is  called  the_>r«  tsieng,  or  opium-pistol. 

The  opium  used  for  smoking  is  prepared  in  China.  It  is  an  aqueous  extract, 
which  represents  fifty-four  per  cent,  of  the  crude  or  India  opium  from  which  it 
is  made.  This  crude  opium  contains  but  three  per  cent,  of  morphia,  as  against 
twelve  per  cent,  in  the  Smyrna  opium  used  in  this  country. 

Dr.  F.  N.  Hammond,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.  recently  read  a  paper  before  the 
Albany  Medical  Society  on  the  opium  habit.  Dr.  Hammond  himself  had 
formerly  been  an  opium  eater,  and  s[)oke  not  only  as  a  medical,  but  also  as  a 
personal  expert.  He  presented  some  very  significant  and  pointed  facts,  show- 
ing an  enormous  growth  in  the  use  of  ojjium  in  this  country.  In  1840  about 
twenty  thousand  pounds  of  ojjium  were  consumed  in  the  United  States;  in 
1880,  five  hundred  and  thirty-three  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty  pounds. 
In  1868  there  were  about  ninety  thousand  habitual  opium  eaters  in  the  country; 
now  they  number  over  five  hundred  thousand.  More  women  than  men  are 
addicted  to  the  use  of  the  drug.  The  vice  is  one  so  easily  contracted,  so 
easily  practiced  in  private,  and  so  difficult  of  detection,  that  it  presents  peculiar 
temptations  antl  is  very  insidious.  The  relit-f  \\<.m\  pain  that  it  gives,  and  the 
peculiar  exaltation  of  spirits,  easily  lead  the  victim  to  believe  that  the  use  of  it 
is  beneficial.  Opium  and  chloral  are  to-day  the  most  deadly  foes  of  women. 
To  break  off  from  the  habit,  he  says,  the  ojiium  eater  must  reduce  the  quantity 
of  his  daily  dose,  using  at  the  same  time  other  stimulants,  and  gradually  elimi- 
nate opium  from  his  bill  of  fare. 

The  history  of  the  introduction  and  growth  of  the  oi)ium  habit  in  this  city 
is  an  interesting  and  alarming  one.  The  forms  in  which  the  deadlv  product  of 
the  pojjpy  plant  are  used  are  manifold.  It  is  smoked,  eaten,  drank  in  various 
preparations,  and  even  injected  into  the  circulation  in  the  shape  of  morphine  by 
the  hypodermic  syringe.  All  of  these  modes  are  equally  enslaving,  and  all  lead 
to  the  same  inevitable  result— death.  The  most  debased  and  wretched  practice 
of  the  habit  is  smoking,  which  is  now  engaged  in  in  scores  of  "joints"  in  New 
York. 

.Vbout  twelve  years  ago,  when  the  Chinese  began  to  flock  to  this  citv  from 
the  Pacific  coast,  they  brought  with  tliem  their  ojiium  smoking  outfits.  The 
habit  has  been  rife  among  the  Celestials  for  generations,  and  those  who  know  the 
New  York  Mongolians  best  say  that  there  is  not  one  of  them  but  "hits  the  pipe" 
regularly  every  day.  Chinatown  is  in  Pell  Street,  the  lower  part  of  Mott  Street, 
and  the  crooked  old  by-ways  of  the  neighborhood.  Here,  packed  in  tall  tene- 
ments and  in  ricketty  old  dwellings  that  were  once  the  mansions  of  New  York's 
well-to-do  citizens,  dwell  the  children  of  the  sun,  with  their  laundries,  curio 
shops,  and  dingy  grocery  stores  and  club  houses.      For  years  the  Celestials 


524 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


carried  on  their  opium  smoking  with  the  utmost  secrecy,  and  very  few  outsiders 
knew  of  the  existence  of  their  haunts,  or  what  went  on  in  them.  After  a  while, 
however,  the  newspapers  began  to  print  highly-colored  stories  about  scenes  in 
the  "joints,"  descriptions  of  the  fashionable  ladies  who  were  alleged  to  be 
slaves  to  the  habit,  and  all  sorts  of  improbable  details  of  gorgeously  fitted-up 
dens  and  wealthy  patrons.  Of  course  these  stories  were  without  foundation  in 
fact,  but  the  general  public  took  kindly  to  them.  A  veteran  Police  Captain  said 
to  the  writer  recently  that  he  had  yet  to  hear  of  a  wealthy  or  refined  person  who 
was  in  the  habit  of  smoking  opium  in  the  joints;  "  And  I  think  I  ought  to  know 
something  about  the  joints,"  he  added,"  for  I  have  made  a  study  of  them  for  years." 

Still,  the  descriptions  of  the  opium  dens  stimulated  the  curiosity  of  that 
large  class  of  people  who  are  ever  on  the  lookout  for  a  new  sensation.  Men,  and 
in  many  cases,  women,  who  had  tried  all  other  forms  of  dissipation  and  found 
them  palling  on  their  tastes,  began  to  visit  the  resorts  and  to  smoke  the  poppy 
juice.    Those  whose  constitutions  had  been  undermined  by  much  dissipation 

were  peculiarly  susceptible  to  the  habit, 
and  it  soon  fastened  firmly  upon  them. 
The  lower  order  of  theatrical  people, 
variety  actors,  dancers,  and  many  of  the 
demi-monde  found  the  pleasures  of  the 
poppy  a  new  and  agreeable  substitute 
for  whiskey,  and  they  form  to-day  by  far 
the  greater  part  of  the  white  devotees 
of  the  pipe  in  New  York.  Many  stories 
have  been  from  time  to  time  published 
about  Chinamen  dragging  young  girls  in- 
to their  dens  and  stupefying  them  with 
the  drug,  but  they,  are  untrue  and  with- 
out foundation.  "Surely  they  are  really 
bad  enough,"  said  Captain  McCullagh,  of  the  Si.xth  Precinct,  "  without  adding 
imaginary  evils  to  the  list  of  offenses  laid  at  their  door.  The  Chinamen  are 
one  of  the  most  harmless  classes  of  dwellers  in  New  York.  They  interfere  with 
no  one,  they  never  fight  or  hurt  one  another,  and  you  never  find  them  drunk 
or  disorderly  on  the  streets.  Put  the  opuim  makes  sad  work  of  them.  Smokers 
who  look  reasonably  stout  and  strong  become  ghastly  pale,  and  shake  like 
sufferers  from  the  palsy  when  kept  without  the  drug  for  a  few  days." 

In  the  last  three  years  one  hundred  persons  have  been  arrested  by  the 
Police  of  this  city  in  their  raids  upon  opium  joints.  Of  these,  twelve  were  in 
1882,  nineteen  in  1883,  and  the  remainder  during  the  past  year.  These  signifi- 
cant figures  call  for  no  comment  as  showing  the  spread  of  the  vice.  Raiding 
the  joints  won't  stop  the  smoking,"  said  a  well-known  Police  Captain,  recently, 
"it  only  drives  the  Chinamen  from  one  house  to  another,  that's  all.  As  long  as 
Chinamen  are  Chinamen  they  will  continue  to  smoke  it." 

The  amount  of  vice  and  crime  springing  from  and  fostered  by  the  promis- 
cuous herding  together  of  human  beings  in  tenements  has  been  a  fruitful  source 
of  trouble  to  the  Police. 


Ch'nese  Merchant. 


OUR  POLICE  PRO'J'KC'l'ORS.  525 

In  all  the  eastern  part  of  New  York  city,  notably  between  Houston  and 
Fortieth  Streets,  there  is  an  over-crowding  of  human  beings  in  a  degree  far  be- 
yond anything  that  has  ever  been  known  in  any  civilized  country.     In  the 
Fourth  and  Sixth  Wards,  and  in  portions 
of  the  Ele\  enth  and  Seventeenth,  jioijula- 
tion  is  packed  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred 
and  ninety-two  thousand  individuals  to  the 
scpiare  mile,  and  in  the  Fourth  AVard  alom,' 
at  the   rate  of  two  hundred   and  ninct\ 
thousand  inhabitants  to  the  square  mik. 
The  most  densely  populated  districts  of 
London  do  not  approach  anywhere  near 
the  above 
fi  g  u  r  e  s. 
Thegreat- 
est  num- 
ber of  per- 
son  s  to 
the  square 
mile  there 
is  found  in 
East  Lon- 
don, one 
hundred 
and  sev- 
enty -  five 
thousand, 
while  the 
St.  James 
a  n  d  St. 
Luke  dis- 
tricts fol- 
low with 
only  one 
h  u  n  d  red 
and  forty- 
four  thou- 
sand and 
one  hun- 
dred and 
fifty-  one 
thousand 

people  per  square  mile  respectively.  Some  five  hundred  thousand  persons  live 
in  the  tenement  houses  of  this  city,  and  there  is  one  house  in  New  York  wherein 
one  thousand  five  hundred  tenants  dwell.  Twenty-four  separate  tenements, 
each  occupied  by  four  or  five  persons,  are  common  in  a  large  number  of  these 


Harbor  Police  Surprising  River  Thieves. 


526 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


houses,  or  an  average  of  one  hundred  souls  to  a  house  of  twenty-five  feet  front. 
Forty-eight  families  are  not  uncommon,  and  they  often  keep  boarders,  so  that 
ten,  and  often  fifteen  persons,  will  be  found  in  a  single  dwelling. 

What  refining  or  restraining  influences  of  family  life  are  possible  under 
such  surroundings?  Drunkenness  is  but  too  prevalent.  Weary  and  complaining 
wives,  cross  and  hungry  husbands,  wild  and  ungoverned  children,  will  inevitably 
jar  and  wrangle  with  each  other.  Dr.  Elisha  Harris,  of  the  New  York  Prison 
Association,  says:  "The  younger  criminals  seem  to  come  almost  exclusively  from 
the  worst  tenement  house  districts;  that  is,  when  traced  back  to  the  very  places 
where  they  first  had  homes.  Those  very  domiciles  are  nurseries  of  crime,  and 
of  the  vices  and  disorderly  courses  which  lead  to  crime.  At  least  eighty  per 
cent,  of  the  crimes  against  property  and  against  the  person  are  perpetrated  by 
individuals  who  never  had  any  home-life,  or  whose  homes  had  ceased  to  be  suf- 
ficiently separate,  decent  and  desirable,  to  afford  what  are  regarded  as  ordinary 
wholesiome  influences  of  home  and  family.  This  statement  is  based  upon  ac- 
curate observations  in  the  history  of  crimes  and  criminals  in  this  State." 

Whatever  may  be  the  cause  or  causes,  whether  intemperance,  overcrowded 
tenements,  ignorance,  or  inherited  d'^pravitv,  the  unwelcome  fact  remains  that 
crime  is  steadily  on  the  increase,  and  outstrips  "in  jirojjortion  the  growth  of 
population.  A  comparison  of  the  statistics,  as  taken  from  the  census  of  New- 
York  City  for  the  past  ten  years,  and  the  record  of  arrests  and  convictions  in 
Criminal  Courts  for  the  same  period,  show  that  the  preponderance  in  the 
growth  of  crime  over  population  is  as  eleven  to  ten.  This  ought  to  cause  our 
Ian  makers  and  all  thoughtful  men  to  consider  (juickly  the  best  means  of  check- 
ing the  rising  tide  of  evil  doings,  bv  improving  the  public  morals,  and  thus 
lighten  the  labors  imposed  upon  "Our  Police  Protectors." 


OUR   POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Following  is  a  complete  list  ot  members  of  the  Police  force  uj>  to  Mav  i,  18815, 
and  the  date  of  their  appointment  : 


Na\ik  Date  of  A])pointn»e?il 

A 

Abbott,  N.  B  Aug.  21,  1866 

Ackerson,  Wm.  T  Oct.  10,  1865 

Adams,  Geo.  AV  July  2,  1884 

Adams,  James  Feb.  10,  1882 

.\dams,  Richard  June  18,  1870 

Adams,  T.  F  June  27,  1882 

Adler,  Anton  Jan.  2,  1873 

Agnew,  Jno  Feb.  17,  1869 

Ahearn,  Thos  Feb.  11,  1858 

Ahearn,  Thos  Feb.  16,  1881 

Ahearn.  W.  H  Feb.  11,  1873 

Ahearn,  Wm  Aug.  5,  1882 

.\hern.  James  Mch.  25,  1876 

Ahles,  Henry.   Mch.  2i„  1880 

Ahrens,  Henry  Feb.  27,  1884 

Ahrens,  Jacob  May  20,  1870 

Aiguier,  Gabriel  Sep.  3,  1862 

Aiken,  G.  H  Dec.  11,  1872 

Aiken,  Samuel  Oct.  8,  1883 

Aitchison,  J.  D  F'eb.  i,  1882 

Aitkin,  Henry  June  3,  1872 

Albertson,  C.  L  Feb.  7.  1879 

Albin,  Isaac  H  June  10,  1857 

.\lexander,  D.  W  Aug.  28,  1876 

Allaire,  Anthony  j  ..  Capt.July  10,  1865 

Allaire,  C.  D  Nov.  7,  1873 

Allen,  Christo;)her  Dec.  7,  1863 

Allen,  Myron,  Scrgt .  .  .  .Mch.  9,  1866 

.\nderson,  G.  J  Dec.  13,  1866 

Anderson,  Geo  Nov.  17,  1863 

Anderson,  Robert  Apr.  20  1883 

.\ndesner,  A  Mch.  20,  1875 

Andrews,  G.  J  F'eb.  i,  1882 

Anthes,  W.  H  May  7.  1874 

Apple,  Jno  Jan.  22,  1881 


^■^"^  Date  of  Appointment 

Archibald,  Daniel  Jan.  7,  1873 

Arfken,  G.  L  Nov.  i,  1878 

Armstrong,  A  Oct.  20,  1883 

Armstrong,  Henry,No.  i.Nov.  25,1868 

Armstrong,  J.  G  Dec.  29,  1874 

Armstrong,  W.  J  Mch.  18,  1881 

Arnold,  Daniel  S  June  25,  1869 

.\ssing,  Wm  Aug.  15,  1884 

Atkins,  Lewis  July  9,  1884 

Austin,  E.  L  Aug.  18,  1869 

Ayres,  J.  B  Apr.  27,  1883 

B 

Back,  Chas.  E  June  21,  1884 

Back,  Emil  Feb.  22,  1873 

Back,  G.  F  May  14,  1872 

Back,  Joseph  May  8,  1882 

Bailey,  Sam'l  Oct.  29,  1883 

Baird,  Alex  Feb.  7,  1873 

Baker,  Chas.  S  Dec.  31,  1878 

Baker,  Frank  May  10,  1871 

Baker,  Jno  May  21,  1872 

Baker,  Thos  April  24,  1875 

Baker,  Wm  Apr.  8,  1882 

Baldwin,  Sumner  July  17,  1880 

Ballester,  Jno  Apr.  18,  1883 

Banigan,  Thos  Oct.  14,  1881 

Banker,  John  Mch.  25,  1865 

Banks,  Geo  June  17,  1881 

Bannon,  Francis  Feb.  18,  1885 

Bannon,  Jno.  J  July  3,  1884 

Barnes,  Leverett  June  3,  1873 

Barnwell,  Pat'k  Oct.  17,  1874 

Barrett,  Michael  May  25,  1863 

Barrett,  Peter  July  15,  1884 

Barrett,  Richard  Feb.  27,  1875 


528  OUR  POLICE 


Name 

Date  of  Appoir 

tment 

1870 

1877 

T>                   T  TT* 

1084 

Barry,  Jas.  W  

A  1 

.  .  Apl.  20, 

1883 

Barrv,  P.  J  

.  .  .  Feb.  8, 

1870 

0  i.  fc. 

1870 

T>                     T»  T 

1870 

A  ^1  0 

1802 

Bartley,  Uavid  

. .  reb.  29, 

1876 

,00. 

1 084 

r\ L.  ^ 

I  870 

y  Si  r 

1^75 

"O                                    T  ^    1   1 

TV  f  

1872 

TVT  0 

1004 

Baumgarten,.  Ignatz . 

.Aug.  29, 

T>   T? 

•  -  Apr.  15, 

1878 

1883 

Ti             n  r  c 

0  .A. 

1863 

1873 

Beattv,  Thos  

0  _ 

1857 

"T~l  _  ^  1.1   TXT-  

■Aug.  31, 

,  0  »  0 
1878 

.  Mch.  31, 

1875 

looO 

Beckingham,  Patrick. 

.  .  May  27, 

1882 

Beeck,  Cnas  

1 872 

.  .  .Jan.  4, 

Q  Q  ^ 
1002 

„4.  

1873 

_  0  _ 
1876 

I  oOo 

•  .  .Apr.  3, 

_  0  _ 

1871 

1874 

T)  1                          A  T? 

1879 

Benjamin,  Chas.  E.. 

.Aug.  28, 

1876 

1874 

Bennett,  J.  P  

•  -  Apr.  23, 

1857 

Bennett,  J  no.  M  

...July  3, 

1857 

Bennett,Theron  R.,Capt.Apr.  23, 

1857 

.  Mch.  23, 

1 870 

.  .  .  Apr.  8, 

1882 

Berghold,  W.  C.  F.,  Capt.Oct.  20, 

1864 

.Mch.  19, 

1880 

1857 

1872 

.  . .  Mav  4, 

1875 

Berrian,  Rich'd  

.Juno  23, 

1883 

PROTECTORS. 

Name  Date  of  Appointment 

Bevans,  Geo.  R  Apr.  8,  1867 

Bicknell,  Geo  Dec.  ii,  1874 

Bingham,  E.  K  Dec.  22,  1877 

Bird,  Edmond  Sept.  18,  1863 

Bird,  Isaac,  Sergt  Feb.  5,  1859 

Birmingham,  Bernard  F.Oct.  9,  1878 

Bischoff,  Henry  C  Oct.  9,  1883 

Bissert,  Michael  Feb.  18.  1868 

Black,  Jas.  B  Aug.  26,  1868 

Blackwood,  S.  H  July  16,  1857 

Blair,  Wm.,  Sergt  Feb.  13,  1858 

Blanch,  Thos.  V  Apr.  7,  1880 

Blangey,  Nelson  Sept.  23,  1867 

Blass,  Philip  Oct.  9,  1873 

Bleil,  Phelp  C  Sept.  8,  1875 

Bliss,  Chas.  R  Dec.  3,  1867 

Block,  Henry  Apr.  17,  1877 

Blonk,  G.  W  Apr.  29,  1875 

Bobel,  Geo  Oct.  12,  1883 

Bockhorn,  Chas.  I  Oct.  31,  1881 

Boehme,  Christoi)her,Sergt.Sep  3,1862 

Bogart,  W.  H  June  2,  1866 

Bohan,  C'has  Aug.  17,  1870 

Bolger,  Pat"k  Sept.  23,  1874 

Bolster,  D.  R  Oct.  13,  1869 

Bon,  Michael  Feb.  26,  1873 

Boos,  Wm  Mch.  27,  1882 

Boothney,  Jno  Oct.  15,  1881 

Bowe,  Jno.  J  Aug.  15,  1884 

Bower,  Wm  Apr.  12,  1865 

Bowes,  Thos  Feb.  10,  1879 

Boylan,  Henry  Nov.  17,  1870 

Boyle,  Chas.  H  Jan.  13,  1882 

Boyle,  Geo.  W  May  27,  1876 

Boyle,  Jas  May  13,  1881 

Boyle,  Jno  Aug.  3,  1868 

Boyle,  Thos  Jan.  13,  1875 

Boylston,  Martin  Dec.  27,  1875 

Bradshaw,  Joseph  S..  .  .A])r.  26,  1882 

Bradley,  Andrew  Sept.  23,  1881 

Bradley,  Jno.  J  Oct.  29,  1883 

Bradley,  Thos  June  21,  1866 

Brady,  Christopher  July  13,  1870 

Brady,  Edward  May  14,  1883 

Brady,  Jas  Jan.  3,  1872 


OUR  POLICE 


Namk 

Date  of  Appoil 

tinenl 

Brady,  Jas.  '1"  

.  May  20, 

I  881 

. . .  Feb.  3, 

1859 

.  .  July  17, 

1882 

.  .Oct.  27, 

1874 

Brady,  Thomas  

.  .  .July  6, 

1883 

Bradv,  Thos.  F  

•  -  July  28, 

1869 

Braisted,  Geo.  R .  .  .  . 

1871 

1883 

.  .Apr.  17, 

1882 

Breakall,  W.  H  

..Jan.  12, 

1872 

Breen,  Chas.  R  

.  Sept.  29, 

1882 

.  .Apr.  27, 

1883 

187I 

.  ..\i)r.  14. 

1874 

Breen,  Pat'k  

■  Oct.  14, 

1870 

Breen,  Rich'd  H. .  .  . 

1876 

Brennan,  Edward  .  .  . 

1870 

Brennan,  Edward .  ,  . 

.  .  Dec.  27, 

1875 

1882 

1870 

Brennan,  Jas.,  No.  i. 

.Mch.  1 8, 

1874 

•875 

Brennan,  Jas.  F  

..Aug.  14, 

1878 

Brennan,  John  

1864 

1870 

Brennan,  Pat'k  

.  . .  Dec.  9, 

1874 

Brennan,  Peter  A .  .  . 

.  .  .June  7, 

1882 

Brennan,  Thos  

.  .Jan.  28, 

i860 

Brereton,  Toseph .... 

.  .Apr.  18, 

1883 

Breslin,  Thos  

.  .  .  Feb.  7, 

1885 

Brett,  Edw'd  F  

.Sept.  19, 

I  881 

1884 

.  .  Feb.  14, 

1874 

Britton,  John  

1866 

•  •  •  Aug.  3, 

1876 

.  .  Nov.  5, 

1883 

Brogan,  Jno.  J.,  Capt 

.  .  Jan.  26, 

1865 

Brogan,  Joseph  R .  .  . 

.  .  June  16, 

1884 

Brogan,  Pat'k  

.  .  Apr.  24, 

1874 

■  •  Aug.  27, 

1884 

1872 

Mch.  I, 

1872 

1879 

Brooks.  Nicholas,  Sergt.  Apr.  15, 

1867 

Brophy,  J.  J.,  Sergt. . 

.Sept.  14. 

1871 

RO  TEC  TORS. 

529 

Namk 

Date  of  Appoil 

itmcnC 

Brophv,  Michael .  .  . 

.  .Aug.  16, 

1869 

.  .  ..\pr.  14, 

1868 

Brower,  Wni.  T .  .  .  . 

.  .  Feb.  21, 

1880 

Brown,  Andrew.  .  .  . 

.  \pr.  8, 

1885 

Brown,  H.  M  

.  .  .  Jan.  22, 

1872 

1866 

Brown,  Jacob  

.  .  Mch.  24, 

1884 

1867 

.  .  .Oct.  21, 

1878 

...Oct.  25, 

1883 

Brown,  S.  E.,  Sergt . 

.  .  .  Apr.  18, 

1868 

.  .Feb.  18, 

1885 

1862 

Bruen,  Matthias.  .  .  . 

 Jan.  7. 

1 881 

.Oct.  7, 

1874 

.  .  .  Jan.  24, 

1884 

Brunner,  Abraham. . 

.  .  .Oct.  30, 

1882 

1884 

Brunner,  Jacob  

.  .  .  Mch.  3, 

1875 

Bruns,  Martin  

.  .  Aug.  10, 

1876 

Brush.  J.  C  

1871 

Brush,  J.  J  

.  .  Sept.  27, 

1870 

Buckley,  E.  J  

..Dec.  15, 

1864 

Bucklev,  J.  F  

.  .  Dec.  19, 

187.' 

Buckley,  John  

..Apr.  17, 

1873 

Buckley,  John .... 

.  .  .  Noy.  3, 

1877 

Buckridge,  Stephen. 

•  ■  •  Aug.  3, 

1868 

Buddington,  C.  C,  Sergt.  June  8, 

1864 

.Dec.  18, 

1872 

Buhler,  J.  J  

.  .  .Oct.  I, 

1862 

.  .Sept.  13. 

1880 

•  -  Aug.  23, 

1867 

1877 

Burke,  J.  C.  

 Jan.  3, 

1873 

..Sept.  15, 

1869 

Burke,  Jas  

•■Aug.  15, 

1884 

Burke,  Lawrence  .  .  . 

.  .  Noy.  22, 

1867 

Burke,  Mich'l  J 

1 88 1 

Burke,  Richard  

.  .  .  May  7, 

1873 

Burke,  Wni.,  No.  i .  . 

.  .  Dec.  20, 

1867 

Burkit,  Thos  

Mch.  10, 

1869 

1874 

Burns,  Edward  

1S75 

1876 

1882 

53° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Name 

Date  of  Appointment 

Apr.  8, 

1885 

Tl      _     _  T  

1884 

O  .  .   7  

Tiint*  I  c 

1887 

Dec.  7 

1872 

Bush,  Chas.  E  

.  Mch.  2  2, 

1S62 

Tl         1         XT      il    '1                 C*  i_ 

Bush,  Nath  1  D.,  Sergt. 

.  Mch.  29, 

1876 

Feb,  17, 

186  >; 

Jan.  22, 

I88I 

Mch  14 

1874. 

Buttlinger,  Edward. .  . 

.Dec.  24, 

1878 

.  Sept.  20, 

June  6, 

1884 

Byrne,  Mich'l  

Tulv  10, 

1882 

Nov.  18, 

1868 

.Sept.  20, 

187^ 

1880 

Byrnes,  Edward  

1868 

.Oct.  27, 

1874, 

•Sept.  15, 

1882 

•  •  Jan.  3, 

1070 

Byrnes,  Thomas,  Insp.  .Dec.  lo, 

1003 

1882 

c 

i860 

Caff  rev,  Chas.  W.,  Caj) 

t.Feb.  13, 

i8i;8 

188^ 

Cagney,  Maurice  E. .  . 

.  Mch.  21, 

1884 

.  Nov.  25, 

187J. 

Cahill,  Denis,  Sergt. .  . 

.June  18, 

1870 

Cahill,  Mich'l  

.Feb.  28, 

1884 

Cahill,  Pat'k  

187? 

Cahill,  Rich'd  

•  -  Feb.  5, 

1878 

Cahill,  Wni  

1872 

1871 

i88i 

.Dec.  6, 

1878 

.Oct.  II, 

1871? 

187^ 

1870 

.June  12, 

1880 

1876 

Campbell,  Matthew.  . 

.  .Jan.  24. 

1868 

Campbell,  Rob't  E.  M..Oct.  ii, 

1873 

•  Aug.  14, 

T871 

N  AMK 

Date  of  Appoif 

itment 

Campbell,  \\ .  J  

.  .Oct.  2  1, 

I  88 1 

.  .  Feb.  12, 

1866 

Cannon,  Jas.  E  

.  .  Apr.  2, 

1875 

  T  \ 

.  .Aug.  7, 

1873 

Carey,  Edmutid  

.  Dec.  16, 

1874 

Carey,  J  as.  r  

■  •Jan-  1.3, 

1875 

I  881 

1 881 

1883 

Carley,  Thos.  E  

,  Apr.  TO, 

1874 

Carlin,  Francis  

Jan.  24, 

1870 

1864 

Carman,  Thos.  .A.  .  . 

.  .  Apr.  7, 

1882 

Carmick,  Stephen 

.Apr.  24, 

1867 

Carpenter,Edward,Sergt.Aug.  i6. 

1869 

Carpenter,  T.H.B., Sergt.  Jan.  21, 

1 86 1 

Carpenter,  E  

.  Sept.  1 1 , 

1868 

Carr,  Cilbert  

Oct.  10, 

1870 

Carr  Jno  H 

Mch  8 

1870 

Carr,  John  

Nov  1  X 

1879 

Carroll  Chas  C 

June  14 

1882 

Carroll,  H.  B  

Tulv 

1872 

Carroll,  Jno.  W  

Tulv  10. 

1882 

Carroll  Martin 

Nov  I 

1878 

Carroll,  Mich'l  

,  Jan.  ID, 

1873 

Carroll,  Pat'k  

Mch.  3, 

1882 

May  10, 

1872 

Carstens,  Jno  

,  .  Apr.  I. 

1878 

Carter,  Jesse  

Mav  7, 

1879 

Carter,  Peter  

Apr.  8, 

1885 

Carter,  Peter  D  

.  ,  Mav  4, 

1884 

Carter,  Thos.  J  

.  Dec.  14, 

[874 

Casey,  Jas  

.  .  Dec.  2, 

1872 

1883 

Casey,  Mich'l  

.Dec.  17, 

1883 

Cashin,  Joseph  H 

fVb.  21, 

1880 

Cashin,  Pat'k  

.  .  .Jan.  I, 

1874 

Cashman,  Edw'd  

Mch.  8, 

1871 

Cassidy,  Philip,  Sergt. 

.  .  ..Ich.  8, 

1870 

Cassidv,  Thos  

Mch.  10, 

1884 

Castle,  Geo.  A  

Mav  9, 

1867 

Cavanagh,  Jno  

.  .  Jan.  19, 

1870 

1877 

Chapman,  Henry  

June  1 1, 

1877 

Charlton,  Rob't  

Mch.  6. 

1884 

OUR  POLICE 


Namk.  Date  of  Appoi 

Christie,  Wni.  H.,  Scrgt .  Feb.  i6, 

Christopher,  ]5enj  Dec.  15 

Clirystal,  Thos.  J  \pr.  15 

Cluirch,  Geo.  W  June  23 

Churchill,  J  as  Dec.  18 

Clary,  Roh't  T  \i)r.  15 

Clapp,  Ira  M  Oct.  1 1 

Clark,  Chas.  E  Dec.  22 

Clark,  Dan'l  \V  Vug.  15 

Clark,  Hugli,  Sergt  Jan.  14 

Clark,  Jesse  R  N'ov.  13 

Clark,  John  May  i 

Clark,  Jno.  C  Apr.  8 

Clark,  Rob't  W  \pr.  15 

Clark,  Thos  July  16 

Clark,  Wm.,  Jr  \pr.  9 

Clark,  Wm.,  Sr  Feb.  3 

Clark,  Wm.  A  Mch.  20 

Clarke,  Christopher..  .  .June  11 

Clarke,  Francis  J  June  30 

Clarke,  Jas.  C  Jan.  i 

Clarke,  Wm  July  5 

Clarker,  Jno.  T  Dec.  27 

Clarkin,  Peter  Dec.  9 

Clarkin,  Thos  June  13 

Clarson,  Law  Julv  9 

Clarson,  R.  J  Feb.  4 

Cleary,  Wm  Oct.  22 

Clemens,  Dan'l  W  Dec.  19 

Clifford,  Edward  Apr.  18 

Clifford,  Rob't..  .  :  Sept.  2 

Clifford,  Thos.  M  Apr.  8, 

Clinchy,  Ceo  Nov.  i 

Clinchy,  Wm.  1 1.,  (!a])t .  Mav  12 

C'linton,  Law  July  15 

Clune,  Patrick  Oct.  28 

Coady,  Jno.  J  \pr.  21 

Coakley,  Thos  Nov.  11 

Cochran,  Jas.  H  Jan.  24 

Cody,  Dan'l  Jan.  22 

Coen,  Jas  Jan.  8 

Coen,  Thos  Feb.  22 

Coffey.  P.  J  Dec.  2 

Coffey,  Wm.  T.,  Sergt.. Vug.  18 
Coffy,  Dan'l  Nov.  2 


863 
866 
876 

857 
883 
885 

873 
869 
884 
861 
883 
866 
876 
885 
867 
869 

859 
884 
883 
877 
874 
882 

875 
876 
870 
870 
884 
883 
883 
883 
881 
876 
862 
865 
876 
868 
883 
879 
884 
861 
881 

873 
869 
869 
S64 


PROTECTORS.  531 

Namk  Date  of  Appniiitmcnt 

Coffy,  Rich'd,  .'^eri^t..  .  .May  22,  1873 

Cogan,  Rich'd  |  Mch.  7,  1885 

Cogans,  Jno  May  1,  1877 

Colbert,  M.  J  .May  6,  1882 

I     Colby,  Wni  .Ajjr.  20,  1883 

I     Cole,  .Vmbrose  II  Aug.  12,  1876 

j    Colegrove,Edward, Sergt.  July  27,  i86o 

i     Coleman,  Law.  F  Dec.  16,  1881 

j     Coleman,  N.  H  Jan.  11,  1865 

Coleman,  Wm.  S  June  22,  1883 

I     Colgan,  Jas.  A  June  21,  1884 

Colgan,  Maurice  Jan.  24,  1884 

Collard,  Edward  Nov.  19,  1857 

Colligan,  J.  H  Mch.  28,  1881 

Collins,  Denis  Oct.  9,  1873 

Collins,  Edward  A  Oct.  25,  1883 

Collins,  Eugene  D  June  9,  1882 

Collins,  Jno  Sept.  28,  1883 

Collins,  Jno  Jan.  24,  1884 

Collins,  Mich'l,  Sergt.  .Mch.  16,  1870 

Collins,  Wm  Sept.  7,  1874 

Collins,  Wm.  J  Nov.  24,  1883 

Colvin,  Jno.  A  July  6,  1880 

Combs,  Chas.U.,  Jr.Sergt.Apr.24,1867 

Conboy,  Thos  Oct.  8,  1881 

Concannon,  Jas.  J  June  2,  1884 

Condon,  Jno  Mch.  20,  1882 

Condon,  Jno.  H  Oct.  27,  1874 

Conklin,  E.  W  Feb.  25,  1873 

Conklin,  Jas.  E  Jan.  23,  1867 

Conklin,  Taylor  Mch.  4,  1873 

Conkling,  Rich'd  C. .  .  .Sept.  28,  1883 

Conley,  Wm  Nov.  24,  1883 

Conlin,  M.  F  Aug.  17,  1870 

Conlin,  Peter,  Capt.  .  .  .July  29,  1869 

Conlon,  Micli'l  Dec.  19,  1883 

Connell,  Jas  Feb.  21,  1872 

Connolly,  i!  Dec.  ii,  1869 

Connolly,  P..  J  Sept.  28,  1883 

Connolly,  Law  Nov.  14,  1873 

Connolly,  Mich'l  June  21,  1882 

Connolly,  Thos  Apr.  25,  1882 

Connor,  Dan'l  I"  Mch.  17,  1884 

Connor,  Geo  Jan.  20,  1872 

Connor,  Jas.  J  Mch.  28,  1879 


OUR  POLICE 


Name 

Date  of  Appoir 

tmcnt 

Connor,  J  no  

Jan.  10, 

Connor,  Mich'l  

1072 

Connor,  Neil  W .  .  .  . 

.  .  .Jan.  4, 

1881 

Connor,  Pat'k,  Sergt 

.  .  .  .  Jan.  I, 

0  — 

1874 

1072 

r-y  T  

1070 

Conovan,  Owen  

I  004 

.  .Aug.  27, 

1874 

Conway,  Anthonv .  .  . 

.  .  Feb.  15, 

IOO4 

Conway,  Chas  

0(  t.  14, 

0  _  . 

1070 

T  Q  Q 

1883 

Conwell,  Jas  

XT 

.  .  .Nov.  3, 

1869 

■\  r  , 

1864 

.  .July  II, 

Y  Q  ^- 

i»S7 

Cook,  Stephen  G.Surg 

5eon.Sep.15, 

0  — 

1873 

1      n  r        T  T 

Cook,  Wm.  H  

,  0  —  / 
1876 

. .  Aug.  23, 

1866 

/  1   7  

1870 

Coonev,  Mich'l  J,  .  .  . 

1883 

,  .  Feb.  1 1 , 

1884 

1876 

1876 

Copeland/I'heron  S.,Capt.J'Iy  1 1, 

1857 

Corbett,  Jno.  J  

.  .  Sept.  11, 

1875 

Corbitt,  Henry O.,  Sergt.  Jan.  20, 

1872 

.  .  .  Jan.  7, 

1884 

Corey,  Jno.  V.  B. . .  . 

. . .  Nov.  I, 

1872 

1884 

Cortright,  M.  W.,  Capt.Jan.  17, 

I  007 

I  80  I 

1882 

. .  Oct.  30, 

1882 

1883 

Cosgrove,  Wm.  F 

.  .Nov.  15, 

1876 

Costa,  Ed.  y  

.  .  Feb.  14, 

1882 

,  Mch.  I, 

T   0  M  K 
1876 

,  Dec.  6. 

1070 

1 809 

Cottrell,  Jno  

.  .Mch.  26, 

1875 

.  .  .Nov.  3, 

1877 

1872 

1874 

•  -  Aug.  17, 

1870 

1878 

PROTECTORS. 


NaiMF.                          Date  of  Appoir 

itmcnt 

Cox,  Hatfield  S  

Aug  16, 

_  0  y 
1866 

June  14, 

,00^ 
1882 

Oct.  24, 

1874 

1875 

Feb.  18, 

1804 

Coyle  Jno  T  .... 

\Dr  1 1 

I  001 

Covle,  Thos.  T  

.  May  20, 

1878 

Craig,  Archibald  M 

■\.pr.  21. 

*  0  0  . 

1804 

Crai2.  Toseoh  T  

Mch  I X. 

*  0  0  < 

1884 

Crawford,  David  .... 

Sent.  t;. 

1870 

Creamer,  Francis  A. . 

.Feb.  18, 

1885 

Crean,  Jno  

Aug.  7. 

1876 

1876 

Creeden,  D.  1  

Mch.  29, 

_  0  0 

1884 

Creeden,  T.  J.,  Sergt. . 

.  .Oct.  5, 

1804 

Creenan,  Mich'l.  .  .  . 

Mch  27, 

T  OjC  0 

1808 

Cregan,  Mich'l  F 

Nov  27 

0  0 

1883 

Cregier,  F  J 

Feb  14 

1884 

Creighton,  Jno.  G  

Mch.  24, 

1874 

Crinnion  Jno 

\nr  8 

1885 

Crinnion,  Pat'k  

Sept.  7, 

1870 

Crittenden,  Chas.  W . 

Feb  I  X 

1 80 1 

Croker,  Jno.  A.,  Sergt . 

.  Nov.  1 2, 

1862 

Croker  Walter 

May  1 J 

1865 

(Bromley  Jas 

Dec  6 

1866 

Cronin,  Denis 

Oct  1 1 

1870 

Cronin   Jas  J 

June  2, 

1882 

Cronin,  Jno.  I  

Julv  16, 

1883 

Cronin,  Jno  ] 

Dec  17, 

1883 

Cronin,  T.  T  

Oct.  22, 

1883 

Crook,  Alfred  

\lir.  12, 

1870 

1884 

Crook  Jno 

Scot  2?. 

1873 

Crorken  Jas 

Tan  ''A 
.J till,  --f. 

1884 

Crosby  jas 

Feb   1 1 

1858 

Crosbv  Jas  C 

Dec  K. 

1872 

Crosbv,  Patrick  

Mch.  1 7, 

1882 

Cross,  Adam  A.,  Serijt. 

.Oct.  16, 

1 878 

Crossett,  Wm  

Feb.  6, 

1882 

Crowe,  Jas  

■  -  Feb.  5, 

1008 

Crowe,  Jas.  F  

..July  6, 

I  002 

Crowley,  Daniel  K.  .  . 

|une  18, 

1877 

Crowley,  Francis  B .  .  . 

.Jan.  26, 

1876 

Crowley,  Jas.,Supt.  Tel. Sept.  12, 

i860 

Mch.  16, 

1870 

OUR  POLICE 


Namk                        Date  of  Appo 

ntmcnt 

Crowle\',  Micli'l,  Xo,  i 

.Oct.  18, 

1809 

Crowley,  \Iich'l,  Xo.  2 

l*^pb  ^  c 

1  870 

Crowley,  Mich'l,  No.  3 

.Aug.  26, 

Cruise,  Will  

Mch.  20, 

1873 

Cuff,  J  no.  T  

Apr.  8, 

1873 

Culhane,  John  

\pr.  26, 

1802 

Feb  26, 

1672 

Cullv,  Pat'k  

Oct.  14, 

_  0  _  0 

1 87iS 

Cuniiskey  Jas 

A  HIT 

.  0  K  0 

I  O'Jfi 

Cumniings,  1>  

Dec.  26, 

1883 

Cuinmincs,  G.  11  

Dec.  1 1, 

1865 

Cunimings,  Pat'k.  .  .  . 

Sept.  16, 

1873 

Cunningham  Jno 

Nov  1 0 

1 609 

Cunningham,  Thos.  M 

Mch.  14, 

1876 

Cunyes,  Jas.  D  

Feb.  20, 

0  0 

1880 

Curley,  Jno.  T  

Sent  I  X. 

I  007 

Curran,  Dan'l  

Tulv  24, 

1872 

Curran,  Jno  | 

Feb  8 

1004 

Curran,  Peter  

Sept.  30, 

1868 

Curry,  Jas 

•\  ViT  f 

1872 

Tulv  I, 

1876 

1    IlT*r\'      r-T  H"l*i  c/'^n 

A  n  (T    1 5i 

1869 

Curtis,  Geo.  W  

Oct.  22, 

i8Si 

Cusack,  John  

Aug.  15. 

1884 

It 

Daab,  Philip  ".  . 

1871 

Dahlgren,Gustavus,Sergt.Nov.2  2 

1866 

Dakin,  Wm.  H  

Mch.  27, 

1873 

Dalbeck,  Joseph  F. .  .  . 

.  .  Jan.  6, 

1868 

Dalton,  Jas  

Mch.  21, 

0  0 

1882 

Dalton,  Thos  

Apr.  29, 

1876 

Dalton,  AVm.,  No.  i..  . 

.  Dec.  29, 

1870 

Dalton,  Wm..  No.  2.. 

..Apr.  14, 

1874 

Daly,  Law.  C  

.  .Apr.  9, 

1872 

Daly,  Pat'k  

.  .  Aug.  6, 

1884 

Dapping,  Chas  

.Aug.  19. 

I88I 

D'.'\rcy,  Geo.  F  

Sept.  20, 

1880 

Darke,  Nath'l  

.  .Feb.  5, 

1861 

Darke.  Wm.  D  

Oct.  2. 

1865 

Darmodv,  Jno  

Sept.  14, 

1883 

Darragh,  Wm  

.Apr.  28, 

1880 

Davis,  Chas.  H  

June  T,, 

1868 

1  )avis,  Chas.  O  

Mch.  6, 

1880 

Davis,  David  

Mch.  15, 

1876 

/  AU J 1  UK^i. 

5.3.1 

Namk 

Dale  of  .Vppoii 

itmeiiC 

Davis,  Geo  

•  •  Aug.  3, 

1861 

Davis,  Geo  

Oct.  30, 

1882 

.  .  Feb.  3, 

1859 

1872 

1883 

Mch.  24, 

1884 

Dean,  Wm  

.  .Oct.  13, 

1869 

Debon,  Jas  

Oct.  26, 

1872 

i    Deering,  Wm.  F  

May  16, 

1883 

1    Deeves,  Wm.  15  

Mch.  3, 

1875 

Deevy,  Jefferson .... 

Apr.  26, 

1877 

De  Gan,  Louis  

Oct.  8, 

1873 

1883 

1883 

1    De  Groot,  L.  G  

.  .Jan.  31, 

1 881 

De  Lamater,  E.  R.,Sergt .  Jan.  11, 

1862 

j     Delamater,  Jas.  F'.  .  . 

.Ai)r.  27, 

1S83 

Delaney,  Chas  

Dec.  17, 

1863 

Delanev,  Dan'l  

•  -  Sept.  3, 

1873 

'     Delanev,  Edward 

. Tune  30, 

1883 

Delanev,  Geo  

.Apr.  II, 

1884 

Delaney,  Jas  

.  .Jan.  1 1, 

1871 

Delaney,  Jno.,  Sergt.  . 

.  .  Nov.  7, 

1873 

Delaney,  Jno  

.Apr.  27, 

1883 

Delanev,  Mich'l  

Mav  6, 

i88i 

Delanev,  Peter  

.  .  Apr.  9, 

1879 

Delanev,  Wm  

Oct.  28, 

1871 

Dempsev,  Pat'k  

Mav  10, 

1865 

Dempsev,  Rob't  1" 

June  6, 

1884 

.  .  .  Jan.  9, 

1871 

Deneen,  Peter  

Tune  30, 

1883 

Dennerlein,  Geo  

,  Sept.  1 1, 

1875 

Dennerlein,  Jno  

Oct.  27, 

1874 

Dennin,  Thos  

•  -  .T'lly  5, 

1882 

De  Nvse,  Aug.  M 

•Apr.  15, 

1876 

De  Shays,  Miles,  Sergt. Apr.  30, 

1862 

Deverv,  Jno  

.  .  Apr.  8, 

1875 

Devery,  Wm.  S.,  Sergt 

.June  19, 

1878 

1874 

Devoe,  W.  T.,  Ser-l 

Mch.  1, 

1 86 1 

De  Voursney,  C'has.  H 

.  Sept.  26, 

■875 

Dexter,  Benj.F., Surgeon. Mch.  20, 

1876 

Dickev,  Jno  

•  Ju'y  15. 

1S76 

Dilks,  Geo.  H  

Mav  20, 

1876 

Dilks,  Geo.  W..  Insp.  . 

..\pr.  23, 

•857 

534 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS 


Namh                   ,         Dale  of  Appoin 

tineiit 

Dinsmoor,  J  N 

Apr.  6, 

[863 

Ditniars,  Montgomery . 

Eel)  ci; 

[867 

Dixon,  Christopher. 

Mclh.  14 

1873 

Dixon  AVni 

Sept.  21, 

1870 

Doess,  Jacob  H  .  . . 

June  4, 

1874 

Dohertv,  Sam'l  

AuEf.  10, 

[876 

Dokel,  Deitrich  

Tan.  20. 

,  0  »  . 

[873 

Dolan  Mich'l 

Eeb  2 1 

0  0  , 

[884 

Dolan  Pat'k 

Se|)t.  28, 

1864 

Dolan  Pat'k  E  

Apr  8 

[885 

Dolan  Xhos  E  . . 

AUET    I  ? 

1884 

Donahue,  Jas  

AtJr.  14, 

[882 

Donahue  Thos 

Eeb  4 

[004 

Donegan  David  B 

May  28,  ) 

[884 

Doneliue,  Jno  

June  29, 

[86 1 

Donlen^  Mich'l  

Feb.  10, 

[885 

Donnelly,  Ed.  J  

\pr.  28, 

[ 

Donnelly  Erancis 

Feb  8 

r  Q  M» 
[570 

Donnelly  Peter   

Eeb   11  1 

[873 

Donnelly  '^Phos 

Alav  I  '* 

[874 

Sept.  24, 

[883 

Donogluie,  Thos  

Apr.  0, 

[879 

Donohue  Andrew 

Feb  I  ^ 

'873 

Dec.  28, 

[872 

Donohue,  leremiah. .  . 

.May  18, 

[868 

Donohue,  Jno.  T  

AU2.  ^, 

1879 

Donohue,  M.  C  

0  _  0 
[878 

Donohue,  Tlios.  J  

Mch.  27, 

[882 

Nov.  X, 

[877 

.  0  ^ 

[871 

Donovan,  Jno  

Tan.  2 J.. 

[879 

Donovan,  Jno.  J.. 

t873 

Dooley,  Chas.  0  

.SeiJt.  Q,  ] 

1       y  ? 

874 

Dooley,  Christoplier 

Tan.  2, 

[804 

Doorley,  Jas  

Dec  3 1 , 

874 

Doolin,  Jno.  J  

Aor  0  ] 

8S0 

Doran,  Pat'k  H.,  Sergt 

.  .Oct.  1. 

[864 

1865 

Dormody,  |no  

\nr. 

1884 

Dorn,  Jno.  H.,  Surgeon 

Sept.  1 1;, 

873 

Dotv,  Theod.  M  

.Apr.  10, 

[871 

Dougerty,  Jno  

Mch.  5, 

[878 

Mch.  9, 

[881 

Dougherty,  Jno  

..Oct.  3, 

1874 

.  Apr.  1 1, 

873 

Namk 

Date  of  Appointment 

Dougherty,  Midi'l 

Dec.  2  2, 

1870 

Doughnev,  Joseph 

Oct.  22, 

1881 

Doughty,  Wm  

Apr.  26, 

1876 

Douglass,  Joseph,  Sergt. June  i, 

1868 

Dowd,  Mich'l  

.  .Apr.  15, 

i88? 

Dowling,  Mich'l  

.  Jan.  29, 

1870 

Downey,  Jos.  C  

May  24, 

1884 

Downey,  Thos.  J .  .  .  . 

Oct.  27, 

1882 

Downing,  Mortimer 

Dec.  I, 

1864 

Doyle,  Andrew,  Sergt 

.  .Jan.  22, 

I86I 

Doyle,  Dan'l  

Mch.  4, 

1873 

Doyle,  Ed.  H  

1874 

Doyle,  Edward  H 

Mch.  26, 

1884 

I88I 

Doyle,  Jas  

Sept.  20, 

1871 

Doyle,  Jas  

Mch.  5, 

I88I 

Mch.  20, 

1868 

Doyle,  Jos.  T  

May  12, 

1874 

Doyle,  Pat'k  E  

,  Mch.  23, 

1871 

Doyle,  Thos  

.  Mch.  19, 

1870 

Feb.  16, 

1872 

.Sept.  15, 

1865 

Drescher,  Edw'd.  .  .  . 

Oct.  10, 

i88i 

Drought,  Henry  

,  ,  June  ,^, 

1868 

18159 

Du  Bois,  Geo.  C .  .  .  . 

Apr.  18, 

i88s 

Duernberger,  Jno.  .  .  . 

.  .  Jan.  29, 

1881 

Duffy,  Jno  

.  .Aug.  5, 

1879 

Duffv,  Eaw  

1881 

Duffy,  Thos  

•  •  Feb.  3, 

187s 

1884 

Dugan,  Mich'l  

Mrh.  26, 

1880 

Duggan,  Dan'l  

[an.  24, 

1879 

I3uggan,  Wm.  H .  .  .  . 

\o\.  19, 

1 88 1 

Dunbar,  Wm  

Mch.  20, 

rS84 

Duncan,  Jas  

.Apr.  27, 

i88t 

Dunlap,  Tno  

.  Nov.  27, 

1863 

Dunlap,  Rob't  

|une  29, 

1870 

Dunleavy,  Chas  

Aug.  20, 

1860 

T)unleayy,  Jno  

Eeb.  7, 

i88s 

Dunn,  liernard  

Nov.  1 6, 

1864 

Dunn,  T^is  

Mch.  19, 

1879 

Dunn,  Tno  

. .June  5, 

1872 

Dunn  Jno  

Oc  t.  9, 

1873 

.Sept.  17, 

1872 

OUR  POLICE 


Namh 

Date  u{  Appointment 

lulv  2\. 

188 -t 

\f n V  7 

Dunn,  hclward  

Mch.  19, 

1880 

Dunne,  I'at'k  

Nov  I  o 

1861: 

1863 

Dyckman,  D.  W 

Mnv  iS 

186? 

Dver,  Jas.  S  

•  •  Nov.  30, 

I  oO  I 

.  .  .Sept.  5, 

I  0  /  u 

Eagan,  Jno  

Apr.  29, 

1876 

Eagan,  Thos  

June  25, 

1866 

Eakins,  Joseph  B.,  Capt.Mch.  i. 

1866 

1884 

■  Jan.  11, 

1882 

Eastwood,  Wm  

Apr.  11, 

1868 

Eddy,  Chas.  D  

.  .  Dec.  15, 

Edmiston,  Rob't.  .  .  . 

May  13, 

I  87  J. 

1867 

i88^ 

Egan,  David  

Dec.  16, 

1881 

Egan,  Jno  

Apr.  8, 

1876 

Egan,  Thos.  J  

Tulv  Is. 

1876 

Egan,  Wm  

July  II, 

1882 

Elliott,  Wm.  J  

\nr.  8, 

I  J 

1884 

Ellis,  Adna  

1872 

Ellis,  Rob't  H  

.  Mch.  13, 

1872 

Ellis,  Sam'l  

.  Feb.  28, 

l87t 

Elmore,  Jno.  W  

.Jan.  24, 

1884 

Elting,  Josiah  

.  .  Dec.  19, 

1872 

Eltrich,  Jno  

.  .June  20, 

1874. 

Eltrich,  Rich'd  

.  .  .Feb.  5, 

1870 

Empie,  Geo.  H  

.  Nov.  21, 

1872 
10/  J 

F^ngehauser,  Henry. . 

•  -Aug.  27, 

1884 

English,  I'at'k  

.Sept.  16, 

1870 

•  -  Jan.  25, 

1877 
1077 

Enright,  Jno  

Jan.  8, 

1884 

Ennis,  Rich'd  

.  ,  .  Feb.  I, 

1882 

Ensign,  Wm.H., Surge 

on.  Sept.  15 

187? 

Ergott,  Dan'l  

.  .  .  Feb.  I, 

1884 

Erskine,  David  W 

.  Feb.  26, 

1872 

Erwin,  Rob't  

Dec.  28, 

1870 

Evanhoe,  Frank  N 

.  .  .  Feb.  5, 

1878 

Evans,  Isaac  

\ug.  26, 

1868 

Ewald,  Jno  

,  .  .'Vpr.  1 1, 

1885 

PROTECTORS. 


Name 

Date  of  Appo 

ntiDcnt 

1879 

F 

V  0  ^ 
1  000 

Fagan,  Jas.  J  

1879 

1885 

Fahev,  Jas  

,  Sept.  29, 

I  070 

Fanning,  Edward 

Julv  I, 

1876 

Fanning,  Mich'l,  Sergt.June  30, 

1064 

Farley,  Dermott. .  .  . 

Feb.  2, 

1865 

Farley,  Jno  

■  -  Apr.  15, 

I07O 

Farley,  Jno.  J  

.  .  Apr.  27, 

1874 

Farley,  Mich'l  

Dec.  16, 

I  670 

1000 

Farley,  Philip  

.  .Apr.  30, 

1873 

•  ■  -  Aug.  5, 

1879 

Farley,  Thos.,  Sergt 

1875 

1883 

Farrell,  Jno.,  No.  i .  . 

.  .  Apr.  1 2, 

I87I 

Farrell,  Jno.,  No.  2 . 

.  .  .Jan.  17, 

1872 

Farrell,  Jno.  J  

.  .  .  Dec.  6, 

1670 

Farrell,  Pat'k  

.  .  .Oct.  19, 

1 00 1 

1879 

laoi 

1874 

. .  .Oct.  13, 

1877 

1877 

Fay,  Pat'k  

1870 

.  .  .  Feb.  5, 

1870 

1882 

Feenev,  Pat'k  T .  .  .  . 

 Oct.  9, 

1873 

1882 

1 88 1 

1874 

. .  .Feb.  3, 

1874 

*  0  0 
1078 

Fennell,  Wm.  H  

.  .  Apr.  12, 

1876 

1857 

•  •  -  Jan.  3, 

1879 

1882 

Ferguson,  Jno  

.  .  Feb.  13, 

1858 

Ferguson,  Sam'l  T .  . 

...July  5, 

1876 

1858 

.  .Feb.  18. 

.878 

,  Mch.  4. 

)868 

536 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Name                          Date  of  Appointment 

Sept  12 

1874 

1878 

Files,  Jacob   

Tune  2x 

Mch.  lo. 

1869 

Finerty,  Martin  

.  May  2  7, 

1876 

Finken,  Chas.  W.  H. . 

.  .  Aug.  -i. 

1876 

1870 

Mch.  lo. 

1884 

A.pr.  8, 

i88c 

1884 

Finnegan  Jno  B  

Tulv  2J. 

i88^ 

Finnegan  Sam'l. .     .  . 

Feb  I 

1872 

Finnegan  Win  B .  .  .  . 

Dec  xo. 

1870 

1877 

Firth,  Obed,  Sergt .  .  . 

Sept.  12, 

i860 

1882 

Fisher,  Isaac  R  

.  .  Feb.  3, 

1859 

June  17, 

1874 

Oct.  21, 

1881 

Fitzgerald,  Jno.,  Sergt. 

.  Feb  K 

1862 

Fitzgerald,  Tno.,  Sersjt. 

Sept.  iQ, 

186';" 

Fitzgerald,  Jno.J., Sergt 

.  Aug.  I 

186? 

Fitzgerald,  Maurice. .  . 

.Jan.  26, 

1876 

Tan.  24, 

1872 

Fitzgibbons,  Edward. . 

.  May  1 1, 

1883 

Fitzpatrick,  Andrew.  . 

.  May  26, 

1880 

Mch.  14, 

1876 

Fitzpatrick  Jno       . . 

AuET 

I87Q 

Oct.  9, 

1883 

Fitzpatrick  Pliilip 

Feb  22 

187-? 

.  .  Apr.  8, 

188  <5 

Fitzpatrick,  Thos.  E .  . 

.  ■  July  2, 

1880 

Feb.  28, 

1881; 

Flaherty  Thos 

May  19 

1884 

Flahive,  Jno.  H  

.  Dec.  29, 

1871 

Flanagan,  Jno  

Feb.  I, 

1866 

Flanagan,  Jno  

Dec.  13, 

1867 

Flanagan,  Pat'k 

Sent  1 

1862 

Flanagan,  Wni  

Oct.  10, 

1870 

Mch.  31, 

1877 

1869 

.  .Apr.  9, 

1879 

■  •  I''eb.  3, 

1866 

Flannerv,  Thos.  J  .  .  .  . 

lune  23, 

1 869 

Flay,  Chas.  E   

Mch.  18, 

1881 

Name 

Date  of  Appointment 

1871 

.... Tulv  7 

1867 

1< lemming,  Jno.  \V  . 

.  .  Aug.  18, 

1869 

1870 

1877 

•  •  •  Aug.  3, 

1876 

Flood,  Edward  F 

Oct.  22, 

1883 

Oct.  30, 

1877 

.  .  .  .  Feb.  8, 

1871 

Fluhrer,Wm.F., Surgeon .  May  29 

,1876 

1866 

1874 

Flynn,  Mich'l  

Tulv  16, 

1864 

Flynn,  Mich'l  

1868 

Flynn,  Rich'd  

1881 

1872 

Fogarty,  Chas  

Nov  19. 

1862 

Fogartv,  Denis  T 

Aug.  28, 

1874. 

Apr.  6, 

1867 

Fohey  Jas  .  . 

Sept  14 

i88^ 

Folev,  Cornelius    .  . 

Sent.  •?. 

1862 

Foley.  Hugh  T  

Tune  t;. 

1882 

. .  . .    ^  , 

1882 

Oct.  31, 

1872 

Foley  Jno 

Dec.  8 

1866 

Foley  Jno  . 

Julv  21, 

1882 

Foley,  Jno.  F  

Mav  14, 

1884 

Foley,  Pat'k  J 

Oct  24, 

1881 

Foley  Thos 

Mch.  I, 

1872 

Foley,  Wm  

Tan.  2x. 

1870 

Follis,  Pat'k  

1861 

Foody,  Mich'l  

Mch.  3, 

1870 

Ford,  Denis  

. .  .  July  7. 

1869 

1S71 

1870 

1870 

•  •  -  Jan.  3, 

1881 

■Vpr,  8, 

1881: 

187I 

...Oct.  13, 

1869 

1884 

Fredericks,  Jno.  1). . 

. .  Mch.  25, 

1 868 

Frors,  Henrv  

,  Sept.  27, 

1880 

Frink,  Win.  E  

Mch.  20, 

1875 

OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


537 


Name  Date  of  Appointment 

"Frost,  Geo.  C  Mch.  27,  187.S 

Fuchs,  J.  Frank  Mch.  24,  1876 

Fuller,  Jas.  K.,  Sergt..Nov.  14,  1867 

Fulmer,  Geo.  W  Mch.  18,  1864 


Gabriel,  Chas  Dec.  10,  1862 

('Taffney,  Jas  Sej.t.  14,  1882 

Gaffney,  Jas  July  15,  1876 

Gallagher,  Chas  Mch.  13,  1884 

Gallagher,  Peter  Apr.  18,  1883 

Gallagher,  Edward.  .  .  .Mch.  16,  1870 

Gallagher,  Jno  Oct.  22,  1881 

Gallagher,  Jno.,  No.  2.. June  11,  1870 
(iallagher,  Jno.,  Sergt. .  .  Jan.  17,  1868 

Gallagher,  Mich'l  July  i,  1884 

Gallagher,  Owen  Nov.  16,  1881 

Gallagher,  Terence  Dec  4,  1869 

Gallagher,  Terence  Apr.  2,  1880 

(iallagher,  Wm.  F  Feb.  2,  1881 

Galligan,  Edward  Dec.  18,  1876 

Galligan,  Patrick  May  i,  1882 

(iamble,  Jas  Mch.  26,  1880 

Ganley,  Rich'd  July  31,  1873 

Gannon,  Mich'l  Aug.  27,  1869 

(iannon,  Jas.,  Sergt  May  8,  1873 

Gardner,  Joseph,  No.  2. Sept.  9,  1874 

Gardner,  Joseph  A  July  2,  1869 

Gardner,  Wm  July  26,  1870 

Gargan,  Mich'l  Feb.  18,  1884 

Gargan,  Patrick  F  Apr.  8,  1881 

Garland,  Ira  S.,  Capt.  .Apr.  22,  1858 

Garland,  T.  F  June  14,  1882 

Garland,  Thos  Aug.  17,  1864 

Garnlein,  Frank  .....  ..Sept.  28,  1883 

Garrity,  Jas  July  27,  1870 

Garside,  John  W  Oct.  11,  i860 

Gastlin,  Geo.  W  May  19,  1864 

Gath,  Rob't  D  Nov.  28,  1873 

Gaw,  John  Apr.  3,  1872 

Gaynor,  Jas.,  Sergt.  ...  July  16,  1862 

Geary,  Mich'l  Aug.  5,  1874 

Geddes,  Andrew.   J"ly^>  ^^83 

Gehegan,  Joseph  C  June  2,  1882 

Geiger,  Nicholas  Jan.  19,  1868 


Na.mk  Date  of  Appoin 

(ienore,  Jno.  H  Mch.  31, 

Gensheinier,  Jno.  M  .  .  .  .  .May  i, 
Germann,  Franklin  I'.  .Mch.  31, 

Gerrow,   David  July  i, 

Gibbons,  David  M  Oct.  22, 

Gibbons,  Thos  Oct.  23, 

Gibson,  Geo.  W  Jan.  22, 

Gibson,  Henry  C  Jan.  2, 

Gibson,  Jos.  H  July  15, 

Gibson,  Wm  Apr.  26, 

Gick,  Geo  Nov.  23. 

Gidley,  Lewis..,  May  i, 

Gilbride,  Thos  Mch.  8, 

Gilgan,  Flugh  Vug.  3, 

Gilgar,  Edward  July  27, 

Gill,  Floyd  T  Sept.  29. 

Gill,  Geo.  W  Jan  5, 

Gillespie,  Edward  Aug.  23, 

Gilligan,  A.  M  Sept.  29, 

Gilligan,  Jno.  C  Oct.  16, 

(}illigan,  Jno.  F  June  6, 

Gilligan,  Mich'l  Apr.  9. 

Gilliland,  Hartshorn  W.  May  14, 

Gillman,  Fred'k  May  i, 

Gilloon,  Dan'l  May  13, 

Gilmore,  John  Oct.  8, 

Gilmore,  Mich'l  Aug.  19, 

Gilpin,  Jno  June  19, 

Gilroy,  Jas.  A  Apr.  23, 

Gilroy,  Mich'l  May  27, 

Glass,  Geo.  W  Nov.  3, 

Glass,  St.  Clair  Apr.  8, 

Gleason,  Thos  May  11, 

Glennon,  Jno.  F  Aug.  31, 

Glin,  Maurice  Aug.  3, 

Glynn,  Joseph  July  17, 

Glynn,  Pat'k  -\ug.  3, 

Godfrey,  Jno  Oct.  17, 

Godfrey,  Geo.  J  May  23, 

Goetzger,  Fred'k  July  5, 

Gohl,  Christian  Sept.  6, 

Golden,  Anthony  J  .  .  .  .Apr.  29, 
Golden,  Judson,  Sergt. Sept.  13, 

Golden,  Thos.  F.  J  Jan.  20, 

Golden,  Timothy  Jan.  2, 


877 
882 
879 
876 

873 
865 
866 

873 
876 
882 
867 

877 
876 
876 
870 
S76 
874 
866 
875 
873 
882 
879 
863 

877 
881 

873 
870 
86 1 
880 
870 
864 
876 

875 
878 
865 

873 
876 

873 
861 
876 
878 
876 
875 
877 
873 


538  OUR  POLICE 


N  A  M  K 

Date  of  Appoiii 

tmcnt 

/  '      1  .1  „*     1         1  "L' 

[X71 

Golle,  Julius  A  

Sept.  28, 

[072 

Gonigle,  Wm  

Apr.  26,  ] 

[877 

00  2 

Goodell,  Enoch  A  .  . 

. Sej)t.  22,  ] 

804 

Goodenough.  Theodore. Mar.  17, 

Q  w 
1873 

ftS3 

Goodspeed,  Rich'd  K 

 \l)r.  8, 

'885 

Goodwin,  Jno.  \V  .  .  .  . 

...June  29, 

[  002 

Gorey,  Mich'l  

. ,  Nov.  13, 

.  .Feb.  13, 

1074 

•  •  -  Jan.  3, 

I  ool 

Grace,  Ed\yard  

Mch.  10,  ] 

[  OCO 

Grace,  Geo.  J  

.  Sept.  24, 

r  Q  Q 
1883 

■  •  Apr.  23, 

[004 

July  28, 

1 009 

•Sept.  15, 

r  CS  0 
[002 

I  OO2 

1883 

Grancher,  Rudolph  .  . 

..Sept.  16, 

I  9.9.-4 
I  oo2 

Grainger,  Chas.  M.,  Sergt.Apr.12, 

187I 

Granger,  Wm  

•  .Sept.  30, 

1 007 

•  -  July  23, 

I  000 

Grant,  Donald,  Sergt. 

.  ..June  I, 

1  9^« 
1  070 

1873 

Grant,  Jno.  H.,  Sergt 

.  .  Jan.  1 2, 

I  oOO 

.  ..Aug.  6, 

.  ouz 

..Aug.  19, 

I  OOl 

r  Q  T  -> 
1873 

Gray,  Wm.  E  

..Apr.  29, 

1600 

Gregg,  Henry  

•  .  .Aug.  7, 

r  Q  Q  A 

tO02 

Green,  Harry  

.  ..Nov.  7, 

1873 

•  •  Aug.  13, 

i»73 

1000 

.  Ian.  8. 

I  ho4 

Grennon,  Jno  

•  •  May  23, 

I  000 

.  .Oct.  30, 

1877 

Grier,  Walter  

Mch.  31, 

1  004 

Griesel,  Conrad  H  .  .  . 

Sept.  11, 

1873 

Griffin,  Denis  

..June  30, 

1870 

Griffin,  I.  I  

May  26, 

1880 

liriffin,  las  

...Aug.  2, 

1879 

PROTECTORS. 

i  Name  iJace  of  Appointment 

1    Griffin,  Mich'l  Sept.  6,  1869 

Griffin,  Thos  Mch.  26,  1875 

Griffith,  Chas.  W  June  11,  1866 

Griffith,  Eugene  Oct.  3,  1868 

Griffith,  Philip  M.,  Sergt.May  23,  1858 

Groden,  Peter  Jan.  29,  1868 

Grogan,  Timothy  Aug.  10,  1870 

Groo,  David  D  Jan.  11,  1884 

Groo,  Jno.  R.,  Sergt.  .  ..Oct.  27,  1868 

Grossjean,  E.  D  Nov.  4,  1878 

Guerker,  AVni  Jan.  28,  i860 

Gunn,  Frank  Dec.  9,  1876 

Gunner,  Jno.,  Capt  Apr.  6,  1861 

(hmson,  Rob't  Jan.  28,  1861 


II 


Haagen,  August. .  .  . 

Dec.  28, 

1866 

1885 

1857 

Julv  28, 

1877 

Hackett,  Thos.  H 

•  •  Jan.  23, 

1884 

Hackett,  Wm.  T ,  .  . 

1884 

Hagan,  Bernard .... 

Feb.  II. 

1882 

1866 

Hagan,  Edward .... 

Mch.  6, 

1880 

.  .Sept.  13, 

1875 

Hagan,  Francis  W.  . 

. .  Mch.  19, 

1884 

■  -  Aug.  15, 

1872 

Haggerty,  J.  J  

Nov.  29, 

1867 

Haggerty,  Jas  

Jan.  18, 

1878 

Haggerty,  Jno.  W. .  . 

.  Sept.  10, 

1878 

Haggerty,  Joseph,  Sergt.  Jan.  26, 

1861 

1880 

Apr.  8, 

1885 

Hahn,  Wm  

Oct.  11, 

1869 

Haines,  Rob't  

Nov.  8, 

1871 

Haley,  Owen  

■  Feb.  23, 

1870 

Hall,  Bradley  

May  4. 

1883 

Hall,  David  D . 

lulv  I, 

1876 

Hall,  Rob't  H  

1883 

Halfpenny,  Robt. .  .  . 

Nov.  16, 

1874 

Halliday,  Joseph .  .  . 

.  .  .  .  Jan.  2, 

1867 

Hallowav,  Rich'd. .  . 

Mch.  7, 

1861 

Halpin,  Henry  

Oct.  28, 

1871 

Hamilton,  J.  P  

...Oct.  25, 

1876 

OUR   POTJCF.  rROTF.CTORS. 


N  A  M  K 

Date  of  Appoii 

tin  cut 

Hamilton,  jno.,  Seigt. 

.  .Oct.  27, 

1866 

Hammond,  ("leo  

Dec.  20, 

1872 

Hammond,  Sam  1,  jr 

.  .\ug.  27, 

1864 

Hana,  Ino  

Illlv  22. 

iP.yo 

Hand,  Henrv  

.  .Oct.  15. 

0  _ 

1872 

.  .Jan.  24, 

I  000 

•  -  Jan.  30, 

1 007 

Handy,  Martin  

1885 

IT  1  TT.-     1_  T 

1S83 

Hanle\ ,  Chas.  A  .  .  .  . 

.  \pr.  S, 

1876 

Hanlcy,  Owen  

 \pr.  7, 

Haradon,  Nelson,  Sergt.July  ii, 

1004 

Hardgrove,  Jno  

Nov.  23, 

1867 

Harding,  Peter  

Jan.  16, 

1868 

Hardiman,  Pat'k.  .  .  . 

Feb.  12, 

I  004 

Harev,  Philip  

Apr.  29, 

0  ^  a 
1876 

I  600 

Mch.  22. 

187I 

Harly,  Philip  

Ai)r.  20, 

1876 

Harnev,  Thos  

Mch.  9, 

I  808 

Hari^er,  Thos.  S  

.  .Mch.  5, 

1000 

Harrington,  Warren. . 

.  .Oct.  22, 

1873 

Harris,  Jno  

Oct.  1 8, 

1870 

.Aug.  18, 

1869 

I87I 

.  .  Mav  2, 

1885 

Hart,  Jas.  1  

1871 

Hart,  Peter  

i860 

Hartigan,  Mich'l  

Sejil.  1, 

1875 

•  -  Jan.  31, 

Hartman,  Chas  

Sept.  I, 

Nov.  16, 

1868 

Hartv,  Thos  

Feb.  13, 

1858 

Oct.  7, 

1882 

Harvev,  David  

.  .  Apr.  29, 

1007 

Hasslacher,  A.  (i. .  .  . 

.  .Dec.  5, 

1879 

1869 

Mch.  31, 

1874 

1875 

Haugh,  Patrick  

.Feb.  29, 

1876 

Haughey,  Wm.  R.,  Sergt.Nov.  i, 

1872 

..Mch.  3, 

1884 

•Apr.  15, 

1884 

Namr 

^ate  of  Ap)>oti 

tmcnl 

Iia\ens,  (>eo.  H.,  .Sergt.July  31, 

1 86  I 

Hawkev.  Rich'd  

.Dec.  II, 

I  {.6 1 

Feb.  17. 

Hawlev,  Ira  D  

•\])r.  14, 

1877 

Hays,  Edward  

.July  10, 

i86y 

1 86 1 

June  20, 

1873 

Hayes,  Thos.  F  

.h\^x.  II, 

1 88 1 

Hazelton,  .-\])raham..  . 

-Feb.  28, 

1884 

Healv,  F.  1  

1867 

Oct.  ^. 

1874 

Healy,  Mark  1-  

.  .  Jan.  9, 

1 880 

Feb.  6, 

1882 

Feb.  4 

1859 

Heath,  Jno.  W  

\T)r.  0. 

1879 

Heatley,  M.  H  

I88I 

Fell.  16. 

1870 

Hedden,  Henry,  Capt. 

.June  16, 

'857 

Heenan,  Jas  

1876 

Hefferman,  Mirh'l.  .  . 

.Jan.  18, 

.  C>  » 

1 007 

.  Feb.  1 2, 

1884 

Heidelberg.  Chas.  .  .  . 

I  000 

1874 

I072 

Hencken,  RichVl  

.  Jan.  1 1, 

1871 

Hendricks,  Jacob  M.. 

.  .  June  7, 

[  870 

Hennessey,  T-  J  

|une  21, 

[070 

.  June  29, 

[  070 

Henrv,  Thos  

.  Jan.  24, 

[  084 

Henze,  Wm  

Feb.  14, 

107'^ 

Herlihv,  ]no.  D  

Sept.  I. 

[877 

May  s. 

[869 

Herrick,  Jno.  J  

.  .Jan.  3, 

■873 

Herrine,  Wm  

Feb.  16,  1 

858 

[884 

.Mch.  5,  i 

880 

Hersche,  Henrv  

lune  I,  ] 

OU  I 

Hertz,  Nathan  

Mav  I.  J 

004 

Oct.  13.  ] 

869 

Hev,  Eibo  

Oct.  12.  ] 

861 

.    \pr.  6.  ] 

871 

,  Sept.  16,  ] 

878 

Hickev,  Mich'l  

Feb  8,  1 

884 

Hickev,  Mich'l  | 

Mch.  6,  ] 

868 

Mch.  27,  1 

872 

54° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Name 

]>ate  of  Appointment 

Mrh  8 

1872 

1  1  1  f\ 

1  004 

Hiclmbothen,  Rol)'t. . 

7  1 1 1  \'' 

1867 

Higgins,  Chas  

.  FcL).  1 2j 

I  00  1^ 

Higgins,  Patrick.... 

,  ill  CI  1.     1  Oj 

T  1 1  n      0  is 

TS78 
1070 

Hilclebrandt,  W  

1882 

Hildenbrand,  Henry. 

l87t 

Hildreth,  L.  B  

.  . .  Apr.  4, 

T  Sfi  T 

Hill,  Thos  

187-7 

Hinton,  Jno.  W  

15^3 

Hinz,  Henrv  

T,i  n  T 

1 074 

Hitchcock,  H.  N  .  .  .  . 

T 1 1 1  V  -2 

181:7 

Hoffman,  H.  J  

Oct   1 2 

1882 

Hogan,.  Dan'l  

.  N  0  V.  2  1, 

1003 

Hogan,  Dan'l  ]  

Feb  I  z 

1880 

Hogan,  John.,  No.  i . 

jS  ov  12, 

t87o 

\pr  18 

l88t 

t877 

i'^73 

Hogan,  Mich'l  J  

May  1 1 

1866 

Tulv  T 1 

1869 

"Vni'      T  1 

tS7  f 
1074 

Orf    T  -7 

1877 

i'573 

T  n  n  r\ 

[880 

T  T     1     1  T 

Holahan,  Jas  

^pnf  R 

i  00  z 

Holahan,  Jno.  C  

■  ■  Ajjr.  8, 

1005 

Holbrow,  T.  V.,  Sergt 

.Aug.  19, 

Holder,  Wm  

Feb  •'7 
.  i  (.1).  _  /, 

1884 

TT—ll           1        T  TT 

Holland,  jno.  H .  .  .  . 

.Apr.  23, 

1003 

Holland,  Thos.  B  .  .  .  . 

•  •  -^I'g-  3) 

1876 

Holmes,  Geo.  W  

Feb  1 2 

188? 

Holmes,  Rich  d,  Jr. .  . 

F 1  in e  T  7 

1884 

Holmes,  1  heophelus . 

..Apr.  19, 

T8^in 
L  OUO 

Holmes,  Wm  

..Oct.  25, 

1072 

Holmes,  Wm.  J  

.  .  Jan.  23, 

1861 

Holzman,  Harry.  .  .  . 

.Sept.  17, 

1 003 

Homan,  Chas.  E  .  .  .  . 

.  June  29, 

1869 

Houlihan,  Edward 

..Jan.  23, 

X  004 

Hooker,  Henry  1)., (  apt.  Jan.  28, 

1  OU  1 

1880 

Horan,  John  

•  -  Jan.  23, 

1884 

Horbelt,  Marcus,  Sergt .  Feb.  3, 

1859 

Horgan,  J5artholemew 

..Feb.  26, 

1862 

Horn,  Herman  

Mch.  14, 

1884 

Horn,  Jno.  T  

Oct.  14, 

1 881 

Xamk  Date  of  Appointment 


l~Tnrn  T^ptpr 

1887 
1 003 

t87T 
I67I 

.  J  line  1 7, 

1074 

Orf    -7  T 

i8St 
1001 

Howe  H en r v  ^ 

Dec  I 

1869 

0  W  f*       Tic     1  » 
XX(J*>Cj      1  tlo.  VI.  

•  •  -reo.  J, 

t87  T 
107  I 

Howell  Jno  M 

Jul\'  II 

1866 

HiiViHn        0<;pn  r 

Tulv  s 

I881 

Huff  Thos  Sertrt 

.reu,  13, 

t8c8 
1050 

TTii  cli  f*ti    A 1  p  Y  T 

T~)PP  Tl 

1868 

'y    [^1  /^n     T  A 

1070 

TT ngrKpc   T^'ranf m 

• '  10, 

1869 

Huo'hes  Fr<incis 

June  2 1 

1877 

TT  11  ell  p<;  Tno 

Tiinp  T  1 

1882 

TTn  or  n  f=*c    Win  T-T 

1 )  ec  1 6 

1072 

TTiill  T'AT'^^ii'nl 

1870 
1  oy  0 

TT  n  1  c*-*    r  Tpr» 

T87e 

TT  1 1 ii'^^*]  A/ir^lT^iT 

T87r 

TT  1 1      1  ill  T*<-»\'C      T  n  c 

T  ,87n 
1  070 

rT  nntf^T*       I  l^.'lT^CTctT^n 

Mch  - 

T  88  c 

TTnnt    P'ifrif'l.-  V 

\  nr  8 

tS8c 

TTiiT^tpr    T  n  t; 

Dec  1 1 

1867 

TTntif'f^v     \\  m 

A  1 1  cr    -7  A 

1882 

•  Apr.  25, 

1882 

Huntzinger,  Jno.  15.  .  . 

.Oct.  25, 

1867 

Hurlbut,  Henrv  

.  Tnlv  20, 

1877 

Hurley,  Jno.  J  

,  .  Mav  I, 

1877 

.  Feb.  27, 

187s 

Nov.  13, 

1879 

I 

Tmmpn   Ch.*!*;  F) 

Sept  I 

1861; 

Interman,  Herrman. .  . 

.Feb.  18, 

1874 

.  Dec.  21, 

1863 

Irwin,  George  

.July  14, 

1857 

Isbell,  Adelbert  

Mar.  20, 

1872 

Ives,  Willis  Y)  

Aug.  19, 

1869 

.July  15, 

1876 

J 

Mch.  I, 

1873 

Jackson,  David  H  .  .  .  . 

.  May  4, 

1870 

Tackson,  Frank  G.  .  .  . 

\pr.  20, 

1883 

IS84 

Jackson,  Robert  

Sept.  17, 

1883 

OUR  POLICE 

Namk  Date  of  Appointment 

Jackson,  Simon  Apr.  30,  1861 

Jacobs,  Geo.  R  Sept.  16,  1876 

Jacohy,  Henry  Nov.  16,  1870 

Jacoby,  Henry  !•'  July  i,  1876 

Jagels,  Henry  Oct.  16,  1877 

James,  Peter  E  June  5,  1882 

James,  Thos.  N.,  Sergt .  June  27,  1858 

Janvrin,  Dennis  A  May  8,  1874 

Jefferson,  John  Aug.  17,  1872 

Jenkins,  James  M  May  16,  1884 

Jenney,  Chas.  15  Mch.  6,  1884 

Jennings,  John  Nov.  13,  1879 

Jennings,  Matthias  Jan.  10,  1881 

Jennings,  Thomas  May  29,  1884 

Johnson,  Chas  Apr.  18,  1883 

Johnson,  Joseph  Sept.  14,  1871 

Jolinston,  Arthur  A  Apr.  8,  1883 

Johnston,  Michael ....  Sept.  22,  1873 
Johnston,  Robert  S.  .  .  .Jan.  28,  1885 

Jones,  las  Jan.  3,  1868 

Jordan,  J  as.  W  Mch.  18,  1881 

Jordan,  John  Jan.  22,  1881 

Jordan,  Timothy  Aug.  16,  1872 

Jordan,  Wm  Apr.  8,  1881 

Jose,  John  Apr.  18,  1883 

Joyce,  John  J  Sept.  12,  1870 

Joyce,  Redmond  J  .  .  .  .June  19,  1878 

Judge,  Owen  Feb.  22,  1870 

Judson,  Chas.   Jan.  17,  1872 

Junker,  Max  Dec.  27,  1875 

K 

Kain,  Peter  Oct.  27,  1874 

Kane,  James  Sept.  28,  1883 

Kane,  Lawrence  June  9,  1884 

Kane,  Michael  Sept.  13,  1875 

Kajjpes,  Geo  Aug.  19,  1881 

Kass,  Geo.  B.,  Sergt  Oct.  i,  1862 

Kass,  Wni.,  Sergt  Feb.  3,  1859 

Kavanagh,  James  Apr.  8,  1876 

Kavanagh,  John  Jan.  3,  1873 

Kavanagh,  Thos  July  5,  1872 

Kavanagh,  'I'hos.  J....  Mch.  14,  1862 

Kear,  I'rancis  J  May  28,  1S80 

Kearney,  Patrick  Jan.  28,  1861 


PROTECTORS.  541 

Namk  Date  of  Appointment 

Kearney,  Thomas  Aug.  28,  1867 

Keating,  John  A  Nov.  21,  1867 

Keating,  Michael  E  Mch.  6,  1880 

Keating,  Stephen,  Sergt .  Apr.  14,  1868 

Keefe,  Thomas  Oct.  29,  1883 

Keeley,  Thomas  Aug.  31,  1878 

Keeling,  John  R  Sept.  17,  1864 

Keenan,  James  Oct.  12,  1870 

Kehoe,  Michael  Oct.  3,  i88i 

Kehoe,  Thos.  F  Aug.  6,  1883 

Kehoe,  Wm  Sept.  8,  1869 

Keirns,  Patrick  Feb.  18,  1863 

Kelahan,  John  Feb.  2,  1866 

Keliher,  John  J  Nov.  17,  1883 

Kelk,  Geo.  S  July  17,  1873 

Kellaher,  John,  Sergt.. Jan.  26,  1861 

Kellard,  Michael  Sept.  25,  1865 

Keller,  John  H  June  11,  1872 

Kellerhouse,  Albert. ...  May  13,  1867 

Kelly,  Andrew  Jan.  30,  1873 

Kelly,  Bartholomew.  .  .Aug.  15,  1871 

Kelly,  Chas.  F  July  i,  1876 

Kelly,  Cornelius  J  Dec.  30,  i88r 

Kelly,  Frank  Jan.  15,  1873 

Kelly,  James  Oct.  11,  1873 

Kelly,  John  Mch.  30,  1866 

Kelly,  John,  Sergt.  .  .  .Sept.  27,  1870 

Kelly,  John  July  20,  1882 

Kelly,  John  P  Mch.  8,  1871 

Kelly,  John  P  May  1,  1882 

Kelly,  Joseph  B  Oct.  10,  i88i 

Kelly,  Michael  Sept.  3,  1859 

Kelly,  Patrick  June  i,  1876 

Kelly,  Patrick   Aug.  3,  1876 

Kell)',  Patrick  Jan.  24,  1884 

Kelly,  Patrick  H  ..Jan.  15,  1866 

Kelly,  Patrick  J  Oct.  21,  1881 

Kelly,  Peter  Jan.  13,  1870 

Kelly,  Robert  Feb.  13,  1864 

Kelly,  Thos.  H  Apr.  29,  1880 

Kelly,  Wm  May  2,  1873 

Kelly,  Wm  Apr.  8,  1876 

Kelsey,  James  R  Jan.  26,  1876 

Kelz,  August  July  15,  1876 

Kemp,  John  May  2,  1873 


OUR  POLICE 


Na.mk 

Date  of  Appoin 

tment 

Kenna,  Andrew  J  . 

TV  T           ^  _ 

Men.  27, 

,  QQ  t 

too4 

Kenneallv,  Patrick. .  . 

May  2, 

[072 

Kennedv,  Declan .  . 

[874 

Kennedy,  bdward .  .  . 

[070 

Kennedy,  Edward. .  . 

June  27, 

r  Q  •«  Q 
[070 

Kennedy,  Edward  J  . 

.  .  Apr.  12, 

[070 

Kennedy,  Henry  A .  . 

.  .  Dec.  30, 

1872 

Kennedy,  Jeremiah.  . 

•  -  Apr.  30, 

[070 

1879 

Kennedy,  John  

T  , ,  /■ 

1884 

0  0  . 

1884 

Kennedy,  Matthew .  . 

..iMch.  19, 

r  QQ« 

[007 

Kennedv,  Patrick.  .  . 

XT                 _  0 

Nov.  10, 

1  870 

T  7-  J._  TIT  

1004 

t88i 

Kenney,  Jas.  r  .  .  .  . 

.  ..rel).  1 1, 

[884 

[865 

Kenney,  John,  No.  i 

.  . Oct.  II, 

[877 

Kennev,  Peter  

.  .  .Apr.  7, 

,  0  O  — 

[boo 

Kenny,  James  E.  J. . 

T   _ 

'873 

Kenny,  John,  No.  2  . 

.  ...Apr.  23, 

883 

[870 

Kcough,  Martin .... 

Jan.  26,  1 

[876 

[880 

[883 

Kern,  Jacob  13  

TT"             _  0 

[867 

Kernan,  Thomas.  .  . 

.  ..Dec.  3,  ] 

[872 

[884 

Kerns,  1  hos.  H  .  .  .  . 

.  ..Aug.  9,  ] 

866 

. .  June  17, 

[874 

toot) 

T'*„._l  1„  \\1  

 Jan.  3,  1 

0  0  . 

004 

Kettner,  Jos.  A  

Apr.  26,  1 

876 

Keves,  Timothy  

882 

Kiebrick,  Jacob  J .  . 

,  Oct.  9,  ] 

883 

Kieley,  John  

.Sept.  28, 

870 

Kiernan,  Bernard .  .  . 

[872 

Kiernan,  Edward.  .  . 

Jan.  26, 

[876 

1881 

\f,,'  - 

[  880 

■873 

Kiernan,  James  

•  •  -  Jan.  23, 

[861 

Kiernan,  Jas.  J  

.  .  .Nov.  3, 

1882 

.  .Sept.  27, 

1870 

PROTECTORS. 


]  N.AME  Date  of  Appointment 

Kiernan,  John  Dec.  18,  1876 

Kiernan,  Patrick  Apr.  i,  1873 

Kiernan,  Thomas  Nov.  30,  1872 

Kilkenny,  James  Mch.  i,  1873 

Killalea,  John  Feb.  8,  1873 

Killilea,  Michael  June  21,  1869 

Killilea,  Thomas,  Capt .  ..Oct.  i,  1866 

I    Kilmartin,  James  Oct.  17.  1874 

King,  Elbert  S  Jan.  3.  1873 

King,  James  M.,  Sergt...Apr.  6,  1866 

King,  Jas.  Thome  Oct.  29,  1862 

King,  John  Mch.  11,  1874 

King,  John  W  Sept.  29,  1882 

King,  Nathan  W  May  8,  1884 

King,  Richard  Apr.  23,  1857 

Kinnaird,  Samuel  W.  ..Sept.  23,  1873 

Kirby,  Cornelius  May  27,  1876 

Kirley,  Michael  Jan.  7,  1873 

Kirschner,  Wm.  F.,  Sergt.Dec.  i,  1870 

Kirtland,  Geo.  R  Sept  25,  1875 

Kirzinger,  John  Apr.  24,  1883 

Kivlen,  James  Mar.  26,  1884 

R^lein,  Julius  J  Apr.  8,  1875 

Klein,  Peter  J  Feb.  12,  1885 

Klinge,  Emile  Apr.  8,  1875 

Klinge,  Hector  Feb.  17,  1873 

Knisler,  Geo.  A  May  18,  1865 

Knoff,  Philip  Feb.  12,  1885 

Knox,  Wm.  J  Feb  10,  1879 

Koellsted,  John  May  7,  1883 

Kohler,  John  Aug.  9.  1866 

Kook,  Charles  Mch.  24,  1880 

Kopp,  Robert  July  21,  1883 

Kormann,  Fredrick  W .  Apr.  26,  1877 

Kortsteger,  Barney  Oct  10,  1S81 

Krauch,  John  L  Feb.  4,  1884 

Kremmelbein,  Fredrick.  .Jan.  8,  1884 

Kroner,  Fredrick  Jan.  13,  1866 

Krowl,  Geo.  W  Feb.  4,  1884 

Kuhn,  Wm.  H  Feb.  4,  1884 

KuUe,  Albert  Sept.  i,  1875 

Kunzman,  Clement ....  Feb.  29,  1876 

Rush.  Chas  Aug.  25.  1869 

I. 

Lacy,  Edward  J  Sept.  7,  1864 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


54.^ 


«         Namk  Dale  of  Appoiii 

Lahert,  Richard  June  6 

Lalini,  (ieorgc  Apr.  7 

Lahr,  William  Nov.  5 

Laird,  Thomas  )  Mar.  12 

i.akc,  Franklin  W  Oct.  3 

Lake,  Wm.  H  July  i 

Lally,  Michael  June  i 

Land),  Bernard  Jan.  5 

Land),  'I'hos  Jan.  2 

Lanibrecht,  Jacob  Jan.  4 

Lamhrecht,  Wm.  Ci .  .  .  .  May  16 
Lamey,  Michael,  Sergt.Se])t.  18 
Lancer,  Thomas,  Sergt.Mch.  18 

Landers,  John  Sept.  26 

Lane,  Patrick  \\  Oct.  31 

Lane,  Patrick  J  May  7 

Lane,  Patrick  J  Oct.  9 

Lang,  Joseph  T  Sept.  28 

Langan,  James  J  May  14 

Langan,  John  I  Jan.  7 

Lanklon,  Henry  K. .  .  .June  23 

Lanthier,  Geo  July  22 

Larkin,  Hearn  J  Apr.  29 

Larkin,  Michael  Aug.  17 

Laughlin,  George  Feb.  24 

Lavender,  Geo.,  Jr  Apr.  8 

Lavin,  Patrick  Sept.  14 

Lawler,  James  July  2, 

Lawler,  Patrick  Aug.  4 

Lawler,  Thomas  F  Aug.  7 

Lawler,  Thomas  J^'b'  5 

Lawler,  Wm  Dec.  27 

Lawkss,  John  E  May  9 

Lawless,  Richard  H.  .  ..Feb.  12 
Lawrence,  Edward  H..Aug.  28, 
Lawrence,  'J'homas  C. .  .July  23 

Lay,  Jacob  Sept.  8 

Layton,  John  H  Oct.  14 

Leacraft,  Charles  C.  .  .  .Oct.  15 

Leahy,  David  Feb.  27 

Leahy,  Michael  June  7 

Leahy,  Patrick  July  i 

Leamy,  Joseph  Sept.  i 

Leary,  Cornelius  Aug.  15 

Leary,  James  M.,  Capt.  Aug.  15 


incnt 
870 
880 
883 
867 
874 
S76 
876 
865 
884 
881 
884 
861 
880 
877 
874 
872 

883 
878 
881 
861 
879 

870 

806 
885 
883 

873 
868 
878 
882 

875 
883 
884 
876 
874 

875 
867 
862 

873 
865 
872 

875 
871 

863 


Namk 

Leavy,  Michael.  . 


Date  of  Appoin 

.  .  .  Dec.  7 


Leddy,  Hugh  Nov.  3 

Leddy,  John  Dec.  23 

Lee,  Michael  Sept.  25 

Lee,  Thomas  J  May  i 

Leeson,  Geo.  T  Aug.  14 

Leffert,  Wm.  IL,  Sergt.Apr.  23 

Lehanc,  Daniel  Sept.  14 

Leiber,  Louis  May  26 

Leinis,  Philip  Mar.  7 

Leissner,  Henry  Feb.  4 

Leissner,  John  Sept.  14 

Lemlein,  Nathan  Nov.  25 

Lenz,  Charles  Sept.  27 

Leon,  Jacob  Mar.  3 

Leonard,  John  Apr.  29 

Leonard,  John  E  Jan.  29 

Leonard,  Patrick  Feb.  26 

Leonard,  Patrick  Feb.  15 

Leonard,  Terence  Feb.  15 

Leslie,  Patrick  H  June  2 

Levy,  Alexander  Sept.  15 

Levy,  Hiram  Sept.  29 

Levy,  Wolf  Feb.  10 

Lewis,  Edward  July  10 

Lewis,  Frederick  R  May  6 

Lewis,  George  F  Apr.  26 

Lewis,  Joseph  A  Apr.  18 

Liebers,  George  C  Sept.  i 

Lindeman,  Ernest  Nov.  25 

Linden,  Wm.  J.,  Sergt..Feb.  7 

Link,  Charles  Oct.  24 

Linn,  Daniel  Oct.  13 

Linn,  Wm.  R  Feb.  1 2 

Liston,  James  E  Aug.  20 

Little,  Geo.,  Sergt  June  14 

Livingston,  .\braham. .  .July  i 
Livingston,  Henry  A.  .  .June  5 

Lober,  Frank  Sept.  2 

Lober,  Michael  Oct.  22 

Logan,  Geo  Sept.  22 

Londrigan,  Wm  \i)r.  it 

Long,  Thomas  Jan.  22 

Long,  William  Aug.  5 

Lonsdale,  James,  Sergt. Sept.  21 


OUR  POLICE  r  ROT  EC  TORS. 


544 


Name 

Date  of  Appoin 

tment 

r  ^ 

[»73 

T                            AT  til 

Looram,  Matthew. 

 Jan.  23, 

[004 

 Aug.  3,  ] 

[070 

 Jan.  23, 

[804 

Loughlin,  John  F  . 

April  8, 

Lou  res,  James  J  .  . 

Nov.  21, 

[883 

Lovell,  Lorenzo  D . 

[881 

Lucas,  Edward,  Sergt.  .  .June  i,  i 

C874 

,  00^ 

Luersson,  Augustus 

.  .  .Mch.  16, 

[070 

Luersson,  Imer  D., 

Sergt. Feb.  4, 

.0  I  \j 

r8fi8 

Lyman,  Matthew .  . 

.  .  .Aug.  25, 

002 

.    ,  .Oct.  6, 

r  88-5 

,  oo2 

.  0U4 

Lynch,  James  

r  88  T 

,001 

Lynch,  Lawrence  J 

 Jan.  28, 

L  004 

r  8t  -5 

1^73 

Lynch,  Patrick .... 

 July  23, 

[  OU2 

1881 

[858 

1884 

Lyon,  Samuel  K.  Surgeon. Feb.  3, 

1876 

1884 

Macfail,  Geo.  W  June  3,  1882 

Mackey,  Jas  July  2,  1880 

Mackey,  Wm  Feb.  13,  1873 

Mackin,  Thos  Feb.  28,  1879 

Maclay,  Aug.  W.,  Surg. Sept.  15,  1873 
Macnevin,  Nelson  J  .  .  .  ..Apr.  8,  i88i 

Madden,  David  June  i,  1877 

Madden,  Jas.  F  July  15,  1876 

Madigan,  Jno  Apr.  3,  1873 

Magan,  Rich'd  F.,  Sergt. June  10,  1870 

Magee,  Wm  Mch.  23,  1858 

Magranc,  S.  L  Oct.  6,  1882 

Maguiro,  Jas  Sept.  22,  1875 

Maguire,  Pat'k,  No.  i.  .Feb.  27,  1873 

Maher,  Jas  Sept.  28,  1870 

Maher,  Jno  Aug.  5,  1874 


X  \  .M  E 

r)ate  of  Appoin 

tment 

t  00  I 

Xfn-  - 

0  0  * 
863 

•  •  Aug.  3. 

883 

883 

A,'l  0  1^     »^  <a  »  r      1  0  f 

004 

870 

AT  '"1  l'\          iiir  1h' 

.  .M(  n.  30, 

880 

loci 

A/I  0 1    c      A  1  V 

070 

8S3 

[002 

A  /I     1 1  -•  »■»     T  ^. 

1666 

0  —  /" 

1870 

..Sept.  23, 

[07a 

•Aug.  24, 

[865 

1870 

T 

1 60  I 

I  00  I 

1872 

18--. 

I  002 

!Nfanchester,  Aaron  W 

. . .  May  2, 

1 88 1 

\ug.  28, 

,  OA.  Q 

Icoo 

Mangin,  Frank,  Jr.. 

.  .  June  9, 

[  oo2 

Mangin,  Thos  

luly  2  1, 

1  004 

ISIangin,  Thos.  H. , Sergt .  Dec.  31, 

1870 

Manning,  B.  D  

.June  23, 

1882 

Manning,  Joseph .... 

Mav  29, 

,00. 
1884 

Mannion,  Jos  -  h.  .  .  . 

•  Jan.  23, 

1084 

Mannion,  Thos.  II  , 

...July  7, 

I  004 

1883 

1878 

Markev,  Andrew  

Mch.  30, 

1865 

Markey,  Jno.  R  

.Mch.  30, 

T  8A/^ 

1 000 

Marlarkev,  Bernard 

.  .  .Jan  7, 

0  Z!  _ 
1867 

Marron,  Pat'k  H 

Oct.  I, 

1877 

Martens,  F.  W.,  Sergt 

.Sept.  27, 

1070 

Martin,  Christopher  1 

.  Apr.  29, 

1872 

Martin,  David  

•  •  J;i"-  15. 

1866 

1S70 

.  .  .  M.y  5, 

[  oOy 

Martin,  Joseph  

.  .Apr.  27, 

1883 

Martin,  M.  R  

1881 

]\Iartin,  Mich'l  

Oct.  26, 

1864 

Martin,  Richard.  .  .  . 

,  June  22, 

1S57 

OUR  POLTCK 

N.mii'.  Date  of  Appointiiient. 

l\IcAd;un,  James  May  25,  1868 

McAdaiii,  James  C,  Jr. .  Mar.  10,  1882 

McMeer,  Patrick  Nov.  25,  1870 

McArdle,  IScrnard. .  .  March  3 1,  1875 

McVult-y,  Edward  J  Oct.  10,  i88i 

Mc  Aulcy,  James  A  Feb.  15,  1865 

McAvoy,  Til's  T.,  Sergt..Jan.  20,1870 

McBride,  Manus  Mar.  16,  1870 

McBride,  Thomas  Apr.  9,  1873 

McCabe,  Edward  Dec.  6,  1876 

McCabc,  John  July  15,  1870 

McCabe,  'rhomas  Feb.  4,  1884 

McCadden,  Henry ....  Nov.  15,  1867 

McCahill,  John  Aug.  17,  1869 

McCamman,  Samuel... May  11,  1877 

McCann,  Chas  Oct.  21,  1881 

McCann,  Dominick  I).. Jan.  22,  1881 

McCardle,  Patrick  Feb.  22,  1865 

McCarthy,  Alexander  F.  .Apr.  8,  1885 
McCarthy,  Cornelius. .  .June  22,  1870 

McCarthy,  Dennis  Mch.  i,  1866 

McCarthy,  Dennis  Sept.  30,  1874 

McCarthy,  Eugene  Jan  9,  1884 

McCarthy,  James  May  2,  1873 

McCarthy,  John  Oct.  14,  1870 

McCarthy,  John  D  Feb.  10,  1874 

McCarthy,  John  T.  .  .  .Sept.  30,  1881 
McCarthy,  Michael ....  Apr.  26,  1877 
McCarthy,  'I'homas  J  .  .  Feb.  10,  1873 
McCartiiv,  Tiiomas  J  .  .  Feb.  10,  1885 

McCarthv,  Wm  Oct.  11,  1883 

McCarthy,  Wm  May  6,  1885 

McCarton.  Francis   Oct.  9,  1883 

McCarty,  Daniel  J  Aug.  3,  1876 

McCarty,  Moses  Sept.  20,  1873 

McCauley,  Hugh  Dec.  14,  1870 

McCauley,  Hugh  J  Oct.  18,  i88r 

McCauley,  John  July  15,  1876 

McCauley,  Matthew  J  .  .  .Jan.  7,  1881 

McCaulev,  Michael  Dec.  9,  1877 

McCauley,  Neill  Mch.  16,  1872 

McClintock,  A.,  Sergt..June  17,  1862 

McCloskey,  Wm.  T  Apr.  18,  1883 

McC  luskey,  Geo.  W.  .  .Apr.  26,  1882 

iMcConnell,  Hugh  Oct.  16,  1867 

McConnell,  Matthew  ...  .Jan.  7,  i860 

McCool,  James  Juiie  29,  1872 

McCord,  Louis  Mch.  19,  1880 

McCormack,  Hugh  Apr.  i,  1882 

Mc("ormack,  John  J  .  . .June  14,  1882 
McCormack,  Thomas.  ..Jan.  25,  1S61 


PROTKC7VRS.  545 

Name.  Pate  of  Appointment. 

McCormack,  Th.  P  Oct.  26,  1883 

McCormack,  William. ..  p'eb.  16,  1876 

McCormack,  Wm  May  19,  1884 

McCormick,  James. ...  Aug.  21,  1S63 

McC'ormick,  Joiin  Oct.  5,  1861 

McCormick,  John  W. .  .  Dec.  23,  1876 
McCormick,  'I'honias. .  .  .  Dec.  9,  1872 

McCormick,  Thos  July  15,  1876 

McCormick,  Wm  Jan.  24,  1872 

McCormick,  Wm.  J  July  28,  1882 

McCoy,  Joseph  P  Apr.  20,  1883 

McCov,  Matthew  Sept.  8,  1868 

McCoy,  AVm.  F  Oct.  17,  1877 

McCrohan,  Denis  May  7,  1885 

McCue,  Dennis  Feb.  28,  1876 

McCue,  John  Jan.  17,  1873 

McCue,  Thomas  jM^iy  5,  1880 

McCuUagh,  James  Aug.  i,  1867 

McCuliagh,  John,  Capt.Mch.30,  1870 
McCullagh,  J.  H.,  Capt.Feb.  29,  1864 

McCullough,  John  Oct.  16,  1878 

McCullough,  Patrick.  ..Nov.  23,  1877 

McCusker,  Jas.,  Jr  July  28,  1882 

McDaniel,  James  julv  2,  1880 

IMcDaniels,  Geo.  B  May  6,  1885 

McDermott,  Charles.  ..Sept.  23,  1864 

McDermott,  Geo.  S  May  6,  1885 

McDermott,  James ....  Feb.  18,  1878 

McDermott,  joim   Jan.  5,  1870 

McDermott,  John  Apr.  29,  1875 

McDermott,  John  J. ..Mch.  26,  1867 
McDermott,  John  J  .  .  .Nov.  30,  1883 
McDermott,  Michael ..  Aug.  15,  1872 

McDermott,  Peter  Sept.  15,  1869 

McDermott,  Stephen  .  .Sept.  22,  1875 
McDermott,  Thomas.  ..July  20,  £870 

McDevitt,  Wm  Sept.  22,  1877 

McDonald,  A.  W.,Sergt.Nov.  22,  1S76 
McDonald,  Bernard. .  .  .May  6,  i88i 

McDonald,  Jas.  B  May  9,  1881 

McDonald,  John  Apr.  29,  1874 

McDonald,  John  June  17,  1874 

McDonald,  Jolin  Feb.  20,  1882 

McDonald,  Michael. ..  Mch.  20,  1875 

McDonald,  Peter  Jan.  24,  1884 

McDonnell,  Chas., Cap. .Jan.  21,  1863 

McDonnell,  John  Apr.  10,  1879 

McDonnell,  Peter  Nov.  i,  1872 

McDonnell,  P.  W.,  Sur..Sept.  15,1873 
McDonough,  Francis. ...  Jan.  1,  1874 
McDowell,  John  Jan.  17,  1873 


546  OUR  POLICE 

Name.  Date  of  Appointment. 

MtKlroy,  Daniel  F  May  2,  1883 

McElvvain.  J.,  Capt.  .  .  .Sept.  28,  1861 
McEnroe,  Bernard  F....Oct.  8,  1870 

McEveety,  B.,  Sergt  Aug.  i,  1873 

McEvoy,  Jos.  J  July  1,  1876 

McGarry,  Frank  Mch.  18,  1884 

McGee,  Thomas  Mch.  5,  1880 

McGeorge,  A.  B  Aug.  22,  1874 

McGinn,  John  July  9,  1870 

McGinn,  John,  No.  2..  .Jan.  27,  1875 
McGinley,  Francis  J  ...  Apr.  14,  1883 

McGinley,  John  June  18,  1880 

McGinley,  Mich'l  J  Oct.  5,  1882 

McGinley,  Patrick  Mch.  30,  1870 

McGinley,  Patrick  Dec.  27,  1875 

McGinley,  Robert  Aug.  15,  1884 

McGinnis,  Wm  Jan.  23,  1884 

McCliil,  James  Jan.  21,  1869 

McGioin,.  JohnW  Nov.  20,  1875 

McGloin,  Patrick  Apr.  24,  1875 

McGIoin,  Wm  May  20,  1885 

McGlone,  James  H  Feb.  8,  1884 

McGlone,  Wm  Jan.  24,  1884 

McGowan,  Dar.iel  Apr.  28,  1880 

McGowan,  John  Dec.  17,1862 

McGowan,  John  H  July  i,  1872 

Mc(io\van,  Thomas  July  9,  1870 

McCiowan,  Wm.  J  Apr.  8,  1885 

McGovern,  Lawrence.  .  .May  8,  1880 
McGovern,  Martin,  Sur.  .July  3,  1884 

McGorry,  John  F  Mch.  14,  1885 

McGreevy,  Owen  May  16,  1884 

McGrade,  Hugh  Aug.  3,  1876 

McGrade,  Michael  Oct.  26,  1861 

McGrath,  James  June  23,  1869 

McGrath,  James  May  10,  187 1 

McGratli,  James  Apr.  i,  1882 

McGrath,  Michael  July  29,  1874 

McGuiness,  Edward. ..  Nov.  23,  1883 

McGuire,  James  Nov.  16,  1872 

McGuire,  John  J  Sept.  28,  1883 

McGuire,  Patrick  Dec.  i,  1865 

McGuire,  Patrick  Jan.  3,  1882 

Mc(niire,  Thomas  Aug.  3,  1876 

McGucken,  John  Nov.  22,  1870 

Mcllhargy,  Alexander . .July  15,  1874 

Mclnerny,  Daniel  J  Jan.  24,  1872 

Mclntyre,  Edward  ....  Mar.  23,  1881 

McKenna,  Felix  Oct.  3,  1874 

.VIcKenna,  Francis  Aug.  3,  1876 

McKenna,  Patrick  Sept.  9,  1873 


PROTECTORS. 

Name.  Date  of  Appointment. 

McKenna,  Patrick  Jan.  i,  1874 

McKenzie,  Chas.  H.  .  .June  14,  1866 

McKeon,  Bernard  Feb.  17,  1866 

McKeon,  Wm.  F  Sept.  22,  1873 

McKeown,  Jos  Sejjt.  i6,  1865 

McKirvey,  John  Sept.  24,  1883 

McKnigh't,  Jas.  H  Oct.  9,  1883 

McLaughlin,  Edward. ..  .June  2,  1884 
McLaughlin,  Michael. ..  Nov.  2,  1883 
McLaughlin,  Michael ...  Mch.  7,  1885 
McLaughlin,  W.W.,Serg..  Nov.  26, 1 868 

McLcavy,  Charles  June  2,  1876 

McLeod,  S.  B.  W.,  Sur.. Sept.  15,  1873 

McLoughlin,  John  May  8,  1882 

McLoughlin,  John  Sept.  24,  1883 

McLoughlin,  John  Jan.  29,  1884 

McLoughlin,  John  B.  ..July  14,  1865 

McMahon,  Denis  May  7,  1883 

McMahon,  Dennis  Feb.  24,  1866 

McMahon,  Edward  Jan.  15,  1873 

McMahon,  James  Jan.  27,  1873 

McMahon,  John  Jan.  31,  1874 

McMahon,  John  June  30,  1882 

McManus,  Chas.  B  Jan.  23,  1884 

McMillian,  W.  B.,  Sergt. .Jan.  21,  1869 

McNally,  Felix  Feb.  9,  1882 

McNallv,  James  Dec.  21,  1883 

McNallv,  John  Aug.  19,  1868 

McNally,  John  J  Oct.  3,  i88i 

McNally, Patrick,  Sergt.. Oct.  24,  1864 
McNamara,  Daniel  J.. .July  15,  1876 
McNamara,  Jas.  F.  .  .  .Sept.  15,  1882 

McNamara,  John  Feb.  10,  1875 

McNamara,  John,  Sergt.  .Feb.  5,  1873 
McNamee,  Michael.  .  .  .Apr.  14,  1868 
McNaught,  Robert ....  Tiilv  15,  1876 

McNeaiis,  John  .Jan.  18,  1884 

McNeely.  John  Oct.  29,  1883 

McNiece,  Patrick  Oct.  19,  1880 

McNulty,  Francis  Jan.  22,  1879 

McParlan,  James  Jan.  26,  1884 

McParlan,  Thomas  Nov.  3,  185-9 

McPartlin,  Owen  Feb.  7,  1874 

McQuade,  James,  No.  i.Mch.  i,  1876 

McQuade,  Thomas  Aug.  5,  1879 

McSherry,  Matthew.  March.  20,  1868 

McSweeny,  John  June  9,  1873 

McTaggart,  Francis  ...  Apr.  26,  1877 

McVay,  James  Oct.  10,  1881 

McVay,  Patrick  Mch.  12,  i860 


OUK  POLICE 


*  Namk 

Dale  of  Appointmenl 

Oct.  9, 

i8c:8 

Martineau,  Cornelius. 

\Iav  ^, 

1869 

Mch.  4, 

1884 

Masterson,  Jno.  'J' 

Mav  19, 

1876 

.  .  Dec.  30, 

1872 

Masterson,  Patrick. .  . 

.  .Jan.  14, 

187^ 

1868 

Matthews,  David,  Surg. .  Apr.  i6 

1877 

Matthews,  Jno.  M  .  .  . 

.  .Oct.  22, 

187^ 

to 

1861 

Ma.xwell,  J.  H  

18S2 

1881 

Mayfort,  H.  Geo. .  .  . 

Sept.  0, 

1874 

.  .  .  Mav  I, 

1877 

Meacle,  Joseph  

May  I, 

1876 

\pr.  8, 

1885 

Mead,  Tas.  S.,  Sergt. 

.  .  Jan.  20, 

1869 

Mead,  Joseph  W  

,  Sept.  29, 

1869 

Mead,  VVni.  H  

.  .Aug.  26, 

1868 

Sept.  24, 

187^ 

Meakin,  Wm.,  Capt. . 

.  .  Feb.  10, 

1873 

Meaney,  Jno.  A  

Nov.  20, 

Meehan,  Bernard. .  .  . 

Anr.  2s. 

i88^ 

Meehan,  Chas.  J  . .  . . 

June  20, 

1881 

Meehan,  Thos  

Mch.  5, 

1881 

1  *  ' 

188^ 

Meiers,  Max  

Mch.  23, 

1867 

1864 

Mch.  5, 

i8Si 

Mch.  4, 

i87s 

/J 

188^ 

.  .  .  Feb.  6, 

1872 

Mch.  19, 

1870 

Milburn,  Geo.  J  

,  Feb.  II, 

1884 

Miley,  Edward  F. .  .  . 

188^ 

Miller,  Chas  

Mch.  27, 

1882 

i86i; 

J 

• .  Jan.  23, 

1861 

•  July  15, 

1876 

Miller,  Isaac  

.  .  .Dec.  2, 

1881 

Miller,  Israel  W  

•  Jan.  14, 

187.3 

1884 

Miller,  Joseph  

Jan.  ro. 

1881 

Miller,  Peter  T  

1884 

/AC/  1  r.L  1  UKS- 

547 

Name 

Date  of  Appoiiitini-iit 

Miller,  Theodore 

May  26 

i88o> 

Miller,  Wm.  |  

Feb  4 

1884:- 

Millniore,  Jno.  .\I  .  .  . 

..Mch.  21, 

1884 

Minchin,  M.  G  

Apr  2 1 

1882 

Miner,  Charles  

June  17, 

i8s7 

J  / 

Minnerly,  Abraliam  . 

.Nov.  \x 

1872 

Minnick,  Jno  

Apr  6 

1868 

1867 

Mints,  Jno.  G  

Feb.  11;, 

1868 

Mitchell,  Anthony, 

Oct.  I-?, 

l87t 

Mitchell,  Artemas  W 

..Oct.  28, 

1870 

Mitchell,  Cornelius  , 

June  27, 

1884 

Mitchell,  Jno  

1  ulv  I  X, 

I  870 

Mitchell,  Jno.  F  

Ian.  20. 

1884 

Mitchell,  Thos.  D 

Tulv  14, 

1870 

*  0  > 

1878 

1878 

1878 

Moffitt,  Thos  

.  .June  16, 

1874 

Mohr,  Philip  

Oct.  16, 

1872 

i87<: 

Molloy,  Jno  

.Oct.  29, 

1862 

Mollov,  Jno.  J  

1877 

Moloney,  Jno.  F.,  Sergt.June  14, 

1864 

Moloney,  Martin .... 

.  .Jan.  22, 

1 86 1 

•  -  -Aug.  5, 

1873 

•  -  Aug.  24, 

1881 

1878 

Monaghan,  Jas.  A 

.  .July  21, 

1882 

Moncrief,  Ambrose .  . 

.Mch.  24, 

1876 

July  31, 

1872 

Mongan,  Jos.  F  

•Sept.  15, 

1882 

.Sept.  17, 

i88^ 

Monihan,  Peter  J 

..Oct.  30, 

1 865 

Montgomery,  Geo 

.  .Aug.  5, 

1870 

Montgomery,  Jas.  C. . 

.  .Oct.  27, 

1874 

Montgomery,  Rob't  A 

.Mch.  22, 

1872 

Moodv,  James  

.  .Jan.  24, 

[861 

187^ 

(869 

•  Jan.  23, 

1884 

Moore,  f  no.  G  

.Aug.  17, 

1870 

'873 

Moore,  Wm  

,  Nov.  20, 

■875 

.Aug.  28, 

[876 

OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Name 

Date  of  Appo 

ntment 

Moran,  Jas  ,  . 

Dec.  24, 

-  0  0 
1868 

Moran,  J  as.  S  

•  -  Apr.  7, 

I  800 

Moran,  Jeremiali .  .  .  . 

Uct.  21, 

looi 

Moran,  Jno  

,  ,  .  r  eb.  0, 

1865 

i»«3 

1874 

T  .1  ,A  Q 

I 

I  000 

r\   

-  0  _ 

1871 

Morganweek,  Wm  .  ,  . 

,  .  (^ct.  1 7, 

1874 

1^73 

1574 

.  Nov.  27, 

1883 

1003 

Mount,  John  J.,  (  apt 

•  •  Apr.  23, 

1^557 

-r  Q 

1070 

iviuviaiiu,-  icrcuiiau.  . 

.  .  May  25, 

I  004 

Moynihan,  Dan  1  C.  . 

.  Dec.  23, 

*  0  i.  ^ 
1876 

.  .  i  Jec.  0, 

1872 

.  .Oct.  15, 

1873 

Mulcany,  Kicn  <.l  | 

,  .  CJct.  26, 

1883 

.Aug.  17, 

1000 

Mukloon,  Patrick  F 

.  .  .  Uct.  0, 

_  0  _.  0 

1858 

1 881 

A  T    U  ~ 

1882 

Mulnern,  1  nos  

.  l*eb.  18, 

1873 

.  .  Oct.  14, 

ATll11nv\£»     T^n  ^.l- 

Mullen,  reiriskie  H.  . 

..Sept.  16, 

1861 

Muller,  Geo.  H.  F.  .  . 

.  Mch.  22, 

150  I 

1870 

187^ 

Mullin,  R.  r  

,  0  0  « 
:  000 

Mullin, Washington,  Sergt.Oct.  6, 

1 0O4 

Mullin,  Wm.  F  

•  -  July  7, 

I  002 

Mulrv,  Thos  

..Sept.  7, 

1870 

Mulry,  Thos.  AV  

1873 

Mulrooney,  Mich'l 

•  -  July  I. 

1872 

.July  24, 

1872 

Munday,  Thos.  J.,  Jr. 

.Mch.  18, 

I  000 

■  ■  Aug.  7, 

1 00  y 

Munn,  Geo.  H  

.  Mch.  19, 

1880 

Munson,  Jno.  J  

.  Mav  26, 

1883 

Murdock,  Geo  

1883 

Muret,  Edward,  Sergt. .  Feb.  22, 

1873 

Name 

Date  of  Appointment 

i88? 

.Sept.  8, 

i86q 

Nov.  20, 

1868 

1881 

A  T 1 1  t-t\l-»  \-    Toe  T~\ 

.   .  May  7, 

1874 

.  |une  16, 

1874 

Murphy,  Jeremiah  | 

.  .Oct.  22, 

1881? 

,  May  12, 

1877 

■  ■  ■  May  3, 

1878 

Murphv,  Jno.  C  

,  .  Feb.  27, 

1884 

Murphy,  Joseph  

,  May  1 1, 

1874 

18615 

Murphv,  Maurice 

Oct.  8, 

187^ 

Murphy,  Mich'l  J., Cajjt .  Aug.  10, 

1868 

Murphv,  Mich'l  

1870 

Murphy,  Mvles. 

June  22 

1864 

,    ,  Feb.  8, 

Murphv,  Pat'k  

1869 

J 

Mr  J 

i86g 

Murphy,  Rob't  

Feb.  18, 

188c; 

.  .Aug.  31, 

1870 

Murphv,  Thos  

Murphv,  Thos.  V 

•  .  .Aug.  5, 

1879 

*  ^  i  y 

Murphv,  Wm.  H 

.  .Apr.  14, 

1882 

.  .  May  24, 

Murray,  Dan'l  

..Apr.  17, 

1871; 

Murrav,  Henrv  T 

.  .  fune  13, 

1884 

Murray,  Jas.  E  

.  .May  14, 

0 

Murray,  Jas.  J  

.  .  Oct.  24, 

1881 

.  .Sept.  3, 

181:0 

Murrav,  Mich'l  

.  Mch.  14, 

1876 

.  .  .  Apr.  8, 

1882 

Mch.  9, 

1881 

Murray,  Wm.,  Supt.  . 

. .  May  24, 

1866 

Murtha,  Bernard. .  .  . 

.  Nov.  15, 

1876 

Murtha,  Pat'k  

1  )ec.  2, 

1868 

Murtagh,  Mich'l  .  . 

.  .June  7, 

1873 

Myers,  Bernard  

.  .  .  Jan.  4, 

1873 

,  .Oct.  14, 

i88i 

Nafew,  Henry  B  June  6,  1870 

Nally,  Edward  F  \pr.  26,  18S2 

Nally,  Jas.  F  June  i,  1877 


Ol'R  POLICE 


*  Namk 

Dale  of  Ai)i)oii 

tincnt 

Nann,  Jas.  15. .....  . 

. . .  Men.  I , 

I  .S.S4 

/^\.. *  ~f 

,  0  —  0 

Till,.  . 

i<S76 

Naui;hton,  Mich  1 

.  .  .May  5, 

1877 

XT  ^  .  1  !         t  \  .     '  t 

.  .Dec.  23, 

_  0  _  _ 

1875 

1872 

XT   ^  ,  1  *            T                  XT  _ 

JNealis,  Jas.,  No.  2  .  . 

.  .Sept.  30, 

1876 

I  oOO 

XT     *  1       CC     T  I 

Neinon,  Hem  v  

.  .Aug.  29, 

1872 

XT 13     1 . * ^ 

•  •  Aug.  19, 

IO72 

XT    ^  A.. 

•  -  Aug.  14, 

1871 

X'  „  1  ,               \  (  '  

1875 

XT  \-  !  *.  4.  WJ  

.  .  .June  7, 

1 882 

XT                 Wf             \  / 

Nevin,  v\  m.  A.  C  .  .  . 

XT 

.  .  N  ov.  1 4, 

1873 

XT  !  „        T">  ,-1 

1 882 

XT              11  1 

Newell,  \V  m.  |  

.  .  Mav  19, 

1875 

I  00  I 

Newman,  Kdw'd. .  .  . 

,  .  Jan.  20, 

I  009 

•  •  •  J>'iy  5, 

i(S<Si 

.  .Apr.  19, 

1876 

•  ■  -  Apr.  9, 

1879 

Nichols,  Cornelius  V. 

.  .  .  Apr.  8, 

1004 

1874 

Niggersniith,  Geo  t . 

.  .  r  ei).  10, 

1873 

I  07  2 

•  •  Feb.  13, 

.  .Sept.  25, 

I  800 

•  •  May  13, 

18/4 

.r-v  1  .1                   A   r  1                 '  1 

1875 

•  -  Apr.  13, 

I  002 

XT^n                      T  — 

1882 

XT        '      n  r    1  i        o  i. 

N  orris,  \Valter,  Sergt 

•  •  -  Sept.  5, 

[870 

.  .  I' el).  14, 

•873 

.  .  May  29, 

1874 

I  oO  I 

Norton,  \\  ni.  f.,  No. 

I  .  .Apr.  29, 

r  <^ 
I 

Norton,  \\  ni.  [.,  No. 

2  .  Apr.  17, 

I  002 

c  ...    .  /; 

1882 

..Mih  30, 

[  002 

1879 

Nugent,  Harrv  

. .  Dec.  17, 

1883 

. . .  Nov.  4, 

1878 

1884 

PRO  I'ECTORS. 

549 

Na.mk 

<> 

Date  of  Appointntcnt 

.June  27, 

1 872 

1870 

Oates,  Tat'k,  Sergt  ,  . 

.  .  lulv  26, 

1865 

1878 

O'Brien,  Edward  (/.  . 

.  .  Mav  21, 

1880 

O'lJrien,  jeremiah.  .  . 

.  .Oct.  14, 

1881 

.  .  .  Feb.  8, 

1884 

O'Brien,  J  no.  D 

.  .Sept.  I, 

1875 

.  .  Oct.  22, 

1883 

O'Brien,  Laurence  T. 

.  .  Mch.  7, 

1885 

O'Brien,  Stephen,  Jr. 

.  Nov.  20, 

1875 

O'Brien,  Thos  

.Nov.  27, 

1863 

1868 

■  -  Aug.  7, 

1876 

O'Callahan,  David  .  . 

1869 

O'Connell,  David.... 

. .Jan.  24, 

1859 

O'Connell,  John  

.  .Jan.  29, 

i86r 

O'Connell,  Maurice  J 

.  .  .  Apr.  7, 

1882 

O'Connell,  Mich'l 

1870 

1859 

O'Connell,  Wm  

1872 

1870 

1873 

O'Connor,  David .... 

.  .  .  Mav  9, 

1867 

O'Connor,  Edward .  . 

•  Aug.  31, 

1870 

O'Connor,  Edwaid  H 

.  .  .  Feb.  7, 

1885 

1877 

O'Connor,  Jno  

•  •  -  July  7, 

1869 

Oct.  8, 

1862 

!    O'Connor,  Rich'd,  Sergt.Oct.  11, 

1873 

O'Connor,  Thos  

...Jan.  8, 

1884 

.  .Oct.  14, 

1881 

1883 

.Aug.  II, 

1865 

.June  15, 

1867 

1880 

.  .  .  .May  8, 

1880 

Ohm,  Herman  P  

.  .  Jan.  26, 

1876 

Feb.  I, 

1871 

O'Keeffe,  Dan'l  ,  . 

.  .  July  30, 

1873 

O'Leary,  Denis  

.  .Oct.  30, 

1 87 1 

O'Learv,  Jno  

,  May  24, 

1S84 

O'Learv,  Tinioth\ 

Apr.  20, 

1876 

O'Loughlin,  Thos.  P. 

.  .Jan.  28, 

1885 

55° 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Name 

Date  of  Appointment 

Olson,  Wm.  A  

Al  ay  14 

1884 

Dec  24 

1878 

O'Malley,  Mich'l 

Feb  I 

O'Meara,  Jas.  J  

Jan  29, 

1884 

.  .  .  Aur  ? 

I87I 

O'Neil,  Thos  

July  20, 

1870 

Nov 

1882 

Ian  11 

1884 

1870 

O'Neill,  Jno.,  No.  i  .  . 

.Dec.  II, 

1861 

XT  ^  :  1 1      T                 XT  ^  _ 

O  Neill,  Jno.,  No.  2  . 

. .  Tunc  2x. 

1869 

I  870 

/  \»XT  -!n       111-  _1!  

188-? 

r~\  ♦XT.^ril      Wf   T."* 

1881? 

g-\  1  J.      A  f  '     1,  M 

lune  2 1, 

188^ 

i~\  »Ti  -  T-\ 

June  17 

1884 

Mch  19 

1870 

0  Reilly,  Mu  h  1  

Pel)  29 

1876 

O'Reilly,  Pat'k  

1870 

0  Keiliy,  1  hos  

Oct.  25, 

1872 

0  Kiellv,  Hugh  

Jan  20 

1861 

J  une  2 

1884 

O'Rourke,  Hugh.  .  .  . 

,  Nov.  20, 

187? 

O'Rourke,  Thos  

.  .July  22, 

1874 

Orpan,  Henry  M 

.  .May  14, 

1874 

Orr,  Rob't  

Nov.  8, 

1866 

O'Ryan,  Mich'l ,  , 

.  .  Apr.  I, 

1861 

Osborn,  Geo.  P.,  Sergt.Sept.  13, 

1870 

Osborne,  Sylv.,  Sergt 

.  .Apr.  27, 

1857 

Oct.  21, 

1878 

O'Sullivan,  Pat'k 

.  .May  27, 

1870 

O'SuUivan,  V/m.  M  . . 

.Sept.  22, 

187? 

O'Toole,  Wm  

•Sept.  15, 

1871 

.  .  .  May  6, 

1878 

P 

Panet,  Anthony  J.  .  . 

.Sept.  18, 

1878 

•  •  July  3. 

1 8t;  7 

Parkerson,  Chas.  .\  . . 

.  Keb.  23, 

1878 

Palmer,  Augustus  H. . 

.  .Oct.  24, 

1877 

. .  Sept.  9, 

1873 

Palmer,  Wm.  H  

.Aug.  lo. 

1864 

.Ai)r.  27, 

1883 

•  -  Apr.  15, 

1885 

1874 

Name 

Date  of  Appoir 

tment 

Parker,  Jno.  J  

Mch.  8, 

1876 

Parker,  Seymour  V.  . 

.  .Apr.  15, 

1876 

Patton,  Alexander,  Jr. .  .Sept.  6, 

1883 

Pearsail  Jno   \\  .... 

May  22 

1882 

1865 

Pellett,  Henry  H. .  .  . 

1866 

Penney,  Frank  

Mch.  16, 

1881 

Pepper,  jno  

Oct  10 

1 881 

1875 

Perkins  Jas  J   

Aujy  27 

1884 

1880 

Pertcl,  Edw'd  

Mch.  23, 

1870 

1883 

Pettit,  Ik'rnard  

1870 

Petty,  Jeremiah,  Capt 

.June  23, 

1857 

Pettv,  Wm.  E  

•  ■  •  May  5, 

1884 

Pfachler,  Emil  L  

Nov.  20, 

1875 

Pfeifer,  Henrv  E.  .  .  . 

Mch.  I, 

1882 

Phair,  ]as.  H  

Sept.  1 1, 

1883 

•Apr.  13, 

1868 

Phelan,  Mich'l  

.  .Oct.  13, 

I  069 

1875 

Phelps,  Chas.,  Surgeon  .Sept.  15, 

1873 

Phillips,  Abraham.  .  . 

.  .Jan.  14, 

1874 

Phillips,  Chas.  H 

Mch.  20, 

1875 

Philli])s,  Geo.  A  

.  Mch.  22, 

1870 

Phillips,  Henry  W , 

1866 

Phillips,  Jno.  W 

.Sept.  10, 

1872 

Phyfe,  David  

..Apr.  8, 

1 670 

Pickett,  Pat'k  H  ,  Sergt. Oct.  11, 

1865 

Pierce,  Chas.  E  

Feb.  14, 

1867 

1872 

Piggott,  C.  S  

Apr.  18, 

1883 

Piggott,  Jno  

[865 

Pike,  Chas.  S  

Nov.  22, 

[870 

Pincknev,  Sam'l  T  .  , 

.  .Apr.  I, 

r  OX  . 

too  I 

Pitcairn,  Rob't  B  

Dec.  24, 

002 

Place,  Jas.  H  

•  May  23, 

[801 

1868 

Plath,  Tohn  H  

.  .Aug.  3, 

0  —  /: 

876 

Platte,  Casper  

Jan.  1 1, 

004 

Pless,  Chas.  H  

Sept.  22,  ] 

873 

.June  25,  1 

862 

Plunkett,  Wm.  H  

..Apr.  9,  1 

869 

Polhanius,  Dan'l,  Sergt. May  20,  i 

861 

OUR  ro/JCF. 


/'KOTKCIORS. 


Name                        Date  of  Appmi 

linciit 

Jan.  14, 

ICS74 

Porclier,  ^\ln.,  Sergt.  . 

.Feb.  13, 

Porter,  Wm.  i>  

.Mch.  I, 

I  Oo2 

Postholf,  Fred'k  \V  .  .  . 

.  |;in.  24, 

1879 

1X83 

.  June  14, 

I805 

Powers,  Jno.  ]'"  

.Jan.  24, 

1 004 

Oct.  6, 

[  0  7  0 

Powers.  Thos  

Oct.  10, 

1070 

Pratt,  Dan'l  

June  24, 

1505 

Oct.  15, 

1072 

Prendereast,  Pat'k  .  .  .  . 

Sept.  27, 

I  070 

Price,  Alexancier  

Feb.  12, 

Price,  Arthur  J  

,  Sept.  4, 

1883 

Price,  Sam'l  

Mch.  26, 

.  ooO 

Price,  Frank  S  

Mch.  10, 

1885 

.Apr.  23, 

I  663 

Price,  Jas.  K  

Dec.  4, 

1574 

Protey,  Fred'k  

Oct.  7, 

Protz  Fred'k  

May  1;, 

1871 

Purnhagen,  Henry. .  .  . 

June  27, 

[882 

Purroy,FrancisM.,Surg 

'n.Feb.i6, 

■875 

Putnam,  Nathan  W. .  . 

.Dec.  15, 

[883 

•  July  7, 

[884 

Q 

Quackenbush,  Rob"t  H.Feb.  i6, 

Quick,  Abraham  

Feb.  2  1, 

679 

004 

Quiglev,  Dan'l  

Jan.  10,  ] 

073 

Quigley,  Jas.,  No.  i .  . 

Dec.  11,1 

Quigley,  Jas.,  No.  3.. . 

-Feb.  26,  ] 

^73 

,Oct.  10,  1 

8•7r^ 

070 

Quinlan,  Dan"l  I  

,  Feb.  14, 

0  —  A 

876 

Sept.  14, 

00  I 

870 

Quinn,  Henry  j\I  

•■July  3: 

r  Q-  -7 

'^o7 

Quinn,  Jas.,  Doorman. 

.May  24, 

8>4 

Quinn,  Jas.,  No.  i. .  .  . 

Feb.  10, 

[872 

Quinn,  Jas.,  No.  2 

Dec.  16,  ] 

872 

Quinn,  Jas.,  No.  3 .  .  .  . 

.  .  Jan.  I, 

[874 

.Nov.  II, 

[869 

..Jan.  2, 

1868 

Nov.  5, 

.883 

Mch.  11;, 

■87.^ 

I 


Na.mk 

Date  of  Appoincnicni 

 June  2, 

1884 

Quintard,  (  liaunccy 

1".  .July  1. 

1872 

Quirk,  Edw'd  j  .  .  . 

.  .  Mch.  23, 

1880 

Quirk,  Jas  

1881; 

Rabbeitt,  Cliristopher.  .Jan.  23, 

Rabbett,  Patrick  ,  .  . 

1876 

.  ..Feb.  15, 

1SC9 

1883 

.  .  .Oct.  25, 

1873 

 Jan.  4, 

1866 

Randall,  Chas.  B. .  . 

.  .  .  Apr.  17. 

1875 

Randall,  Frank  B.,  Sergt.  Oct.  1 1, 

1865 

. .  .  Oct.  23, 

1872 

...Apr.  28, 

1882 

 July  I, 

1876 

Reagan,  James  

1871 

Reagan,  Michael . .  . 

.  .  Mar.  1 4, 

1874 

Rea]),  Michael  J 

•  -  Apr.  23, 

1883 

Rebholz,  Peter  

1883 

Rector,  Albert  

•  •  -  Jan.  15, 

1866 

Redgate,  Stephen  F. 

.  .  Sept.  22, 

1875 

Redmond,  Garrett 

,  June  27, 

1884 

Regan,  David  

.  .Dec.  30, 

1867 

Regan,  Edward  M 

,  Apr.  10, 

1874 

1882 

Regan,  Wm  

Nov.  8, 

1878 

Reid,  Albert  

Apr.  8, 

1875 

Reid,  Cornelius .... 

.  .  .Jan.  28, 

1861 

Reid,  Cornelius .... 

Feb.  21, 

1867 

Reid,  Geo  

Aug.  22, 

1874 

Reid,  Maurice  

Jan.  18, 

1878 

Reid,  Thomas  1 1 

.  Dec.  2, 

1874 

1857 

Reid,  Wm.  S.,  Sergt. 

.  .  Nov.  18, 

1866 

.  .  .Aug.  6, 

1880 

Reilly,  Bernard  

.  .  -  Jan.  13, 

1875 

Reilly,  Edward  

.  ..  .Oct.  5, 

1876 

Reilly,  James,  No.  2 

.  .  Mch.  1 7, 

1873 

Reillv,  James  

Mav  6, 

1874 

Reilly,  James  

.  .Apr.  29, 

1875 

Reillv,  John  

.  .  .  Apr.  29, 

1876 

Reillv,  John  H 

Feb.  17, 

1882 

Reillv.  Peter  

.  .  .Sept.  7. 

■  870 

552 


OUR  FOLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Xamk  Date  of  Appoi] 

Reiily,  Philip  Nov.  27, 

Rcilly,  Rob't  P  '.  .  .Apr.  11, 

Reiily,  Terence  Feb.  13, 

Reiily,  Thos..  Sergt. .  .  .Aug.  24, 

Reiily,  Wm  Mc.h.  9, 

Reiily,  Wm  Dec.  2, 

Reinhardt,  John  Oct.  26, 

Reinhardt,  Oscar  vSept.  30, 

Reinisch,  Chas.  H.,  Sergt.  Aug.  4, 

Reiss,  Edward  F  Feb.  4, 

Reiss,  Fredrick,  Jr.... Apr.  15, 

Relyea,  Henry  Oct.  6, 

Remley,  Napoleon  15.  ..July  31, 

Renken,  John  Feb.  12, 

Rennie,  Geo.  W.  I)  Dec.  8, 

Renner,  Jerome  L  May  2, 

Repper,  John  H  Nov.  3, 

Revell,  Wm.  A.,  Sergt.  .  .Jan.  4, 

Rever,  Jacob  Dec.  4, 

Reville,  Philip  E  iMch.  8, 

Reynolds,  Delos,  Sergt.  .Feb.  4, 

Reynolds.  Thos  Feb.  3, 

Reynolds,  Thomas  Nov.  i, 

Reynolds,  Wm  Apr.  6, 

Rhoades,  Wm.  May  7, 

Rhoades,  Wm.  H  June  15, 

Rice,  Bernard  J  Jan.  13, 

Richards,  Geo.  W  Aug.  7, 

Richardson,  Peter  June  3, 

Richert,  Louis  Sept.  13, 

Riley,  James  Feb.  3, 

Riley,  James  H  Apr.  20, 

Riley,  Matthew  C  Nov.  25, 

Riley,  Thomas  Nov.  13, 

Ringler,  Fredrick  Apr.  17, 

Ripley,  Wm.  F  Mar.  20, 

Roach,  Jno.  T  May  11, 

Roach,  Maurice  Aug.  23, 

Roache,  Wm.,  No.  i...Apr.  25, 

Roan,  Patrick  July  29, 

Robb,  Frank  \\ .,  Sergt.. \ug.  25, 

Robb,  Matthew  Feb.  14, 

Robbins,  Albert  E  Ai)r.  2, 

Robbins,  John  M.,  Capt.Jan.  i, 
Roberts,  Henry,  Sergt.. Vug.  24, 


tment 

Name 

Date  of  Appoir 

tment 

863 

Roberts,  John,  No.  i. 

.  .  Oct.  16, 

1870 

1866 

Roberts,  John,  No.  2 

.  .  .  Feb.  I, 

1882 

[860 

1872 

[866 

•  •  -  July  9, 

1870 

[874 

Robinson,  Edwin  K. 

•  -  Apr.  23, 

1857 

878 

1866 

[883 

1876 

[obl 

1867 

[000 

•  •  Apr.  14, 

1004 

Rockwell,  Fred.  S. .  .  . 

.  Men.  20, 

.00. 

1884 

0  «  /■ 
076 

1884 

0  —  ^ 

...  J  an.  8, 

1874 

877 

Rogers,  rrank  

Mch.  21, 

1884 

884 

w  c  

1  ftyo 

866 

•873 

[885 

Rohloff,  Albert  

1875 

882 

1884 

866 

•  •  -  July  I, 

1872 

865 

Rooney,  Mich'l  

Oct.  18, 

1067 

871 

Rooney,  Mich'l  M.,  Sergt.N0v.29, 

1807 

866 

Roonev,  Nicholas 

Oct.  I, 

_  0  /T  ^ 
1867 

0  0 

868 

Rork,  Arthur,  Sergt. 

.  .  Dec.  12, 

I  002 

871 

Ross.  John  

.  .  .  Apr.  7, 

1873 

Rothschild,  Edward . 

..Jan.  29, 

1004 

874 

tooO 

863 

Roughan,  Michael.  .  . 

.  Nov.  30, 

I  070 

875 

Rourke,  Wm  

•  •  •  June  3, 

t002 

070 

[002 

873 

.  .  June  4, 

0  0 

[883 

873 

Rowley,  Andrew  H. . 

.  Dec.  20, 

'873 

Q  »,  « 

Ruland,  Gardiner.  .  ,  . 

.Nov.  23, 

[877 

875 

Ruland,  John  

.  .  Aug.  7, 

,  0  —  ^ 
[872 

oOo 

Runge,  Alexander  F . 

.  .  Nov.  4, 

879 

Rutledge,  David .... 

.  ,  Mav  27, 

865 

875 

Ryan,  Chas.  J  

.  .  .May  I,  ] 

002 

0  0 

662 

Oct.  22,  ] 

[8»3 

006 

Rvan,  Denis  F  

,  July  26,  1 

[809 

oOO 

Rvan,  Edmund  

lune  15,  ] 

[oOo 

Q  r- 

875 

ti)64 

874 

•Apr.  23,  ] 

[000 

oOO 

Ryan,  James  

.  Sept.  22,  ] 

[«77 

86 1 

Ryan,  James  

.  Sept.  19,  ] 

881 

875 

882 

874 

Apr.  28,  1 

869 

865 

879 

OUR  POLTCE  I'ROTECTORS. 


553 


Name  Date  of  Appointment 

Ryan,  John  Mch.  7,  1884 

Ryan,  John  June  27,  1884 

Ryan,  Nichohis  Dec.  6,  1883 

Ryan,  Tatrick  Feb.  18,  1873 

Ryan,  Patrick  May  4,  1875 

Ryan,  Patrick  H  Apr.  29,  1876 

Ryan,  Peter,  Sergt  Mch.  2,  1S61 

Ryan,  Phos.  M.,  Capt..Nov.  12,  1863 

Ryan,  I'iniothy  Mch.  28,  1881 

Ryan,  Wm.  .\  Mch.  6,  1884 

Ryckman,  Nichohxs  A.Dec.  21,  1872 
Ryder,  Dermott  Mch.  14,  1S76 


.  .  \pr.  8,  ] 

[885 

Mch.  24, 

[875 

Sanders,  John,  Capt.  . 

.  May  24, 

[866 

Sands,  Chas.  D  

Mch.  25,  ] 

876 

Sanford,  Nathan  B.  .  . 

.Feb.  13, 

[858 

Sept.  29, 

[876 

July  18, 

[874 

Satterlee,  Surgeon. .  .  . 

.Sept.  15, 

[873 

Dec.  16, 

[876 

.  .Sept.  5, 

[870 

Savage,  Michael  

■  Aug.  17, 

[870 

Savercool,  John  0.  .  . 

.Jan.  24, 

[872 

Sawyer,  Joseph  

,  Nov.  20, 

'875 

Sayre,  Geo.  W  

Jan.  16, 

^873 

.  .July  I,  ] 

[872 

.Aug.  18, 

[869 

.  Feb.  4,  1 

[885 

Scanlon,  Edward .... 

.  Nov.  29, 

[872 

.June  14, 

[870 

Sthaffer,  Henrv  

•  Apr.  15, 

[885 

Schaffer,  Wm.  E  . 

Oct.  22, 

[883 

Schanwacker,  Chas.  L. 

•  •  Apr.  3, 

[874 

Scheffmeyer,  Ti;nothy. 

.  May  10, 

1871 

Schenck,  Geo.  A  •  .  .  . 

.Jan.  29, 

r873 

June  12, 

1866 

Schier,  Chas.  A.  L. .  .  . 

.  .  May  I, 

1875 

.  .Dec.  5, 

1879 

Schleissner,  Louis. .  .  . 

Mch.  25, 

1874 

Schlottman, Hermann  W.Apr.  26, 

1884 

Schmidt,  Adolph  H.  . 

.Aug.  31, 

1872 

.  .Apr.  7, 

1882 

Name 

D.Tte  of  Appoin 

ttnent 

[884 

Apr.  8, 

88s 

.  .  .Jan.  7, 

[884 

Schinittberger,Max  F.Sergt.Jan.28,'74 

,Feb.  17, 

'875 

Schneider,  August.  .  . 

Mch.  25, 

1882 

Schneider,  Reinhard. 

.  .Jan.  1 2, 

[866 

.  .Apr.  5, 

[861 

Schoell,  Chas  

Mch.  21, 

[879 

[872 

.Schreiber,  Louis..  .. 

•  Aug.  15, 

[884 

Schreiber,  Wm  

May  I, 

[882 

.  .Oct.  27, 

[874 

Schroth,  Ernest  

June  lo, 

[870 

Schryver,  Albert  B.,  J 

r. .  Apr.  8, 

[885 

.  .Sept.  6, 

[8S3 

1884 

Schultz,  Wm.,  Capt.. 

. .  July  24, 

[867 

[871 

Schulzc,  Chas.  W.  .  .  . 

Jan.  22, 

[881 

.Nov.  18, 

[868 

Schwenk,  Henrv .... 

Feb-  10, 

'875 

Scoficld,  Francis  E .  . 

.Apr.  26, 

[876 

Scullion,  Thomas. .  .  . 

Aug.  18, 

[870 

Scully,  Cornelius  

.  Dec.  10, 

'873 

883 

Sealey,  David,  Sergt . 

.  .  Apr.  8, 

[874 

Seaman,  Samuel  B  .  .  . 

.June  14,  ] 

[867 

Secore,  Francis  

Mch.  14, 

1876 

[866 

Seibert,  Jacob,  Caj)!. 

.  .  Feb.  4, 

[861 

.  Nov.  22,  ] 

[872 

Sellick,  Joseph  H. .  .  . 

Apr.  14,  ] 

I  ~' 

[868 

Setzkorn,  Adolph .  .  .  . 

'  ST 

Sept.  28,  ] 

883 

J                   >                     J  J 

.Aug.  15,  1 

[884 

Shalvey,  Edward  

Mch.  7,  ] 

[861 

Feb.  6,  1 

[884 

Sharkev,  John  G  .  .  .  . 

May  6, 

[885 

Mch.  2, 

[877 

Shaughnessy,  Daniel. 

.  .  May  9, 

[883 

Apr.  18, 

[883 

Shaw,  Geo.  D  

. .Jan.  15, 

'873 

Shaw,  Geo.  E  

Oct.  17, 

[874 

Mar.  6, 

[876 

Shea,  John  

Mch.  17,  J 

877 

554  OUR  FOIJCE 

Namk  Date  of  Appointment 

Shea,  Patrick   .Mch.  5,  i86i 

Shea,  Timothy  May  4,  1883 

Sheehan,  Mich'l,  Sergt.  .Mch.  6,  1868 

Shcehan,  Thomas   Sept.  6,  1883 

Sheils,  John  Feb.  10,  1879 

Sheldon,  Chas.  O.,  Sergt. May  17,  1873 
Sheldon,  Samuel  O.  .  .  .Sept.  9,  1873 

Shellard,  Ste])hen  Sept.  20,  1866 

Shelly,  Michael  F  Feb.  23.  1867 

Sheridan,  Charles  Jan.  29,  1884 

Sheridan,  James  Jan.  23,  1868 

Sheridan,  John  Apr.  29,  1876 

Sheridan,  John  J  Mch.  28,  1882 

Sheridan,  Robert  Jan.  19,  1881 

Sherwood,  Geo.  T  Apr.  26,  1883 

Sherwood,  Nathan  B. .  .  .Jan.  2,  1868 

Shevlin,  Wrt  July  30,  1884 

Shibles,  Fred.  W  Nov.  12,  1883 

ShicI,  John  J  May  19,  1876 

Shields,  Alexander.  .  .  -  Aug.  15.  1884 

Shields,  John  June  i,  1868 

Shiels,  John  H  Jan.  11,  1884 

Shiels,  Michael  J  Nov.  20,  1875 

Shill,  Henry  H  Nov.  2,  1877 

Shire,  Nathaniel  N  Aug.  i,  1879 

Shortall,  John  Aug.  3,  1S76 

Siebelt,  Gustavus  Sept.  10,  1875 

Siems,  John  Aug.  7,  1878 

Sierichs,  John  F  Jan.  4,  1884 

Silbereis,  Theodore  W.Sept.  21,  1870 

Simmons,  Charles  J  Jan  6,  18C8 

Sims,  Orin  H  May  26,  1882 

Sims,  Wm  Apr.  23,  1857 

Sims,  Wm  Dec.  11,  1874 

Sinclair,  John  Nov.  27,  1863 

Sinclair,  Wm  Ai)r.  30,  i860 

Sinder,  John  Aug.  5,  1881 

Sinnott,  Edward  F  Apr.  8,  1882 

Sisson,  Frank  H  Mch.  8,  1884 

Skelling,  Matthew ....  Mch.  14,  1876 

Skelly,  Wm.  J  Feb.  8,  1884 

Skidmorc,  Geo.  M  Nov.  18,  1868 

Skuse,  Thos.  W  Dec.  8,  1869 

Slattery,  John  Mch.  24.  1880 

Slavin,  luiward,  Sergt . .Nov.  28,  1866 


PROTECTORS. 


Na.me 

Date  of  Appointment 

Slawson,  Edgar,  S 

...  J  III)  _o, 

18-76 

01                   T   K 

Dec  2 

1878 

\nr  8 

1881: 

blott,  Henry  L  

Ann   ^  1 

01.,      XT--,-.  ^  ^ 

Sly,  Norman  C  

Mav  8 

1882 

A  U  LI  T. 

1876 

1 003 

Smith,  Bernard  J 

•\Dr  1 8 

1  00  J 

■■Aug.  15, 

187'' 

Smith,  Christopher. 

.  .  Nov.  1 1, 

1869 

.  May  6, 

1 88  c 

Smith,  Edward  J 

.  .  .Dec.  7, 

1881 

Smith,  Elwood  P 

Oct.  12, 

1882 

Smith,  Elbert  0.,  Capt.Dec.  31, 

1872 

Smith,  Emil  F  

Mch.  28, 

1884 

1862 

Smith,  Frederick 

Oct.  21, 

1882 

Smith,  Geo  

..Dec.  16, 

1881 

Smith,  Geo.  E  

June  22, 

186c 

Smith,  Geo.  W  

 Jan.  2, 

Smith,  lames  

.  .  Apr.  11, 

1866 

.  .  .  Apr.  4, 

l87'? 

S-inith,  James  

.  .  .  Mav  I, 

1881 

■  •  •  Apr.  3, 

1885 

Smith,  lames  T .  .  .  . 

.  .  .Aug.  5, 

1881 

Smith,  John  

.  .Sept.  19, 

1877 

....July  8, 

1879 

1881 

Smith,  John  W 

Smith,  Martin  A  ,  . 

.  .Apr.  14, 

1884 

Smith,  Matthew 

.  .Apr.  26, 

1877 

Smith,  Michael  

Mch.  2, 

1S75 

,  .  Mch.  4, 

1863 

Smith,  Patrick  

,  Dec.  2, 

1864 

Smith,  Philip  E .  .  .  . 

.  .  Jan.  20, 

1868 

Smith,  Philip  H 

Tune  1 1, 

1867 

Smith,  I'hiiip  H  ,  .  ,  . 

■  -^^-'Pt-  23, 

1867 

.  .Nov.  27, 

1873 

.  .  Mch.  30, 

1872 

Smock,  Geo.  S  

•  •  -  July  3, 

1866 

Smyth,  Charles  

Oct.  1 1, 

1873 

.  .Jan.  27, 

1873 

Snvder,  Lerov  

Mch.  21, 

1884 

Somerindyke, Richard  D .  Feb.  1 8, 

1884 

.  .  .July  2, 

1862 

Of 'A'  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


555 


Name  Date  of  Appoi 

Spence,  Henry  Oct.  19, 

Spencer,  John  Oct.  19, 

Spencer,  Wm  Feb.  21, 

Spense,  Geo  Feb.  i, 

Spolasco,  Wni  July  15, 

Spragiie,  Josiah  H  . .  .  .  Mch.  29, 

Stack.  Patrick  J  July  20, 

Stahl,  John  Oct.  18, 

Stainkamp,  Henry  July  7, 

Stange,  Henry  A])r.  14, 

Stanton.  FMw  ard  Apr.  23, 

Stanton,  Wm.  B  Mch.  7, 

Stapleton,  Patrick  May  10, 

Stapleton,  Thomas  Dec  4, 

Stebbins,  Anderson ....  Jan.  29, 

Stebbins,  Emil  H  May  2, 

Steed,  James  W  Oct.  11, 

Steele.  James  Apr.  25, 

Steers. Henr>-  V., Inspec'r. Nov.  1 9, 

Steinert,  Surgeon  Sept.  15, 

Stephenson,  Geo.  H...Apr.  18, 
Stephenson,  James  M  .  .  Mch.  6, 
Stephenson,  John  T.,Sergt.May  5, 
Stephenson,  Jonathan  B .  Feb.  12, 
Stephenson,  Thomas. .  .  .Apr.  9, 

Stepper,  Martin  Jan.  21, 

Stetter,  Emil  Mch.  28, 

Stevens,  Charles  W.  .  .  .Apr.  14, 

Stevens,  James  G  Feb.  5. 

Stevens,  Leroy  Mch.  j  o, 

Stewart,  Alexander. .  . .  Feb.  12, 
Stewart,  Joseph,  Sergt.  .Nov.  5. 

Stewart,  Joseph  June  29, 

Stillings,  James  Apr.  8, 

Stoddard,  David  Aug.  22, 

Stoddard,  Elliott  M. . .  .Feb.  26, 

Strang.  John  G  Feb.  18, 

Strang,  Wm.  H  Sept.  29, 

Strauss,  Daniel  Apr.  10, 

Strauss.  Wm  Feb.  27, 

Straussner,  Antoine  A  ..May  26, 

Strope,  Ezra  D  Feb.  10. 

Stuart,  John  May  14, 

Stuart,  Thomas  Mch.  15. 

Stutt,  Wm  Oct.  9, 


859 
S81 
884 
861 
876 
872 
870 
867 
S71 
884 
883 
868 
876 
S65 
881 
884 
881 
882 
857 
873 
8S3 
884 

877 
885 
880 
871 
884 
884 

873 
869 

858 
866 
882 
885 
874 

873 
885 
882 
885 

873 
884 

879 
880 
871 
873 


Xamk  Date  o^  .Appoin 

Sullivan,  Andrew  Mch.  7, 

Sullivan,  Cornelius. .  .  .  .Jan.  26, 

Sullivan,  Daniel  Mch.  17, 

Sullivan,  Daniel  W.  .  .  ..Jan.  17, 

Sullivan.  David  Dec.  15, 

Sullivan,  Edward  Mch.  6, 

Sullivan,  Florence  J  .  .  .Apr.  21, 

Sullivan,  James  June  6, 

Sullivan,  James  J  Jan.  10, 

Sullivan.  John  D  Jan.  22, 

Sullivan,  John  J  Oct.  18, 

Sullivan,  John  S  Jan.  27, 

Sullivan,  John  S  Mch.  28, 

Sullivan,  Joseph  Feb.  6, 

Sullivan,  Michael  May  17, 

Sullivan,  Michael  J  .\pr.  9, 

Sullivan,  Michael  J  -  .  .  .Jan.  24, 

Sullivan,  Jas.  M  Oct.  12, 

Sullivan,  Jeremiah  May  14, 

Sullivan,  Patrick,  No.  i.J;.n.  25, 
Sullivan,  Patrick  J  .  .  .  .Sept.  17, 

Sullivan.  Richard  Jan.  8, 

Sullivan,  Thomas  J  . .  .  .  Dec.  1 1, 

Sullivan,  Thomas  F  Oct.  9, 

Sullivan,  Wm.  W.,  Sergt. Feb.  14, 

Summers,  John  A  Sept.  13, 

Suttie,  Geo.  L.,  Sergt..  June  15, 

Swain,  Wm  Mch.  3, 

Sweeney,  Bernard...   .May  11, 

Sweeney,  Geo.  P  May  7, 

Sweeney,  Jeremiah ....  Mch.  20, 

Sweeney,  John  J  May  7, 

Sweeney,  Michael  P.  .  .  .July  i, 
Symes,  John  J.  N  June  16. 


Taggart,  James  Oct.  21,  1881 

Tallon,  James  Jan.  i,  1874 

Tancredi,  Louis  June  5,  1882 

Tate,  Chas.  H  May  12,  1882 

Tautphoens,  Chris.  F..Feb.  11,  1884 

Taylor,  David  H  Jan.  2,  1873 

Taylor.  Edward  C  .  .  .   . .  .Jan.  5,  1870 

Taylor,  Geo.  M  Mch.  31,  1880 

Taylor,  John  Nov.  27,  1863 


556 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


Name  Date  of  Appo 

Taylor,  John  .  .Dec.  28, 

Taylor,  John  Oct.  9 

Taylor,  John  G  Jan.  26 

Taylor,  John  J.,  Sergt..May  25 

Taylor,  John  W  Apr.  17 

Taylor,  Wm.  H  Sept.  20, 

Telley,  David  A  Apr.  15 

Ten  Eyck,  Henry,  Sergt.  July  1 1 
Terpenning,  Frank  A.  V.June  5 
Terris,  Roderick  M .  .  .  .  Nov.  5 

Terry,  Wm.  D  Feb.  12 

Tessaro,  Benjamin.  .  .  .June  17 
Thatcher, James  R., Sergt .  Jan.  i ; 

Thayer,  James  M  J^'ly 

Thayer,  Joseph  H  June  17 

Thoden,  John  Mch.  6 

Thomas,  Andrew  J.  Sergt .  Aug.  5 

Thomas,  Wm.  H  Nov.  17 

Thompson, Andrew  J. Sergt. June 
Thompson,  Brainard  M.Feb.  16 
Thomi)Son,  Frank  D. .  .Aug.  19 

Thompson,  James  Sept.  13 

Thompson,  John  J., Sergt. Sept.  i ; 
Thompson, TheronT.  Sergt.. A.ug. 
Thompson,  Walter  L. .  .Apr.  23 
Thompson,  Wm.,  Sergt.Apr.  10 

Thompson,  Wm  Sept.  22 

Thompson,  Wm.  J  Apr.  8 

Thorn,  Theobald  Mch.  4 

Thorne,  Augustus  J  Apr.  8 

Thuman,  Fredrick  Oct.  11 

Tieman,  John  C  Apr.  23 

Tieman,  Charles  Aug.  14 

Tierney,  John  H  Aug.  9 

Tierney,  Lancelot  J..  .  .Mc:h.  i 

Tierney,  Thomas  May  i 

Tighe,  Robert  A  Mch.  27 

Timoney,  James  Feb.  11 

Tims,  Oliver,  Sergt  Jan.  26 

Todd,  Orville  A  Dec.  18 

Toerner,  August  H. .  .  .Aug.  25 
Tompkins,  Herbert  M.Mch.  18 
Tompkins,  Stephen  B.  .  .  May  2 
Tompson.  Bernard  C. .  .  .Oct.  9 
Tonry,  Edward  C  Mch.  8 


866 
878 
876 
864 
884 

873 
876 

857 
884 
883 
872 
874 
862 
861 

857 
880 

879 
863 

I '59 

870 
881 
880 
860 
,'62 
867 
866 

873 
885 
885 
882 
869 

857 
872 
884 
861 
877 
878 
884 
866 
876 
869 
881 
884 

873 
876 


Name 


Date  of  Appointment 
1868 
1881 
1868 


Tooker,  Jacob  Mch.  11 

Toomey,  James  Sept.  23 

Torbush,  Henry  W  Feb.  5 

Torbush,  John  H  May  i 

Totten,  Samuel  B.,  Jr.  .Apr.  29 

Townsend,  Geo.  A  July  6 

Townsend,  John  Apr.  7 

Townsend,  John  July  3 

Tracy,  John  Jan.  23 

Trass,  Henry  G  Sept.  ii 

Traver,  Joshua  R  July  3 

Travers,  Edward  Apr.  9 

Treanor,  Patrick  Mch.  26 

Tripp,  Harrison  Jan.  8 

Troll,  Anton  May  31 

Trunk,  James  Apr.  14 

Tuck,  Matthew,  Sergt.  .Nov.  8 

Tucker,  James  P  Feb.  27 

Tucker,  Peter  J  Feb.  i 

Tuite,  James  J  Oct.  13 

Tully,  Bernard  Jan.  4 

Tully,  Michael  Nov.  27 

Twine,  Geo.  H  June  20 

Tyler,  Edward  O  Nov.  12 

Tyrell,  James  May  10 

Tyrrell,  John  May  14 


1877 
1880 
1870 

1873 
1884 
1884 
1867 

1857 
1883 
1884 
1868 
1872 
J  884 
1865 
1884 
1882 

1873 
1866 
1872 
1861 
1863 
1871 
1883 


Uhl,  Peter  Api.  3,  1874 

Uhl,  Morris  Jan.  23,  1861 


Vail,  Oliver  Aug.  i,  1872 

Vail,  Rob't  J  Aug.  9,  1873 

Valiant,  Jno  Dec.  7,  1872 

Vallean,  Chas  June  4,  1883 

Vallely,  Jas.  T  Aug.  12,  1876 

Vallely,  Pat'k  W   Dec.  19,  1873 

Van  Buskirk,  Geo  Mch.  22,  1865 

Van  Cott,  Chas.  .'  June  8,  1874 

Van  Cott,  Henry  W.  .  .  .Aug.  5,  1S79 
Van  Dusen,  Chas.  H.  ..May  30,  1873 
Van  Etten,  Byron  ....Apr.  14,  1884 
Van  Gerichton,  Jacob.  June  29,  1868 
Van  Morn.  }\\o  Mch.  10,  i88x 


ouk'  POT.rcF.  rRO'l-F.croRs. 


f        Namk                            I)atcof  Appoin 

liiicnt 

>    illl      llVyLILVlIf      IxlV    II    \t.  . 

Ian   2  J. 

0  0 

8S4 

^ord'in  Inn 

Nov   1  I 

87 1 

\'n n  X^O'^fl il  1     1  no  (1 

Tan.  2? 

871 

«    \.l  1 1    \  /  I        till.  Al^^lll> 

.  J  line  1 7, 

[85S 

Villi  Runst,  Iloriin  T ^ . 

Mch.  ij, 

0  /" 

tool 

V  ;i  11  I'v :  1  im  1     T  :i  ^ 

Oct  24, 

[872 

Villi  AV'orl    [no  L 

Mch.  26, 

'875 

Vnn  /^'int  COrnclius 

Mav  0  1 

tooy 

Varian,  Win.  A.,  Sur^. . 

.Feb.  16, 

0  

[875 

Tidv  I 

Q 

June  I  3, 

[866 

Velten,  Chas.  E  

\i)r.  S. 

[8.S5 

Verity,  Oaklev  K  

Ian  7. 

..(•.111.     y  , 

00  I 

VcriiiiU'c   fudson.  .  . . 

Ian  20. 

884 

.June  27, 

601 

H  i\  fro  r 

Sept  ''f)  ] 

883 

.  .Apr.  8, 

[876 

Sept.  16, 

[870 

Vretlenburg,  W.,  Sergt. 

.Nov.  17) 

[865 

[861 

w 

Wachner,  Wiii.  H .  .  .  • 

.Mch.  20, 

_  0  0 

1802 

Wade  T'^emnrd           .  . 

1876 

Wade  Chas  1       .    .  . 

Mav 

[882 

WttIp  Tnim 

1872 

•\pr  ''6 

[882 

Warner  Herman 

Tan  i 

1879 

Oct  2 1 

t8oi 

Wagner,  Watson  H  .  . . 

.Apr.  2"?. 

1857 

Walker  Chas  1' 

Feb  6 

1004 

Walker  Mich'l 

T^ec.  1 1 

r866 

Walker,  Rich'd  .  .  . 

June  19, 

1873 

Walkinskaw,  Jno.  S.  . 

.  .May  1 1, 

rooi 

Wall  Dan'l  

Seot  2  X 

Ibol 

Wall  Geor'^^e    .  . 

\utr  26. 

1800 

Wall  Thos   

Mch  29, 

0  0 

1884 

•  •  Aug.  3, 

1876 

Wallerstein,  Jacob.  .  .  . 

June  18, 

1883 

\\'allace,  Rob't  J.,  Ser^ 

;t..Dec.  4, 

1865 

Aug.  26, 

1004 

•  Sept.  30, 

I  881 

Wailing,  Geo.  \V.,  Supt.May  27, 

1857 

Nov.  8, 

1869 

Walmsley,  Stephen  B. 

..Jan.  13, 

'859 

5.'57 

Namk  Dale  of  Appointment 

Walsh,  Edward  Mch.  16,  1870 

Walsh,  Edward  June  11,  1875 

Walsh,  Edwards  Apr.  18.  18S3 

Walsii,  l-'rancis  .'\i)r.  10,  1874 

Walsh,  George  Dec.  17,  1883 

Walsh,  Jno  Feb.  4,  1868 

Walsh,  Matthew  Apr.  3,  1882 

Walsh,  Mich'l  May  13,  1867 

Walsh,  Pat'k,  Sergt  Sept.  7,  1866 

Walsh,  Tat'k  J  June  4,  1883 

Walsh,  Rich'd  l-eb.  24,  1885 

Walsh,  Rob't  Dec.  1 1,  1S78 

Walsh,  Thos  Jan.  29,  1884 

Walsh,  Wm  June  30,  1869 

Walters,  Jno.  W  Dec.  16,  1881 

Walton,  Pat'k  July  26,  1870 

Wandling,  Chas  May  3,  1865 

Ward,  Mich'l  Aug.  21,  1873 

Warner,  August's  W.Sergt.Oct.  1 4, 1 868 

Warner,  George  May  6,  1881 

Warren,  Lewis  P  June  2,  1884 

Warren,  Wm  July  26,  1870 

Warts,  Alex.  B.,  Sergt.  Nov.  18,  1868 
Washburn,  Geo.,  Capt.  .July  10,  1865 

Washl)urn,  Jno.  W  \pr.  14,  1882 

Wassner,  Jno  Aug.  6,  1866 

Waterman,  Chas  Oct.  4,  1869 

Waterman,  Jno.  S  Nov.  27,  1867 

Waterman, Sigism'd,Surg'n .  Sep.  15,' 73 

Waters,  Benjamin  Aug.  11,  1870 

Waters,  Mich'l  Feb.  14,  1859 

Waters,  Thos  May  16,  1873 

Waters,  Thos.  J  Mch.  6,  1872 

Watson,  Jno  Apr.  3,  1874 

Waugh,  Sam'l  S  Oct.  5,  io8i 

Wavle,  Oscar  Oct.  11,  1873 

Wayland,  Henry  Mch.  3,  1875 

Webb,  Rob't  O.,  Capt. . .  Aug.  3,  1868 
Webb,  Wm.  H.,  Sergt.  .Apr.  22,  1867 

Webber,  Edw'd  Feb.  17,  1S69 

Webber,  Francis  T)  .  .  .June  13.  1871 

Webster,  Dan'l  Mch.  i,  1865 

Webster,  Joseph  1" .  .  .  .Dec.  30,  1874 

Weed,  Frank  G  Jan.  24,  1872 

Weeks,  Jno.  H  Dec.  30,  1868 


558 


OUR  FOLrCE  PROTECTORS. 


Namk 

):Ue  of  Appoir 

iment 

A,T«..  . 

1875 

I  009 

.  ]\Ich.  24, 

1876 

ITT,   C£       /  \  1.  i  ,^ 

TT"     t        _  0 

1879 

Weisburger,  Lmamiel. 

■  •  Aug.  3, 

1863 

1874 

T  ^  r 

.  0  —  z' 

1 076 

VVelcn,  Kich  d,  Sergt. 

.Jan.  27, 

1858 

.  Xoy.  25, 

I  670 

.Apr.  23, 

1 004 

Welling,  Edw'd  

.  .  Dec.  2, 

1609 

AVells,  Horace  M 

Nov.  9, 

1868 

Welsh,  John  

0  0 

1885 

Welsh,  Pat'k  

Apr.  26, 

1070 

Welsing,  Jacob,  Sergt.  .June  29, 

I  070 

Werner,  Franci^.  

.  Dec.  30, 

1 001 

.  .Apr.  5, 

r  000 

Wes ter vel t,  J osh u a  . \ . , S e rg t.  Fel >.  2 

t,  67 

Westervelt,  Norman.  . 

.  .Aug.  8, 

1879 

Weston,  Cornelius,  Sergt.Apr.  5, 

1865 

Westphal,  Anthony 

Apr.  8, 

1861 

Whalen,  Edw'd  

Feb.  27, 

'875 

Whalen,  Pat'k  

.Oct.  20, 

Sept.  10, 

I  OOO 

Mch.  17, 

Whelan,  Martin  

July  23, 

1883 

Whispell,  Wm  

May  6, 

[885 

Sept.  23, 

I  881 

•  Apr.  23, 

1857 

White,  Henry  P  

.Apr.  17, 

f875 

White,  Jno  

June  22, 

[857 

White,  Tno.  H  

toOo 

White,  Mich'l  

Oct.  18, 

White,  Morris  

.  .Jan.  3, 

c  «  .i. 

[072 

White,  Patrick  

Oct.  7, 

070 

White,  Patrick  

Oct.  II,  ] 

[883 

White,  Thos.  I  

Sept.  24, 

[883 

Whittle,  Wm.  H  

Feb.  12, 

.  Mch.  8, 

.  Ian.  28, 

p    0  H  » 

[879 

Wilbur,  Wm.  H  

Nov.  13,  1 

[879 

Wildey,  Orlando  

May  6, 

[869 

Wiley,  Mich'l  W  

•  July  i5> 

876 

S73 

Wilkinson,  Jno  

.Sept.  3,  1 

[862 

Name  Date  of  Appointment 

W^illard,  Thos.  K.,  Sergt. Jan.  25,  1866 
Williams,  Alex.  T.,  Capt.Aug.  3,  1866 
;    Williams,CharlesF.,Sergt.Feb.  13,1858 
I    Williamson,  Alvin  H...Mrh.  i,  1866 

!    Williamson,  Chas  Oct.  8,  1873 

Willow,  Augustus...   .Aug.  10,  1870 

Wilson,  Chas.  H  Dec.  15,  1883 

Wilson,  Chas.  R.,  Sergt. .Jan.  9,  1866 

i    Wilson,  Frank  Nov.  17,  1869 

Wilson,  Harrison  Mch.  4,  1862 

I    Wilson,  Jas.  A.  Mch.  21,  1872 

!  Wilson,  Jas.  B.,  Sergt..  .July  16,  1857 
I    Wilson,  Jas.  E.,  No.  2... Jan.  8,  1884 

!    Wilson,  Rich'd  Oct.  16,  1877 

Wimmer,  Jno.  J  Sept.  14,  1883 

Winchell,  Jno,  H  Apr.  17,  1882 

Wines,  Wm  Mch.  18,  1882 

Winner,  (}eo.  H  Sept.  i,  1870 

Wiseburn,  (ieo.  D.  .  .  .Sept.  11,  1867 

Wohlfarth,  Jno  Vug.  15,  1884 

Wolters,  Louis   -  Aug.  2,  1867 

Wood,  Alburtis  Oct.  24,  1877 

Wood,  Edward  Feb.  13,  1873 

Wood,  Enos  V  Nov.  25,  1873 

Wood,  Geo.  W  Sept.  30,  1868 

Wood,  Jno.  A  May  19,  1875 

Wood,  Rivington  W.  .  .Apr.  17,  1883 

Wood,  Wm  Mch.  19,  1880 

Woods,  Henry,  Sergt.  .Mch.  20,  1865 
'    Woodruff,  H.  K., Sergt.. Nov.  19,  1867 

Woodruff,  Seldan  A  June  16,  1873 

Woodward,  C.  W.,Sgt..June  30,  1857 
Woodward,  E.  T.,  Sergt.  Aug.  20,  1862 
Woodward,  Frank ....  Mch.  20,  1873 
Wooldridge,  Joseph  I).. Oct.  22,  1883 

Woolfe,  Geo.  E  Sept.  i,  1^65 

Woolsen,  Benj.  C  Nov.  15,  1867 

Woran,  Chas.  B  Jan.  3,  1873 

I    Worden,  Alfred  W  Jan.  28,  1874 

1    Worden,  Hector  Sept.  18,  1882 

!    Worth,  George  Oct.  30,  1882 

I    Wrede,  George  Apr.  23,  1881 

j    Wright,  Gilbert  I  Feb.  5,  1868 

Wright,  J.  'P,  Sergt  Oct.  14,  1858 

Wright,  Wm  Mch.  3,  i860 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS.  559 
Yuk',  IVtcr,  Cai)t  Feb.  27,  1858 


Yoagcr,  Mich'l  ('  Ort.  i,  1867 

Young,  I,o/.t.'ll(.-, .  \|)r.  iS,  1883 

Young,  Rol)crt,  Scrgl. .  Mch.  17.  1.S66 


Ziikcl,  l.c()iK)l(l  !•'  Aug.  31,  1872 

Zwirkcrt,  Anthony,  jr.. July  14,  1877 


List  of  Captains. 


Captains. 


Precinct. 


Locations. 


Charles  W.  Caffrey. . 

Peter  Conlin  

Geo.  W.  Gastlin .... 
Robert  ().  Webb...  . 

Jos.  li.  Eakins  

John  McCuUagh  .  .  .  . 

Henry  Hedden  

Gharlfs  McDonnell. 
'I'hcron  S.  Co])eland. 
.Antliou}'  j .  Allaire .  . 
William  Aleakim .  .  .  . 
Henry  D.  Hooker. . . 

Jeremiah  Petty  

Michael  J.  Murphy. 
John  J.  Brogan.  .  . . 
|ohn  McEhvain .... 
John  H.  McCullagh 
\Vm.  H.  Clinchy.  .  . 
John  J.  Mount .... 
William  .Schull/. .... 
George  Washburn .  .  . 
Thos.  M.  Ryan  .... 

Thos.  Kiliilea  

John  Sanders  

"Elbert  O.  Smith  

Ira  S.  Garland.  

Wm.  C.  Bcrghold  .  .  . 

John  Gunner  

Alex.  S.  Williams... 

Jacob  Scibert  

James  M.  Leary .  .  . . 
Moses  W.  ("orlwrighl 
Theron  R.  Bennett.. 
John  M.  Robbins .  .  .  . 
Peter  Yule  


I  . 
2 . 

.5  • 

4- 

5' 
6. 

7  ■ 
8. 

9- 
10. 
1 1  . 
1 2 . 

13- 
14. 

15- 
16. 

17- 
18. 
19. 

19 

20 . 
2 1 . 

2  2 . 

23- 
24. 

25- 

26. 

27- 
28. 
29. 

30- 
31  • 
32- 
33  • 
34- 
35- 


(Sub.) 


Old  Slip. 
High  Bridge. 

Steamboat  Squad,  Police  H'(|'ri 

9  and  1 1  Oak  Street. 

19  and  21  Leonard  Street. 

19  Elizabeth  Street- 

245  and  247  Madison  .Street. 

128  Prince  Street. 

94  Charles  Street. 

87  and  89  Eldridge  Street. 

Sheriff  and  Houston  Streets. 

146  and  148  East  126th  Street. 

178  Delancey  Street. 

205  Mulberry  Street. 

251  and  253  Mercer  Street. 

230  West  Twentieth  Street. 

79  and  81  First  Avenue. 

325  East  22d  Street. 

163  East  51st  Street. 

Cirand  C'entral  Depot. 

434  West  37th  Street. 

160  East  35  th  Street. 

345  West  47th  Street. 

432  East  88th  Street. 

Steamer  "  Patrol." 

34  East  29th  Street. 
City  Hall. 

35  New  Church  Street. 
220  East  59th  Street. 
137  West  30th  Street. 

126th  Street,  near  8th  Avenue. 
432  West  1 00th  Street. 
Tenth  .Vvenue  and  i52d  Street. 
Town  Hall,  Morrisania. 
Fremont, 
Kingsbridge. 


OUR  POLICE  PROTECTORS. 


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INDEX. 


Acquittals  and  discharges,  1S3S-1S57.  .  .  159 

Act  of  1853  repealed   137 

Acton,  Conimr.  and  the  Draft  riots.  ...  167 
Acton,  Commr.  T.  C,  Sketch  oi  ...  151,  2o-.> 

Adams,  Thos.  F.,  detective   437 

Age  of  applicants   291 

Aldermen,  Assistant,  abolished   126 

Aldermen  or  Schepens  elected   8 

Aldermen  release  prisoners   143 

Allaire,  Capt.  Anthony  J   322 

Almshouse  burned  in  1754   (>S 

Almshouse  of  Chambers  St   52 

Almshouse  on  East  Kiver   65 

Amity  Street  battle  with  mob   173 

Andros,  Governor   iS 

Anecdotes  of  Jacob  Hays   94 

Apportionment  of  1 84S   113 

Ajiportionment  of  1857   146 

Appropriations,  1857-S3   502  , 

Arrests  for  lottery  and  gamblini;    305  j 

Arrests  for  seven  years,  i86a-66   219 

Arrests  in  N.Y.  and  Brooklyn,  1S60-6S.  229 

Arrests  in  each  year,  1S47-58   144  [ 

Arrests  made,  1845-50   116  j 

Arrests  made,  1845-53   131 

Arrests  made  in  1S58   146 

Arrests  made,  1S60-69   ...  234 

Arrests  of  i860   153 

Arrests  of  1861   154 

Arrests  of  1S62   ijf) 

Arrests  of  1S63   1 56 

Arrests  of  1865   21S 

Arrests  of  1867   234 

Arrests,  Table  of,  1838-57  158,  159 

Arrests  without  warrants   293 

Arsenal  in  Elm  St   222 

Arsenal  ])rotccted  in  1857   144 

Assembly  report  of  1875   266 

Assistant  Justices  in  1841    84 

Astor  Place  riot,  1849   115 

Atlantic  Dock  elevator  burnc<l   194 

.\tlantic  Guard  or  "  Bowery  Boys"   142 

Bailey,  Isaac  II   139 

Bailing  of  Prisoners   71 

Bands  and  buttons  on  uniforms   129 

Bank  robbery  of  1 830   94 

Bank  sneak-thieves   417 

Barr,  1'.  J.,  appointed  Cor.iiii;-   240  | 


Battery  Park  described   no 

Battle  of  the  Boyne   244 

Beats,  Divisions  into   14S 

Bedford,  Gunning  S   505 

Beebe,  Commissioner   12S 

Bell-ringer,  Duties  of  the   9 

Bell,  Town,  when  rung   5 

Bellevue  Almshouse   66 

Bellevue  Hospital  in  1850   no 

Bellevue  Hospital  opened   65 

Belton,  Thomas,  the  thief   310 

Bennett,  Captain,  Theron  R  170,  391 

Bennett,  Officer,  badly  beaten   170 

Bergen,  Commr.  John  G   158 

Bergen,  Commr.  J.  G  ,  Death  of   227 

Bergen,  Commr.  J.  G.,  Sketch  of.  .  .204,  227 

Berghold,  Capt.  Wm.  C.  F   363 

Biographical  mention.    See  Persons. 

Blatchford,  R.  M   96 

Bleecker  St.  mob  fight   194 

Board  of  E.xcise  created   221 

Board  of  Health  regulations,  1880   289 

Board  of  Police  of  1858   139 

Board  of  Police,  1877   277 

Boat  inspector  appointed   218 

Bogart,  Capt.  James  Z   190 

Boiler  inspection  in  1869   233 

Boilers,  Regulations  of   302 

Bonds  rcq-iired  of  Constables   62 

Bosworth,  Commissioner  I.  S   157 

Bowcn,  James  139,  163 

Bowne,  Robert,  the  Quaker   40 

Bowycr,  Bob  and  Capt.  Leonard. .....  127 

Brady,  Mayor,  Changes  under   loS 

Brennan,  Commr.  Matthew  T.  .228,  239,  262 

Bridewell  erected  in  1775   43 

British  evacuate  New  York   48 

British  occupancy,  1664   19 

British  police  statistics   144 

British  seize  the  colony   17 

Brockhotts,  .\.,  made  Mayor   24 

Brogan,  Capt.  John  J   353 

Brooklyn  arrests  for  1860-68   22g 

Brooks  Bros.'  store  threatened   191 

Brooks,  Sergeant  Nicholas    450 

Broome  St.  headquarters   145 

Brouwer,  Jan  j   2 

Brown,  Gen.  Harvey,  resigns   198 


562 


INDEX. 


PACE 


Buildings  burned  in  Drafl  riots   lg6 

IJuildings  found  open,  1861-69   234 

Bunco-steerers  and  victims   417 

Burdlck,  Sergeant,  defends  gun-factory..  171 

Burgher  Guard  established    6 

Burgher  Provost  of  the  Rattle-watch.  ...  12 
Burgher-watch,  Regulations  of  the.  .  .10,  13 

Burgl.ir's  outfit   422 

Burgomaster,  Office  of   8  j 

Burnham,  James,  Suit  of   129  ^ 

Bush,  Architect,  Nath'l  D   452  j 

"  Button  Case,"  The   121  ( 

Bylvelt,  Pieter   2 

Byrnes,  Inspector  Thomas   404 

Caffrey,  Capt.  Chas.  W   314  1 

Cage  for  di.sorderly  boys   43 

Cambridgeport  Bank  robbery   310 

Cameron,  Capt.  John   171 

Canby,  Gen.,  Headquarters  of   183 

Capital  crimes  up  to  1858   148 

Captains,  Names  of,  in  1S46   107 

Captains,  Names  of,  in  1S67   237 

Captains  of  the  Night-watch   56 

Captains,  Police,  Table  of   400 

Captain's  shield   424 

Captains  tried  and  dismissed   140 

Captain's  uniform  of  1864   213 

Carpenter.  Daniel,  appointed  Inspector.  151 

Carpenter,  Daniel,  Deputy  Supt   139 

Carpenter,  Inspector  Daniel.  .Sketcli  of.  .  210 

Carpenter  leads  first  attack   208 

Carrying  of  concealed  weapons   215 

Cavalry  patrolling  the  streets   1S7 

Census  of  city,  1790-1830   73 

Central  Department  created   226 

Central  Office   438 

Certificate,  Form  of  Surgeon's   280 

Certificate  of  Appointment   480 

Charity  and  Correction  building   241 

Charter  amendment  of  1S51   117 

Charter  amendment  in  1857   137 

Charter,  Montgomerie   34 

Charter  of  1849   1 14 

Charter  (Tweed)  of  1870   239 

Charter  of  April,  1830   73 

Charter  of  Dutch  West  India  Co   2 

Chatham  Street  riots   80 

Cherry,  Capt.  Thos   326 

Children  lost,  1861-69   233 

C'hinatown  glimpses   516 

Chinese  teacher   522 

Citizenship  of  Applicants   291 

City  Bank  robbery,  1830   94 


City  divided  into  seven  wards   49 

City  divided  into  ten  wards   64 

City  Hall  of  Wall  Street   29 

City  Hall  Park  in  l8o8   60 

City  Hall,  the  First   5 

City  Hall,  View  of   62 

City  Hospital  built   44 

City  watch  disbanded   105 

Civil  watch  appointed   29 

Clarkson  St.,  Negro  hanged  in   182 

Clinchy,  Capt.  Wm.  II   336 

Colve,  Governor,  Anthony   18 

Clubs  the  best  weapons  209,  244 

Cochrane,  Dr.,  attacked   45 

Colored  Orphan  Asylum  burned.  .  .  .  161,  172 

Colored  Regt.  leaving  for  the  war   217 

Coman,  John  M   506 

Commissioners  address  the  force   197 

Commissioners  of  1858   139 

Commissioners  reduced  to  three   152 

Commissioners  term  made  eiglit  years. .  .  231 

Committees  in  1S77   277 

Complaints  against  Officers   133 

Concealed  weapons.  Carrying  of   215 

Conlin,  Captain  Peter   372 

Conner,  Roundsman   173 

Conover,  Daniel  D   141 

Consolidation  act,  1S80   287 

Constables  and  marshals.  Fees  of   59 

Constables  made  marshals   155 

Constables  watch  of  1702                      ..  30 

Constitutionality  of  Metropolitan  act ..  .  140 

Convictions,  Table  of,  1841-58   15S 

Convictions,  Table  of,  1840-67   236 

Cooper,  Richard,  public  whipjier   34 

Copeland,  Capt.  Theron  S.  .  .  .193,  197,  351 

"  Cops."  origin  of  the  term   127 

Corporalships,  the  Four   23 

Corlwright,  Capt.  M.  W   388 

Cosgrove,  Frank,  detective   432 

Cosmopolitan  character  of  the  city   '49 

Councilmen,  Board  of,  created   126 

Court  cases.  Records  of   15 

Courts  of  Justices  established  58,  504 

Crannoll,  Robt.,  supervisoi   36 

Crime  greatly  increases   73 

Crime  increasing  in  1S-5;   266 

Crimes  against  the  peiion.  Table  of....  217 

Crimes  of  violence  during  the  war   215 

I     Crimes  punished.  Table  of,  1841-58.  ..  .  158 

I     Criminal  arrests,  1845-50   116 

I     Criminals  captured  by  Hays   94 

I     Criminals  from  tenements   526 


INDEX. 


Crowley,  James,  Supt   439 

Crowley,  Miciiacl,  ilctective   42S  | 

Cunningham,  Capt.  NVm    42 

Cusack,  Thomas,  the  murderer   310 

Cypress  Hill  monument   490 

Davis,  Minnie,  the  fire-bug   357 

Davis,  Vernon  M   506 

Day  posts  on  North  River   443 

Dead  Rabbits  of  Five  Points   142 

Debtors  in  jail,  in  17SS   51 

Debtor's  prison  in  Eldridge  St   loS 

Decker,  Engineer,  Speech  of   166 

Delamater,  William    456 

Delaney,  Sergt.  John   481 

Deputy  Supt.  abolished   151 

Deputy  Treasurer  appointed   304 

Detailment  system  a  mistake    118 

Detective  Department   402 

Detective  Jacob  Hays  73,  92 

Detective  oflicers   436 

Detectives,  lUireau  of,  1880    287 

Devlin,  Charles   141 

Devoursney,  Serg.  defendsTribune  bldg. .  174 

Dickson,  Capt.  John  F   182 

Dilks,  Geo.  H.,  detective   433 

Dilks,  Geo.W.,  appointed  Inspector.  151,  370 

Dipple,  Officer,  Death  of   190 

Disbecker,  Abram,  appointed  Commr. . .  263 

Dischaiges,  Table  of,  1840-67   236 

Dismissals  under  new  act   140 

Districts  and  their  captains,  1846.  ......  107 

District  divisions  of  1845   106 

Divisions  defined  in  1864   212 

Dock  masters.   89 

Doctor's  riot  of  1788   44 

Dolan,  Patrick,  detective   426 

Dongan,  Governor   25 

Dongan's  charier  granted   27 

Donohue,  John,  murdered   336 

Dorcy,  Joseph  M.,  detective  426 

Doyle,  Thos.,  detective   435 

Draft  riots  and  Capt.  Walling   123 

Draft  riots,  July,  1863  156,  160 

Drafting  in  Sixth  district   162 

Draper,  Commissioner  139,  142 

Dress.     See  uniform. 

Drill  sergeant  ajipointed   130 

Drilling  a  squad  of  men   220 

Ducking-stool  introduced   28 

Dunn,  John  J.,  detective  429 

Dutch  West  India  Co   2 

Duties  discharged.  Statistics  of   147 

Duties  of  policemen   465 


Eakins,  Capt.  Joseph  B   347 

East  River  day  and  night  posts   444 

East  side  crowding   525 

Eighteenth  Precinct  described   335 

Eighteenth  ward  created   109 

Eighth  Precinct  described   348 

Eldridge  St.  Jail   loS 

Election  Bureau  continued   289 

Election  work  provided  for,  1866   223 

Eleventh  Precinct  described   326 

Elliot,  Andrew,  appointed   47 

Ellison,  Sergeant,  attacks  the  mob   168 

Ely,  Smith,  Jr.,  Letter  of,  1877   274 

English.    Sec  British. 

Equipment  of  policemen   479 

Era  of  organization  and  development. .  .  225 

Erhardt,  Capt.  Joel  B   162 

Erhardt,  Joel  B.,  Order  of,  1877   275 

Essex  Market   273 

Estimate  of  expenses  in  1800   53 

Examining  a  "Crook  "   406 

Excise  law  of  1866   221 

Excise  powers  of  the  police   211 

Execution,  the  first   32 

Executions  up  to  1858  148,  159 

I'acsimile  of  Jury  document   35 

Fees  for  serving  papers   58 

Field,  Officer,  as  detective   192 

Fifteenth  Precinct  described   353 

Fifth  Precinct  described   346 

F'inch,  Sergeant,  wounded   166 

F"ire  Department  established   34 

F"ire  of  1776   45 

Fire  of  Dec,  1835   So 

Fire  of  1845   107 

Fire  towers.  Watchmen  of   85 

Fires,  Captains' duties  at   75 

Fires  put  out  by  buckets   31 

First  Inspection  district   307 

First  Precinct  described   313 

Fitzgerald,  James   506 

F"ive  Points  described   77,  86 

Flag  of  Honor,  N^^v.,  1S72   255 

Flour  riot   81 

Fogarty,  Dennis  J.,  detective   435 

Folk,  John  S.,  appointed  Inspector....  151 

Force  and  pay  increased,  1784   50 

Force  as  constituted,  July,  1853   126 

Force  as  constituted,  in  Jan.,  1S54.   .  .  .  131 

F'orce,  1862   i55 

Force  as  constituted  in  1863   200 

Force  as  constituted  in  1864   217 

Force  as  constituted  in  1868   230 


564 


INDEX. 


PACE 

Force  as  constituted  in  T869  234,  238 

Force  as  constituted  in  1870   240 

Force  as  constituted  Dec.  31,  1873   257 

Force  divided  into  companies   212 

Forrest,  Edwin,  the  actor   I15 

Fourteenth  Precinct  described   330 

Fourth  District  created   113 

Fourth  Inspection  District   370 

Fourtli  Precinct  described   316 

Francisco,  T^xecution  of   58 

Franklin  House,  View  of  the   1 12 

Frencli,  Comnir.  Stephen  B   454 

French,  Stephen  B.,  appointed  Conimr..  2S6 

Frink,  Wm.  E.,  detective  432 

Gallows,  Early  use  of  the   5 

Gambling  houses  in  1875   267 

Gambling  of  Chinamen   518 

Gambling  placed  in  hands  of  police   211 

Gaming-houses  and  lotteries   296 

Gardner,  Hugh,  appointed  Commr   264 

Garland,  Capt.  Ira  S   361 

Gastlin,  Capt.  George  W   441 

Gay,  Edmund  C   456 

Gerard,  James  W     127 

Gibbons,  J.  S. ,  his  house  sacked   190 

Gilli.-<en,  Jan   5 

Good  arrest.  Example  of   58 

Gott,  George  P   500 

Grades  established   306 

Grant,  Charles  E   456 

Gun  factory  attacked  by  rioters   171 

Gunner,  Capt.  John   382 

Hackmen  at  steamboats   85 

Haley,  Owen,  detective   4^8 

Hanier  murder  case   414 

Harbor  police  patrol   448 

Harbor  police,  Rules  for   178 

Harbor  police  uniform   213 

Harmensen,  Keyncrt   2 

Harper,  James,  mayor  in  1844  loi,  J04 

Harrington,  William   120 

Hart's  store  attacked   82 

Hasbrouck,  Stephen,  surgeon-general..  .  136 

Havemeyer,  Wm.  F. ,  mayor   loi 

Haverstick  murder  case   359 

Hawley,  Scth  C   168 

Haw  ley,  Seth  C,  Sketch  of   204 

Hays  carries  Vanderbilt  ashore   98 

Hays,  Jacob,  High  constable  73,  92 

Hays,  William  H   93 

Headquarters  in  Mulberry  St  154,  438 

Heard,  John,  detective   437 

Hedden,  Capt.  Henry   321 


I  PAGE 

Heidelburg,  Chas.,  detective   426 

Helme,  Capt.  John  C   186 

Hendrick,  Obe,  made  constable   20 

Hickey  Thos.,  detective  427 

High  Constable,  Duties  of  the   11 

Hoffman,  Judge,  Warrant  of   141 

i     Hollgate  captured  by  Jacob  Hays   95 

Honor  roll   485 

Honorable  mention  of  officers  196 

Hooker,  Capt.  Henry  D   374 

Hopcroft,  George   449 

Hospital  service   513 

House  of  Detention,  1863-68   229 

j     House  of  Detention  created   214 

House  of  Detention,  View  of   331 

House  of  Refuge,  First,  1806   70 

[     Hudson,  Henry   I 

Hull,  Mrs.,  Murder  of   369 

Humane  Society  of  1817   66 

Hyer,  Tom,  and  Yankee  Sullivan  123 

Impalement  of  a  mob  leader   188 

Incorporation  of  the  city   8 

Increase  of  force  in  1866   222 

Indian  wars  under  Kieft   6 

Injunction  dissolved  in  1857   142 

j     Inspection  Districts.    Ste  First,  Second,  etc. 

I      Inspector  Byrnes' command  419 

I     Inspector  of  Boats  appointed   21S 

I     Inspectors  of  divisions  named   212 

j     Instructions  of  1848  summarized   114 

I     Insubordination  and  dismissal   140 

j     Insurance  Fund,  Statement   501 

t     Irving,  Washington,  cited   no 

Italian  and  the  bear   350 

Jacobs,  Peter,  mayor   24 

Jack-plane  containing  notes   94 

'     Jackson's  Foundry,  Fight  at   193 

Jail  in  Eldridge  St   108 

Jail  of  1758   42 

I     Jailer  of  the  city  appointed   12 

I     Jameson,  William,  inspector.  ..  127,  245,  25P 

j     Japanese  embassy  of  i860   152 

Jefferson  Market,  View  of   157 

Johnson,  Mrs.,  the  Swede   356 

Johnson  confesses  a  murder   96 

Jones,  Maj.-gen.  Daniel   46 

Jones,  William,  negro,  hanged   182 

Jourdan,  Capt.,  attacks  rioters   176 

!     Jourdan,  John,  appointed  Supt   240 

I     Judgments  speedily  rendered   129 

Justice  under  Gov.  Kieft..   4 

Justices,  Districts  of,  i86g   238 

Justices  increased  to  five   76 


INDEX. 


Justices,  List  of,  in  1841   84 

justices  of  the  I'eace  a|)])oin(c(i   58 

Juvenile  Asylum,  View  of   23S 

Kealy,  Capl.  James   397 

Kelso,  James  J.,  Supt  102,  245 

Kelso,  James  J.,  appoinleil  supt. . .  .240,  241 

Kennedy,  Police-surgeon  James  .  .  .175,  232 

Kennedy,  John  A.,  appointed   151 

Kennedy,  Supt.,  beaten  by  a  mob   166 

Kennedy,  Supt.,  resigns   241 

Kieft,  William  ;  .  .  4 

Killilca,  Capt.  Thos   379 

Kipp,  Capt.  W'm.  II   460 

Kloppermanncn,  or  bellmen   41 

Knickerbockers  and  the  Hattery   110 

Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle   161 

Koopman,  or  secretary.  Office  of   S 

Kush,  Chas.,  detective   436 

Lamb,  Alexander   52 

Lamps  erected,  in  1762   43 

Land-grants,  Conditional   7 

Langan,  Jas.  J.,  detective   424 

Lanthier,  George,  detective   434 

Lawrence,  Mayor  81,  g8 

Leary,  Capt,  James  M   386 

Lee,  Mayor   78 

Legislature  appoints  commissioners   157 

Leisler  assumes  control   28 

Leonard,  Jas.,  appointed  inspector   151 

Leonard,  Inspector  Jas. ,  Sketch  of   210 

Leroy,  Thomas  H.,  burglar   310 

Lewis,  Commissioner  \V.  B   157 

License  fees  of  saloons   221 

Lighting  of  city  by  night   20 

Liijuor  law  of  1866   221 

Liquor-selling  regulated   6 

Liquor-selling  reg-ilated  in  1S64   211 

Livingstone,  Edward,  mayor   63 

Lock  and  key  of  Old  Bridewell   47 

Locust  wood  the  best  for  clubs   209 

Long  Island,  Battle  of    45 

Lord,  Capt.  B.  G.,  of  Sanitary  squad  .  .  237 

Lowndes,  Olin  M   80 

McClavc,  John,  Commr  495,  500 

McClusky,  George  \V.,  detective   435 

McCullagh,  Capt.  John   318 

McCullagh,  Capt.  John  II   333 

McDermott,  Inspector  John   270 

McDonnell,  Capt.  Chas   349 

McElwain,  Capt.  John   357 

McFarland,  Daniel,  the  murderer   325 

McLaughlin,  William  \V..  detective.  .  .  .  431 

McLean,  Charles  F.,  appointed  Commr.  286 


PACE 

Mcl.cim,  Ji)lin.  cif  I'hila   95 

McMurray,  Commissioner  W   157 

McNaught,  Robert,  detective   430 

McQuire,  James   424 

Macready,  James,  the  actor   115 

Madison  .Sq.  Garden  accident   369 

Manhattan  Island,  Indian  name  of   2 

Manierre,  Commr.  Benj.  F  228,  239 

Manifesto  of  Gov.  Stuyvesant   6 

Mangin.  Francis,  Jr.,  detective   422 

Manual  of  department  issued   277 

Marine  court   68 

Mars,  the  negro,  executed   32 

Marshals  in  1833   89 

Marshal's  office  set  on  lire   164 

Marline,  Randolph  B   505 

Mason,  Commr.  Joel  \V   45S 

Mason,  Joel  \V.  appointed  Commr   286 

Matsell,  George  \V   100 

Mat^ell,  Geo.  W.  appointed  Commr. .  .  .  263 

Matsell,  Geo.  W.  appointed  supt   256 

Matsell,  Geo.  W.,  Shield  of   loi 

Matsell's  letter  to  Capt.  Walling   124 

Matsell's  report  of  April,  1849   115 

Matthews,  David,  May^r   47 

Matthews,  Commr.  James   452 

Matthews,  James,  appointeil  commr.  .  .  .  452 

Meakini,  Capt.  Wm   326 

Medical  assistance.  Calling  of   301 

Memorial  to  legislature  in  iSll   fs 

Message  of  Committee  of  1843   87 

Metropolitan  act  amended  151,  211 

Metropolitan  Board  re-organized   231 

Metropolitan  district  detined   212 

Metropolitan  force  in  1S5S   146 

Metropolitan  headquarters,  Broome  St. .  145 

Metropolitan  Police  Act,  1857   loi 

Metropolitan  ]iolice  district  137,  202 

Metropolitan  Police,  Table  of              . .  .463 

Metropolitan  shield   227 

Middle  Dutch  church   86 

Military  and  jury  duty   293 

Military  attack  on  Draft-rioters   172 

Military  Ilall,  Meeting  at   12S 

Military  in  Washington  square   177 

Military-watch,  of  1746   40 

Miller,  Chas.  P.,  Murder  of   369 

Minuet,  Peter,  Council  of   2 

Mob  attacks  city  hospital   45 

Mobs  handled  by  Jacob  Hays   93 

Montgomerie  charter   34 

Morris,  Mayor   89 

Morrison,  James  E.  appointed  Commr..  2S6 


INDEX. 


566 

PAGE 

Mount,  Cajjl.  John  J..   176,  376 

Mulberry  St.  lieadquarters   154 

iMulry,  Thos.  W.,  detective   423 

Municipal  Police  Act,  1S44  loi,  104 

Murpliy,  Capt.  Michael  J   332 

Murray  arrested  in  Phila   95 

Murray,  Col.  James  T5. ,  in  London   98 

Murray,  Thomas,  detective   437 

Murray,  Superintendent  Wm   308 

Nathan  murder,  1870   369 

Negro  hanged  and  burned  by  mob   175 

Negro  riot  of  1740   38 

New  Amsterdam  in  1664   18 

New  Amsterdam  incorporated   8 

New  Amsterdam,  Naming  of   2 

New  Court-house,  View  of   260 

New  York  says  "  Slop  !"   273 

Niblo's  Garden  burned,  1872   332 

Nichols,  Sidney  r.  appointed  Commr. .  .  264 

Nichols,  Sidney  I'.,  Death  of   499 

Nichols,  Sidney  V.,  removed   286 

Nicoll,  Delancey   506 

Night  posts  on  North  River   444 

Night-watch  abolished   102 

Night-watch,  Captains  of  the   56 

Night-watch  of  1 741   40 

Nineteenth  Precinct  described   375 

Nineteenth  Sub-precinct  described   37S 

Nineteenth  ward  created   115 

Ninth  Precinct  described   351 

Noah,  Major,  assists  Jacob  Hays   95 

North  River  day  and  night  posts   443 

North  River  piers  and  ferries   444 

Nugent,  Colonel,  provost-marshal   162 

Nursing  wounded  policemen   196 

O'Hrien,  Col.  II.  J.  beaten  to  death.  ...  1S4 

O'Brien,  John  J   460 

O'Connor,  Charles,  detective   432 

O'Connv^r,  Richard,  detective   428 

O'Connell  Guard  riots   80 

Offences  against  property  in  1867   235 

Offences  against  the  person  in  1S67   235 

OtHcers  and  salaries  in  1844   103 

Officers  beaten  by  rioters  in  1863.    170 

Officers  killed  in  1864   215 

Old  P>rcwcry,  Five  Points   86 

Old  Sugar-house  as  a  prison   86 

Opium  pipe   521 

Opium-smoking — The  pipe   517 

Opdyke,  Mayor,  his  house  attacked   1S6 

Opdykc,  Mayor,  Proclamation  of   199 

Orange  County  hank   95 

Orange  riots  in  1850   124 


PACB 

Orange  riots  of  1871   244 

Orphan  Asylum,  Colored,  burned. ..  161,  172 

Orphan  Asylum,  View  of   278 

Panic  of  1857   137 

Park,  City  Hall,  in  i3o8   60 

Parkinson,  the  locksmith   94 

Parris,  Edward  L    506 

Patrol  district  in  each  ward   108 

Patrol  ordered  for  day  and  night   118 

Patrolman's  shield   150 

Patrolmen  of  telegraphic  system   304 

Pawnbrokers,  Supervision  of   295 

Pay-rolls.     See  Salaries. 

Peace  of  1674  iS,  22 

Peck,  Ellen  E.,  the  confidence-woman.  .  420 

Penney,  William  N. .  .    506 

Pension  Fund,  Law  of   302 

Pension  Fund,  Sketch  of   4S9 

I'erit,  Commissioner  Pelatiah   ...  142 

Persons  mkntioxed  : 

Acton,  Thos.  C,  supt  151,  202 

.\dams,  Thos.  F.,  detective   437 

Allaire,  Capt.  Anthony  J  322 

Andros,  Governor   18 

Bailey,  Isaac  II   139 

Barr,  Commr.  Thos.  J   240 

Bedford,  Gunning  S   505 

Becbe,  Commissioner   1 28 

Belton,  Thomas,  the  thief   310 

Bennett,  Capt.  Theron  R  170,  391 

Bergen,  Commr.  John  G.158,  16S,  204,  227 

Berghold,  Capt.  Wni.  C.  F  363 

Blatchford,  R.  M   96 

Bogart,  Capt.  James  Z   190 

Bosv/orth,  Commissioner  J.  S   157 

Bowcn,  James  139,  151 

Bowne,  Robert   40 

Bowyer,  Bob   127 

Brady,  Mayor   io3 

Brennan,  Commr.  Matthew  T.C2S,  239,  262 

Rrockholts.  A   2+ 

Brogan,  Capt.  John  J   353 

Brooks,  Sergeant  Nicholas  450 

Brouwcr,  Jan  J   2 

Brown,  Gen.  Harvey   198 

Burnham,  James   129 

Bush,  Architect  Nath'l  1)  452 

Bylvelt,  Peter   2 

Byrnes,  Inspector  Thomas   404 

Caffrey,  Capt.  Chas.  W   314 

Cameron,  Capt.  John   I'l 

Canby,  General   183 


Carpenter,  Daniel.  .139.  151,  172.  2a'\  210 


PAGK 

Persons  Mentioned — Conliiitii  J. 

Cherry,  Capt.   Thos   326 

Clinch)',  Capt.  \Vm.  11   336 

Colve,  Governor  Anthony   18  1 

Cochrane,  Dr   45  I 

Coman,  John  M   506  1 

Conlin,  Capt.  Peter   372 

Conner,  Roundsman   173 

Conover,  Daniel  D   141 

Cooper,  Richard   34 

Copeland,  Capt.  Tlieron  S. .  .193.  197,  351 

Corlright,  Capt.  M.  W   388 

Cosgrovc,  Frank,  detective   432 

Crannoll,  Roht   36 

Crowley,  James,  Supt   439 

Crowley,  Michael,  detective   42S 

Cunningham,  Capt.  Wm   42 

Cusack,  Thomas,  the  murderer   310 

Davis,  Minnie,  the  fire-bug   357 

Davis,  Vernon  M   506 

Decker,  Engineer   166 

Delamatcr,  William   456 

Delaney,  Sergt.  John   481 

Devlin,  Charles   141 

Devoursney,  Sergeant  174,  18S 

Dickson,  Capt.  John  K   182  i 

Dilks,  Geo.  IL,  detective   433 

Dllks,  Inspector  Geo.  W.  .  .  .151,  187,  370 

Dipple,  Ofiicer   I  go 

Disbecker,  Abram   263 

Dolan,  Patrick,  detective   426  I 

Dongan,  Governor   25 

Dorsey,  Joseph  M.,  <leteelive   426 

Doyle,  Thos.,  detective   435 

Draper,  Commissioner  139,  142 

Dunn,  John  J.,  detective   429 

Eakins,  Capt.  Joseph  B   347 

Elliot,  Andrew   47 

Ellison,  Sergeant   168 

Erhardt,  Capt.  Joel  15   162 

Eield,  Officer   ig2 

Finch,  Sergeant   166 

Fitzgerald,  James   506 

Fogarty,  Dennis  J.  detective   435 

Folk,  Inspector  John  S  151,  174 

Forrest,  Edwin   115 

French,  Stephen  B  286,  454 

Frink,  Wni.  E.,  detective.    432 

Gardner,  Hugh  II   264 

Garland,  Capt.  Ira  S   361 

Gastlin,  Captain  George  \V   441 

Gay,  Edmund  C   456 

Gerard,  James  W   127 


"TA".  567 

IA<iK 

(iibbons,  J.  S   190 

(iillisen,  Jan   5 

Gott,  George  P   500 

Grant,  Charles  E   456 

Gunner,  Capt.  John   382 

Haley,  Owen,  detective   42S 

Ilarmensen,  Reynert   2 

Harper,  James  loi,  104 

Harrington,  William   120 

H.irt,  Ely   81 

Ilasbrouck,  Surgeon-general   136 

Ilavemeyer,  Wm.  F   loi 

llawley.  Both  C  16S,  204 

Hays,  Jacob  73,  92 

Hays,  William  H   93 

Heard,  John,  detective.-   437 

Hedden,  Capt.  Henry   321 

Heidelberg,  Chas.,  dcteciivc  426 

Helme,  Capt.  John  C   186 

Hendrick,  Obe   20 

Hickcy,  Thos.,  detective   427 

Hollgate,  the  cracksman   95 

Hooker,  Capt.  Henry  D   374 

Ilopcroft,  George   449 

Hudson,  Henry   i 

Hyer,  Tom,  the  pugilist   123 

Jameson,  Inspector  W  127.  245,  250 

Johnson,  Mrs.,  the  Swede  356 

Johnson,  the  murderer   96 

Jones,  Maj.-gen.  Daniel   40 

Jourdan,  Supt.  John  176,  193,  240 

Kealy,  Capt.  James   397 

Kelso,  James  J  102,  240 

Kennedy,  Police-surgeon  James. .  .175,  232 

Kennedy,  Supt.  John  A  151,  166,  241 

Kieft,  William   4 

Killilea,  Capt.  Thos   379 

Kipp,  Capt.  Wm.  H   460 

Kush,  Chas.,  detective   436 

Lamb,  Alexander   52 

Langan,  Jas.  J.,  detective   424 

Lanthier,  George,  detective   434 

Lawrence,  Mayor  81,  98 

Leary,  Capt.  James  M   386 

Lee,  Mayor   77 

Leonard,  Inspector  James.  ..  1 51,  17S,  210 

Leroy,  Thomas  IL,  burglar   310 

Lewis,  Commr.  W.  B   157 

Livingstone,  Edward   63 

Lord,  Capt.  B.  G   237 

Lowndes,  Olin  M   80 

McClave,  Commr.  John  495,  500 

McCluskey,  George  W.,  detective.  .  .  .  435 


568 


INDEX. 


fAOK 

Persons  Men tioiicd — Conlinued . 

Mft'uIIagh,  Capt.  John'.   318 

Mct'ullagli,  ("apt.  John  II   333 

McDerniott,  Inspector  Jolni   271 

McDonnell,  Capt.  Chas  349 

McElwain,  Capt.  John   357 

McFarland,  Daniel,  the  murderer   325 

McLaughlin,  W.  W.,  detective   431 

MacLean,  Charles  F   286 

McLean,  John   95 

McMurray,  Commissioner  \Vm   157 

McNaught,  R.,  detective   430 

McQuire,  James   424 

Macready,  James,  the  actor   115 

Mangin,  F.,  Jan..  detective   422 

Manierre,  Commr.  Benj.  F  228,  239 

Mars,  the  negro  slave   32 

Martine,  Randolph  15   505 

Mason,  Commr.  Joel  \V  286,  458  { 

Matsell,  George  \V  100,  263  1 

Matthews,  David   47 

Matthews,  Commr.  James  286,  452 

Mealiim,  Capt.  \Vm   360 

Minuet,  I'eter   2 

Morris,  Mayor   89 

Morrison,  James  E   286 

Mount,  Capt.  John  J  176,  376 

Mulry,  Thos.  W.,  detective   423 

Murphy,  Capt.  Michael  J  332 

Murphy,  Thos.,  detective   437 

Murray,  Superintendent  W'm   308 

Murray,  Col.  James  U   98 

Murray,  the  bank-robber   95 

Nichols,  Sidney  P  264,  28C,  499 

Nicoll,  De  Lancey   506 

Noah,  Major  M.  M   95 

O'Brien,  Colonel  II.  J   184 

O'Brien,  John  J   460 

O'Connor,  Charles,  detective   432 

O'Connor,  Richard,  detective   42S 

Opdyke,  George,  mayor   199 

Parkinson,  the  locksmith   94 

Parris,  Edward  L   506  I 

Peck,  Ellen  E.,  the  conlidcnce-woman  420 

Penney,  William  N   506 

Perit,  Commissioner   142 

Petty,  Captain  Jeremiah  186,  1S9 

Pigot,  Maj.-gen.  R.  T   46 

Pilsbury,  Amos   139 

Porter,  Fitz  John,  Commr   ...  45S  ' 

Porter,  Captain  G.  T   164 

Pos,  Symen  D   2  ' 

I'ost,  Capt.  Ludowyck  12,  14  | 


Purdy,  Ambrose  II   506 

Quinn,  .Sergeant   193 

Radford,  Geo.,  detective   424 

Redmond,  the  hotel-keeper   95 

Reed,  Jack,  the  cracksman   95 

Reed,  John,  the  detective   121 

Reilly,  Philip,  detective   425 

Richard,  Paul   38 

Robbins,  Capt.  John  M   394 

Robertson,  Maj.-gen.  James   45 

Rogers,  Silas  W. ,  detective   435 

Rutland,  John,  detective   430 

Ryan,  Capt.  Thos.  M   337 

Sanders,  Capt.  John   3S0 

Schultz,  Capt.  William   37S 

Seymour,  Governor   197 

Shadbolt,  Detective   121 

Siebert,  Capt.  Jacob   3S5 

Slauson,  Edgar  S   434 

Sleven,  Edward,  detective   431 

Slowey,  Detective   195 

Smith,  Capt.  Elbert  0   396 

Smith,  Commr.  Henry.  .231,  239,  263,  445 

Smith,  the  bank-robber   94 

Smith,  Wm.  F   2S6 

Speight,  Inspector  I'.  C  164,  230,  271 

St,eenwyck,  Cornells   17 

Steers,  Inspector  Henry  V  339 

Stephens,  the  cracksman   95 

Stevens,  Colonel   80 

Stillnian.  Thomas  15   139 

StilKvell,  Alderman   96 

Stranahan,  James  S.  T   139 

Stuyvesant,  Peter   6 

Tallmadge,  Fred.  A   139 

Taylor,  Commissioner   102 

Thornc,  Inspector  T.  W.  .  .  .128,  174,  342 

Tillou,  Alderman   S7 

Tooker,  Jacob,  detective   423 

Twiller,  Wouter  van   3 

Tynan,  Capt.  Edward   398 

Ulshoffer,  Michael   139 

Vallely,  Jas.  F.,  detective   436 

Van  Buren,  Officei   l6q 

Van  Clapperclip,  Bobus   4 

Vanderbilt,  Commodore   98 

Van  Schellywne,  Dirk   11 

Varley,  Mary   309 

Von  Gcrichten,  Jacob   436 

Voorhis,  John  R  236,  286 

Wade,  John,  the  detective  122,  423 

Wade,  Sergeant   168 

Waldron,  Resolverd   20 


INDEX 


569 


iai;f. 

Persons  Mcntioiieil — Conliituid. 

Walliiif;.  Supt.  Geo.  W  100.  120,  188 

Washburn,  Capt.  Geo   360 

Webb,  Capt.  Robt.  0   317 

Weslervelt,  Jacob  A   118 

Williams,  Capt.  Alex.  .S   364 

Williams,  the  negro   1S2 

Williams,  the  pickpocket   354 

Williams,  Alvan  H.,  detective   430 

Wilson,  the  cart-thief   357 

Wissinck,  Jacob  E   2 

Wolfe,  Sergeant   169 

Wood,  Albertus,  detective   435 

Wood,  Fernando  loi,  141 

Wood,  Robt.  L   460 

Wood,  General  J.  E   199 

Yankee  Sullivan   123 

Young,  Mrs.  Johanna   33 

Young,  Chief  Tohn  ic8,  197 

Yule,  Capt.  Peter   395 

Petty,  Captain  Jeremiah  186,  189,  32a 

Physicians  appointed   112 

Physicians,  Summoning  of   300 

I'igot,  Maj.-gen.  R.  T   46 

PilLry  introduced   28 

Pilshury,  Amos,  gen  supt   139 

Pistols.  Carrying  concealed   215 

Places  of  confinement   53 

Police  Act,  Metropolitan   loi 

Police  Act,  Municipal   loi 

Police  committee,  Report  of   67 

Police  courts  of  1S45   103 

Police  districts  laid  out   55 

Police,  Military  use  of  the   47 

Police  office  in  City  Hall   54 

Police  orders  in  1673   21 

Police  stations  in  1 S44   gi 

Police  surgeors,  List  of   180 

Police  system.  First  trace  of   3 

Police  system,  Marked  advance  of   52 

Policemen  killed  in  riots   199 

Political  influence  stopped   130 

Poor-house,  First  34,  39 

Poor  relief  law  of  1699   65 

Population  figures,  1790- 1830   73 

Porler.  Commr.  Fitz  John   45S 

Porter,  Captain  G.  T   164 

Posts,  night,  on  North  River    444 

Portraits: 

Allaire,  Capt.  Anthony  J   323 

Bennett,  Capt.  Theron  R  391 

Berghold,  Capt.  \Vm.  C.  F  363 

Brennan,  Matthew  T   263 


.-ACE 

Brogan,  Capt.  John  J   354 

Brooks,  Sergeant  Nicholas   450 

Caffrey,  Capt.  Chas.  W   316 

Clinchy,  Capt.  Wm.  II   336 

Conlin,  Cajit.  Peter   373 

Copeland,  Capt.  T.  S   352 

Crowley,  James   439 

Garland,  Capt.  Ira  .S   362 

Gastlin,  Capt.  Geo.  W   441 

Gott,  George  I'   500 

Gunner,  Capt.  John   383 

Hedden,  Capt.  Henry   321 

Hooker,  Ccpt.  Henry  I)   375 

Jameson,  Inspector  W   250 

Kealy,  Capt.  James   397 

Kelso,  James  J   247 

Leary,  Capt.  Jas.  M   386 

McClave.  Commr.  John   495 

McCullagh,  Capt.  John   319 

McCullagh,  Capt.  John  H   334 

McDonnell,  Capt.  Chas   349 

McElwain,  Capt.  John   35S 

Martine,  Randolph  B   505 

Matthews,  Commr.  James   453 

Meakim,  Capt.  AVm   360 

Mount,  Capt.  John  J   377 

Mullen,  Sergt.  Washington   462 

Petty,  Capt.  Jeremiah   328 

Porter,  tZommr.  Fitz  John   459 

Robbins,  Capt.  John  M   3<j4 

Ryan,  Capt.  Thos.  M   33S 

Sanders,  Capt.  John   381 

Schultz,  Capt.  Wm   378 

Siebert,  Capt.  Jacob   385 

Smith,  Capt.  Elbert  O   396 

Speight,  Inspector   230 

Steers,  Inspector  Henry  \'   340 

Voorhis,  Commr.  John  R   458 

Washburn,  Capt.  Geo   360 

VYebb,  Capt.  Robt.  0   317 

Yule,  Capt.  Peter   395 

Post  Office,  View  of    299 

Potter  building  burned   318 

Pound  for  cattle  opened   7 

Precincts  created   138 

Precincts,  List  of,  in  1863   SCO 

Precincts.    See  First,  Second,  etc. 

Printed  rules  first  issued   114 

Prison-houses  of  the  Revolution   86 

Prisoners,  sufferings  of,  17S7   50 

Prisoners  to  do  the  chores   i  !2 

Processes,  Serving  of   294 

Proclamation  of  Maj.-gen.  Jones   46 


INDEX 


I' AGE 

I'roclaination  of  Maj.-gen.  I'igot   46 

Proclamation  of  Maj.-gcn.  Robertson. .  .  46 

Proclamation  of  Mayor  Opdyke   igg 

Promotions,  how  made   292 

Property,  lost  or  stolen,  1869   233 

Property  of  arrested  persons   297 

Proportions  to  population   144 

Provost  marshal's  office,  Sixth  Ave   165 

Punishments  of  criminals  30,  33 

Purdy,  Ambrose  II   506 

Quakers  exempted  from  duty   40 

Qualifications  of  appointment   126 

Qualifications  of  candidates   149 

Quarantine  hospital  guard   140 

Quarantine  riots  and  Capt.  ^ValIing.  ...  121 
Questions  asked  of  applicants  as  patrolmen  2S0 

Quinn,  Sergeant   193 

^   Radford,  George,  detective   424 

Rattle-watch  appointed   S 

Rattle-watch  begin  drawing  salaries.  ...  12 

Reapportionment  of  1846   109 

Receivers  of  stolen  goods   154 

Recorder,  Ofiice  of,  created   27 

Records  of  early  court  cases   16 

Redmond  falsely  arrested   95 

Reed,  John,  the  detective   121 

Reed,  the  cracksman,  taken   95 

Regatla-i,  Rules  for   2gS 

Registration  and  election  expenses   224 

Reilly,  Philip,  detective   425 

Reorganization  in  1843   86 

Reorganization  report  of  1S32   76 

Report  of  Chief  Matsell,  April,  1849   115 

Resolutions  on  death  of  Commr.  Bergen.  22S 

Resolutions  to  Supt.  Kelso   2|i 

Revenue  from  liquor  licenses   222 

Revolutionary  War  begins   45 

Richard,  Paul,  mayor   38 

Richmond  county.  Action  against   239 

Richmond  county  provided  for   220 

Riot,  Doctors,  in  1788   44 

Riot  in  Third  Ave.,  1863     165 

Riots  of  1834   80 

Riots  of  1837   81 

Riots  of  July,  1863  156,  160 

Riots  of  187 1  (Orange)   244 

Riot  of  Astor  place,  1S49   115 

Riot  of  the  Dead  Rabbits   142 

Rioters  addressed  by  Engineer  Decker.  .  166 

Rioters  convicted   199 

Rioters  marching  down  Second  .\vc.  .  .  .  169 

Rioters,  Number  of,  killed   196 

Rioters  surprised  during  escape   191 


I'ACB 

River  thieves  surprised   525 

Robbins,  Capt.  John  M   y.^^ 

Robertson,  Maj.-gen.  James   45 

Rogers,  Silas  \V.,  detective   435 

Rogues'  gallery  and  curiosities   408 

Roll  of  Honor   485 

Rosewood  not  good  for  clubs   209 

Rotunda  erected  in  iSiS   79 

Roundsmen  and  postmen   O9 

Ruland,  John,  detective   430 

Rules  and  regulations  of  1S59   148 

Rules  of  Chief  Matsell  in  1S4S  114 

Rules  of  Feb.,  1684   26 

Rules  of  the  Rattle- watch   8 

Rules  of  the  Watch,  1673  22,  23 

Rural  districts  appoint  police   219 

Ryan,  Capt.  Thos.  M   337 

Sabbath  regulations   5 

St.  I'rancis  Xavicr  panic,  1S77   369 

.St.  Luke's  Hospital,  View  of   285 

.Salaries  in  1S44   103 

.Salaries  of  1S59   151 

Salaries  of  1S64   215 

Salaries  in  April,  1S66   218 

Salaries  in  1867   236 

Salaries  in  1880   296 

Salaries,  Jan.,  1885   305 

Salaries  increased  in  1 853   130 

Salaries  paid  in  1845  106,  109 

Salaries  under  Metropolitan  act   138 

.Salary  ordinance  of  185 1   117 

Saloons,  Number  of,  in  1866   221 

Sanders,  Capt.  John   380 

Sanitary  Company,  The   461 

Sanitary  condition  of  stations  133,  146 

.Scales  for  weighing  opium   520 

Schepens  or  early  Aldermen   8 

Schout,  Duties  of  the   9 

.Sellout  Fiscal,  Duties  of  the   2 

Schultz,  Capt.  William   378 

Seal  of  the  city.  First   27 

Second  Dist.  Police  Court   509 

Second  Inspection  District    3.^2 

Second  Precinct  described.   372 

Sentence  for  drawing  a  knife   6 

Sergeant's  shield   425 

Seventeenth  Precinct  described   333 

Seventh  Avenue  arsenal  occupied   163 

Seventh  Precinct  described   320 

Seventh  Regiment  at  City  Mall   142 

.Sextons  called  dog-whippers   10 

.Seymour,  Gov.,  Appointments  of   157 

Seymour,  Gov.,  praises  the  police    197 


INDEX. 


57' 


fAC.  K 

Shadboll  ami  C.pt.  Walling   121 

SliifUl  of  captain  and  scrgcanl   424 

Shield  of  Chief  Malsell   loi 

Shield  of  Metropolitan  police   227 

Shield  of  the  Star-police   106 

Siehert,  Capt.  Jacob   3^5 

Sixteenth  I'recinct  described   356 

Sixth  Precinct  described   31S 

Sixty-ninth  Regt.  armory   2tl 

Sketch  of  C'ommr.  T.  C.  Acton   202 

Sketch  of  Comnir.  John  G.  Bergen.  .204,  227 

Sketch  of  Inspector  Carpenter   210 

Sketch  of  Seth  C.  Ilawley   204 

Sketch  of  Inspector  Leonard   210 

Sketch  of  the  draft-riots  of  1S63   160 

Slauson,  Edgar  S   434 

Slave  Insurrection  of  1740   3S 

Sleven,  Edward,  detective   431 

Slowey,  Detective,  beaten  by  a  mob.  .  .  .  195 

Smilh,  Capt.  Elbert  0   396 

Smith,  Comnir.  Henry,  apjiointcd   231 

Smith,  Henry,  Death  of   263 

Smith,  Henry,  In  Memoriam   445 

Smith,  W  in.  1'  .,  removed  and  re-appoint- 
ed commr   286 

Smith,  the  bank-robber   y4 

Speight,  Francis  C,  Inspector   271 

Speight,  Captain,  liandles  a  mob   164 

Stadt  Huys  erected   5 

Standing  committee  of  police   64 

Star-police  of  1845   106 

Slate  prison.  Old   55 

Station-houses  condemned   155 

Station-houses,  Condition  of   133 

Stations,  List  of   249 

Stations,  List  of,  in  1S44  91.  103 

Stations,  List  of,  in  184S   113 

Stations,  List  of,  in  1851   117 

Stations,  List  of,  in  1857   143 

Stations,  List  of,  in  1858   147 

Stations,  List  of,  in  1863   200 

Stations,  List  of,  in  1866   223 

Stations,  List  of,  in  1867   237 

Station-houses,  Table  of,  1S84   401 

Station  lodging-room   468 

.Stations  repaired  and  renovated   225 

Statistics  for  1867   226 

Statistics  of  arrests,  etc.,  1S38-57   158 

Statistics  of  arrests  in  each  year,  1847-5S  144 

Statistics  of  British  police   144 

Steam  boiler  inspection   302 

Steenwyck,  Cornelis   17 

Steers,  Inspector  Henry  V   339 


Stephens  captured  by  Jacob  Hays   95 

Stevens,  Col.,  (juells  a  riot   80 

Stillman,  Thomas  B   I3g 

Stillwell,  Alderman   t)6 

Stolen  goods.  Custody  of   29S 

Stone-cutter,s'  riots   80 

Slranahan,  James  S.  T   139 

Street-cleaning  Committee,  JS73   262 

Street-cleaning  Dept.  created   276 

Street-cleaning  in  1S60   154 

Strike  of  the  Burgher-watch   10 

Stuyvcsant,  Peter   6 

Superintendent  of  the  watch   83 

Superintendent's  uniform  of  1S64   213 

Surgeon's  certificate.  Form  of..  28 1 

Surgeons,  Rept.  of  Board  of   232 

Surgical  bureau   I33 

Surgical  districts  defined   179 

Surman  murder  case   325 

Table  of  convictions,  183S-57  15S,  159 

Table  of  lost  children,  1860-72   253 

Table  of  Metropolitan  Police   463 

Tables  of  offences  in  1867   235 

Table  of  Police  Captains  400 

Table  of  Station-houses,  Augt.,  1SS4   401 

Tallniadgc,  Fred.  A.,  Gen.  Supt   139 

Taylor,  Commissioner,  Death  of   102 

Telegraph  ollicc  at  headquarters   439 

Telegraph  operators  commended   195 

Tenth  Precinct  described   322 

Theft  punished  by  whipping  

Thief  with  red  hair  caught   90 

Third  Avenue  riot  of  1863   165 

Third  Inspection  District   370 

Third  Precinct  described   440 

Thirteenth  Precinct  described   327 

Thirtieth  Precinct  described   384 

Thirty-fifth  Precinct  descrilieil   395 

Thirty-first  Precinct  described   386 

Thirty-fourth  Precinct  described   394 

Thirty-second  Precinct  described   387 

Thirty-third  Precinct  described   390 

'I"liornc,  Inspector  T.  \V   128 

Thome,  Inspector,  Death  of   342 

Tillou,  Alderman   87 

Time  lost  by  sickness  216,  232 

Tombs,  The,  built   90 

Tooker,  Jacob,  detective   423 

Town-crier  appears   12 

Treasurer  of  Police  created  290 

Tribune  building  attacked  123,  173 

Tweed  charter  of  1S70   239 

Twelfth  Precinct  described   373 


572 


J2VDEX. 


Twentieth  I'lecinct  described   359 

Twentieth  ward  createdv   115 

Twenty-eighth  Precinct  descrihed   381 

Twenty-fifth  Precinct  described   361 

Twenty-first  Precinct  described   337 

Twenty-ninth  Precinct  described   364 

Twenty-second  Precinct  described   379 

Twenty-seventh  Precinct  described   363 

Twenty-sixth  Precinct  described   339 

Twenty-third  Precinct  described   380 

Twiller,  Wouter  van   3 

Two  departments  at  work   141 

Tynan,  Capt.  Edward   398 

Ulshoffer,  Michael   139 

Uniform,  Change  in   133 

Uniform  for  summer,  in  1864   214 

Uniform  of  Harbor  police,  1864   213 

Uniforming  of  peace  officers   68 

Uniforms  defined  for  1864   212 

Uniforms  finally  adopted   12S 

Uniforms  introduced   28 

Uniforms  of  1844   103 

Uniforms  of  1853   126 

Uniforms  in  1877   278 

Uniforms  opposed  by  a  mob   127 

Vagrant  children   76 

Vallely,  Jas.  F.,  detective   436 

Van  Huren,  Officer,  wounded   i6g 

Van  Clapperclip,  Bobus   4 

Vanderbilt,  Com.,  and  his  steamboat.. .  .  98 

\'andergriff,  the  forger,  re-captured   98 

Van  Orden,  Sergeant,  occupies  arsenal..  163 

Van  Schellywne,  Dirk   11 

Van  Wart  appointed  captain   54 

Varley,  Mary   309 

Von  Gerichten,  Jacob   436 

Voorhis,  John  R.  appointed  Commr. 263,  286 

Wade,  Sergeant,  attacks  the  mob   168 

Wade,  John,  the  detective  122,  423 

Waldron,  Resolverd,  matle  constalile. ...  20 

Wall  St.  City  Hall  built   29 

Wall  St.,  llie  north  limit   9 

Walling,  .Supt.  (leo.  W  100,  120 

Walling  appointed  Captain   120 

Ward  distribution  of  1845   105 


Washburn,  Ca|)t.  Ceo   360 

Watch  committee  investigation   72 

Watch  district  of  1843   go 

Watch  districts  bounded   69 

Watch-house  of  1731   36 

Walch-house  of  1 789   51 

Watch,  Military,  of  1746   40 

Watch,  Night,  of  1741   40 

I     Watch,  Superintendent  of  the   83 

Watch  system  declines   49 

I     Watchman's  hat   8} 

j     Watchman's  rattle  introduced   8 

j     Watchman's  song   42 

Watchmen  become  dissatisfied   74 

Watchmen  calling  the  hour   41 

I     Watchmen  increased  in  1835   81 

j     Watchmen,  Pay  of,  in  1844   91 

j      Watchmen,  Petition  for,  iSll   60 

Watchmen's  Mutual  Benefit  Assoc   84 

Watch  posts  in  1844   91 

Way  of  the  Transgressor   503 

Webb,  Capt.  Robt.  0   317 

Weehawken  ferry-house  burned   189 

Westervelt,  Jacob  A.,  mayor   118 

Whipping  post,  Early  use  of   3 

Whipping-post  in  use   33 

Williams,  Capt.  Alex.  S   364 

Williams,  the  negro,  assaulted   182 

Williams,  the  pickpocket   354 

Williamson,  Alvan  II.,  detective   430 

Wilson,  the  cart-thief   357 

Wire  factory  attacked   186 

Wissinck,  Jacob  Y.   2 

Witnesses,  Detention  of.  House  for.  .  .  .  214 

Wolfe,  Sergeant,  attacks  the  mol)   169 

Women  as  rioters   190 

Wood,  Albertus.  detective   435 

Wood,  Fernando,  mayor  loi,  141 

Wood,  Mayor,  opposes  the  new  act   140 

Wood,  Robt.  L   460 

Wool,  Gen.  John  E.,  Rept.  of   199 

j     Vankee  Sullivan  and  To'u  1  Iyer   123 

Young,  Chief  John   168 

;     Young,  Mrs.  Johanna,  fiogged   33 

Yule,  Capt.  Peter   395 


Madison  Square,  New  York. 


-^)C  ©HE  LCAI^GBST,  ^  Best  flPPOINTED,  3)^^ 

—AND— 

Most  feibcrallij  Managed  Hotel  in  the  Eiijj, 

—  WITH  THE  — 

fflOSI'  ©BNipi^AIi  AND  DSLIGHIIPUL  IlOGATION. 


^^TGHGOGK,  BAEUNG  &  QO.f^ 


BUILDERS  of  BURGLAR-PROOF  WORK. 


AUD  OF  THE 

Stock  Exchange, 
Nassau  Bank, 
Park  Bank, 
Manhattan, 
American, 


First  Mercantile, 
Bank  of  New  York, 

Produce  Exchange 
Safe  Deposit 
s^Tvit  Vaults. 


WROUGHT 


&  Jell*  ©©Sllfe*/**, 


AND  CAST. 


OF  ALL  KINDS,  FOR 


Euildings,  Bridges,  and  Eoofs. 


Heavy  Girders,  Beams,  and  Channels. 


141  CENTRE  ST.  .  .  .    NEW  YORK, 


(2) 


WHEELER  &  WILSON'S 


J  ADDRESS: 

i  Wheeler  &  Wilson  Manufacturing  Co. 

<  Factory  and  Chief  OfB.ce,  Bridgeport,  Conn., 

•  Hew  York  City  Office,  44  East  14tli  St.  (Union  Square). 

i(3) 


NEW  YORK: 
112  Fifth  Avenue. 

BALTIMORE:  BALTIMORE: 
Cot.  Eutaw  &  West  Sis.  504  tt  206  W.  Baltimore  S 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


GRAND,  UPRIGHT  AND  SQUARE 

PIAp-FOI[TES, 

FOR  NEARLY  FIFTY  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  PUBLIC' 
THESE  IfJSTRUMENTS  HAVE,  BY  THEIR  EXCELLENCt-, 
ATTAINED  AN  UNPURCHASED  PRE-EMINENCE,  WHICH 
ESTABLISHES   THEM    THE    UNEQUALLED  IN 

TONE,  TOUGH. 
WORKMANSHIP  d  DURABILITY. 


(4^ 


ESTABLISHED     1882.   4<^.4.   ESTABLISHED  1882. 

■  FTW,  DevoeSCo. 

-5-9-  MANUFACTURERS  OF  -b-<- 


fupe  GelGPS,  *f  Fine  \/apnisbes, 


<A  MtitlieniatiGal  }i|8truiiient8,  i>o 

OhPIGES  : 

iJuFfon  Afreet,  cor.  ©Y^lFfiam,  Recn  (^orft. 
THE  MURRAY  HILL  HOTEL, 

NEW   YORK  CITY. 
Located  on  l*ark  Avenue,  extendinii  from  40th  to  41st  Sts. 

The  Highest  and  Healthiest  Ground  on  the  Island  of  Manhattan. 

The  Hotel  is  now  open  to  the  public  on  both  the  American  and  European 
plans.  The  location  is  exceptionally  desirable  as  a  permanent  residence  for 
families,  or  for  tourists,  travelers  or  business  visitors  to  the  metropolis.  It  is 
but  one  minute's  walk  from  the  Grand  Central  Depot,  where  trains 
depart  for,  and  arrive  from,  all  the  chief  cities  and  towns  of  the  United  States  ; 
accessible  to  all  elevated  and  surface  lines  of  railways  and  stages,  the  theatres, 
retail  stores,  churches  and  places  of  interest. 

ig"li.^Sr  f  HUNTING  &  HAMMOHD.  Proprietors. 

GREAT  WESTERN  STEAMSHIP  LINE. 

BTistol  nnrl  "NTow  ^ork. 

SAILING  WEEKLY  FROM  AVONMOUTH  DOCK,  BRISTOL. 

The  Cheapest  and  Most  Direct  Route  from  the  West  of  England, 
and  South  Wales,  Cornwall,  Somerset  and  Devon,  Monmouth  and  Gloucester. 

REDTJCTIOTV  IIV  R^VTES: 

STEKRA(;K.  (  Bristol,  Cardiff.  Newport  or  Swansea  to  New  York  i|!20  00 

PuEPAiD      <  Any  Railroad  Station  in  England  or  Wale.s.  Belfast,  Dublin, 

Certificates.    (       Waterford  or  Queenstown,  to  New  York  $22  00 

Cliildren  between  1  and  12  years.  Half  Price.     Infants.  $3.00. 

SALOON.— Prepaid.— Bristol  to  New  York  |H0  00 

(5) 


NORWICH  LINE 

NEW  YORK,  BOSTON,  WORCESTER, 

And  all  Points  EAST. 


Norwich  Line  Steamers  leave  Daily,  except  Sundays, 

From  PIER  40,  NORTH  RIVER,  Foot  WATTS  STREET, 

Adjoining  Desbrosses  Street  Ferry  of  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 

THE  NEW  lEON  STEAMER 

CITY  OF  WORCESTER 

Without  any  exception  the 

FASTEST,  MOST  ELEGANTLY  FINISIIEI)   and  FURBISHED 
STEAMBOAT  on  LONG  ISLAND  SOUND, 

Will  Leave  NEW  YORK  on  TUESDAYS,  THURSDAYS,  SATURDAYS, 

And  the  well-known  Steamer 

From  NEW  YORK,  MONDAYS,  WEDNESDAYS  and  FRIDAYS 

Connecting  with  Express  Trains  that 


—  Leave  — 
NEW  LONDON  4.05  a.m. 


—  Leave  — 
NEW  LONDON   5.00  a.m^ 


—  A  rrive  —                                                         —  A  rrive  — 
BOSTON   7.50  a.m.     '      PALMER   7.50  a.m. 


WORCESTER   6 

NASHUA   9 

PORTLAND   I 

MANCHESTER   9 

CONCORD  10 

PLYMOUTH  12 

BETHLEHEM    5 

FABYAN'S   5 


55   "  AMHERST   9.00 

25    "  BRATTLEBORO  10.26 

25  p.m.  \     BELLOWS  FALLS  11.25 

48  a.m.  WHITE  RIVER  JUNC   i.3op, 

55   "  NORTHFIELD   3.44 

37  p.m.  I     BURLINGTON   5.20 

12   "  I     ST.  ALBANS   6.00 

35    "  .     MONTREAI   8.30 


NO  TRANSFERS   BY  THIS  LINE. 


LIMITED  TICKETS  at  REDUCED  RATES. 


STATEROOMS    ENGAGED   IN  ADVANCt. 


G.  "W.  BRADY,  Agent,  Pier  40,  N.  R.,  New  York. 


ACKER,  MEBBilL  &  COiDIT, 

57th  Street  an5  Sixth  Auenue, 
Broabixiay  an6  425  Street, 
130  anb  132  ithambers  S.^eet, 

NEW  YORK, 


39  Rue  5e  iC^ateaubun, 

•  PARIS, 


ACKER,  EDGAR  &  CO. 

YONKERS. 


CUNARD  LINE. 

Between  LIVERPOOL,  BOSTON  and  NEW  YORK. 

From  NEW  YORK,  every  Saturday  and  alternate  Wednesdays  after  April  29, 
From  BOSTON,  every  Saturday. 

RATES  OF  PASSAGE  :   $60,   $80  AND  $100. 

Return  Tickets  on  Favorable  Terms. 

Between  BORDEAUX,  NEW  YORK  and  BOSTON. 

Steamers  leave  BORDEAUX,  every  Thursday,  connecting  at  Liverpool  for  New  York  and  Boston, 

Special  facilities  for  through  freight  at  low  rates.    For  freight  and  passage  apply 


In  Bordeaux  to 

S.  R-  OG-STOlsr,  ^gen-b, 
5  Cours  de  Pave  des  Chartrons.' 


VERNON  H.  BROWN  &  CO., 

NEW  YOEK. 


WAIalM 

WARREN,  FULLER  &  LANGE, 


J£a i I  Ufa ctnt'erSf 

Invite  an  inspection  of  their  extensive  collection 
of  Nkw  Dksicns  in  AMERICAN,  ENG- 
LISH, GERMAN,  VELVET,  FRENCH, 
HIGH  RELIEF,  REAL  JAPANESE 
LEATHER  PAPERS;  Also  Designs  and 
Colorings  by  THE  ASSOCIATED  ART- 
ISTS, at  the  Retail  Department, 

129  EAST  42d  STREET, 

Near  Grand  Central  Depot. 

We  manufacture  all  our  own  Colors  and  Guar- 
antee our  Papers  to  be  Free  from  Arsenic. 


(8) 


Manufacturer  aud  Dealer  In 

Wrought  Iron  Pipe  and  Fittings  for  Steam,  Water,  Gas  and  Oil. 

BRASS  AND  IRON  VALVES  AND  COCKS. 

FITTER'S  AND  ENGINEER'S  TOOLS  AND  SUPPLIES  OF  EVERY  DESCRIPTION. 

Nos.  106,  108  and  110  Centre  St.,  New  York. 


PIPE  AND  CAST  IRON  RADIATORS. 


E  CO09 


HOPS 


No.  43  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK. 


Agency  in  London,  Eng., 

J.  H.  PETRIE,  2  East  India  Ave.,  E  C. 


Direct  Shipments  from  Country. 


Choice  Hops  a  Specialty. 


BEWARE  OF  IMITATIONS 


CANTRELL&COCHRANE^' DUBLIN  &.BELrAST. 


E.  &  J.  BURKE,  General  Agents,  NEW  YORK. 

(9) 


MoET  &  Chandon  Champagnes. 

GOLD  SEAL.    WHITE  SEAL.    GREEN  SEAL. 

Total  Sales,  Three  Million  Bottles  a  Year  !   The  Richest  Champag-nes  in  the  World  I 

Messrs.  Chandon  &  Co.  possess  1,017  acres  of  the  most  renowned  vineyards  in  France.  They  keep  constantly 
on  hand  in  cellars  ten  to  twelve  million  bottles  of  wine,  none  ol  w  hich  is  sold  until  it  has  been  in  bottle  four  yea«, 
during  which  time  it  undergoes  the  manipulation  necessarj-  to  clear  and  prepare  it  for  consumption. 

S*'"  The  yearly  shipments  of  .Moet  &  Chandon  Champagnes  are  larger  by  several  hundred  th(}usand  bottles 
than  those  of  any  other  establishment  in  the  trade. 

S^^^  A  steady  favorite  with  club  connoisseurs. 

C.  r.  MEEET,  Sole  Agent  for  the  United  States,  49  Broad  St.,  New  York. 


United  Jtdtes  Hotel, 

cor.  Fulton,  Water,  and  Pearl  Sts., 

1 1,  f  runian,  Proprietor. 

europeWJlan. 

Rooms  for  one  person  fr,  m  50c.  to  $1 . 50. 
Rooms  for  two  persons,  $1.50  to  $3.00. 

The  New  York  Elevated  Railroad  has  a  depot 
in  the  hotel;  cars  run  every  three  minutes. 
Time  to  Grand  Central  Depot,  twenty  minutes. 
Five  minutes  walk  to  New  Haven.  Hartford,  and 
Bridgeport  steamboats. 


VERMILYE  &  CO., 

16  and  18  Nassau  St.,  New  York  City, 

BANKERS  »  BROKERS, 

Dealers  in  Investment  Securities. 

Suy  and  Sell  on  Commission,  and  carmj  on  approprinte  imir^ins  nil 
SecuHties  listed,  at  the  Xew  York  Stock  Exchange. 

INTEREST  ALLOWED  ON  DEPOSITS  SUBJECT  TO  DRAFTS  AT  SIGHT. 


BROWER  HOUSE, 

Cor.  28th.  St.  ff"  SroacLway,  JSTejv  Y'orJc. 


This  Hotel  is  situated  in  the  centre  of  the  up-town  business  part  of  New  York,  and  near 
all  the  principal  Hotels  and  Theatres. 

Good  Rooms  at  $l.oo  per  day  and  upwards,  for  Gentlemen  only. 

A  first-class  Restaurant  is  attached  for  Ladies  and  Gentlemen.    Entrance  on  2Sth  Street. 


THOS.  D.  "WINCHESTER,  Proprietor. 

(lo) 


Brown  Brothers  &  Co., 

59  wall  street.  new  york, 

209  Chestnut  St.,  Philadelphia,  No.  66  State  St.,  Boston, 

  AND   

ALEXANDER  BROWN  &  SONS,  cor.  Baltimore  aud  Calvert  Sts,  Baltimore, 

Buy  and  Sell  Bills  of  Exchange 

 ON  

Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  France,  Germany, 
Belg:ium,  Holland,  Switzerland,  Norway, 
Denmark,  Sweden,  and  Australia. 

ISSUE  COMMERCIAL   TRAVELERS'  CREDITS 

In  Sterling, 

Available  in  any  part  of  the  world,  and  in  Francs,  for  use  in 
Martinique  and  (iuadaloupe. 

JKahF  ^F(FgFHp|ir  t^pansfpFS  of  JKonpg 

Between  this  Country  and  Kiii-ope. 

MAKE  COLLECTIONS  OF  DRAFTS  DRAWN  ABROAD 

On  all  points  in  the  United  States  and  Canada, 

And  of  DRAFTS  DRAWN  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  on  all  Foreign 
»  Countries. 

mm,  mm  ii  i,     mm,  mm  k  i, 

26  Chapel  Street,  Liverpool.      Founder's  Court.  Lothbury.  London 


L  EUCKI  &  SOI, 

Successors  to 

DREW  &  BUCKL 


Im  1 

Plank  and  Flooring, 


OFFICE  AND  YARDS: 

:Fooi3  o±  "West}  13i3lx  Siz^x^eeizi 

Neu)  yorh. 

PROPRIETORS  OF  THE 

Suwannee  Steam  Saw  Mills, 

£LLA villi:.  FLORIDA. 

(12) 


E.  I.  HOESMAN 

AMERICAN 

STAR  BICYCLE 

—  AND  — 

VICTOR  TRICYCLE 

N.>»  York  Apency  for  Et)i.Tt 
r..|.,mlH,i  Hi,-vc  lMs  nn.l  Triovrlps.  YaU-  aiui  Harvar.l  llu  \d.  s 

II<»rNinaii  Special  A:  Hortiinaii  Kxoelnlor 

llirvcle*  are  thf  lit-sl  low  prioi-il  iiuu  him  s  nmiU: 
Iloa'hi  liirl.Ts  for  likyiW  Sniulrit-s  and  Oulrtts     Ki  fa  rliit.' 
a  ul  Xickfl  I'lalini;  |irom|>tly  done.     Stfond  Hiin.l  Hi- 
i  vrl."-l«>Uj;litand  sold.  s»Mid  forUicyclo Cal«l"i,'"e  ('. 
SO  and  sa  AVlllloiu  St..  Rew  \  ork. 

HORSMAN'S  CELEBRATED 

E.  I.  Horsman, 

iV  h-i  \\  illiiiiii  !-t..  .\.  Y. 


Auk  for  Caiiino  Racket. 

ST.\M1'  roll  C'.VTAI.' hu;e. 

LAWN  TENNIS 

£.  I.  HORSMAN 

Sol,'  New  York  Ap  nt  for 
AMERICAN 

Star  Bicycle 

—  AVI)  — 

VICTOR  TRICYCLE 

^  "     NowYork  Aponry  for  r.Tpcrt 
roliimlti.i  Rirvcl*"*!  and  Tricycle*.  Yalf  arwl  Harvard  llicyclr  . 

Horninan  Spot-lai  Jc  HorHman  Kxi'olKior 

Uieyrlej*  arc  tht-  Iwst  low  jtrioeil  machiiu'S  rnailc. 
ITc.'uIqnrtrUTS  for  Ilicyclf  Suridrifs  aiul  Outrtls.  Hcpairint; 
and  Nickel  I'latini;  promptly  done.     Second-Hand  lli- 
cvclestioufrht  and  fold.  .Send  forUicycle  l'ataloi;ne 
HO  end  f.-i  U  illlni!)  St..  Kcvf  VorU. 


G.  \V.  Hawkins. 


R.  ('.  Insi.i.i, 


v..  F.  Ha\vkins. 


C.  p.  HAWKINS'  SONS, 


BREWERS  OF  FINE 


IXDIA,  PALE  and  AMBER  STOCK. 


Canada  and  Amber  Ales.  Also  Fine  Porters, 


NoK.   343    and    34-5   \\'est   4:ist  Street, 


NEW  YORK. 

U3) 


AK  VKVBOiKETa  BECOHS  OF  STTCCISS. 


Paris,  1878. 


DURYEAS'  Glen  Cove  Manuf 'g  Co. 

Has  received  Eig-hest  Prize  Medals  at 
International  Exhibitions  at 

Philadelphia,  1876,    Ha\Te,  j863,  and  at 

Paiis,  18C7,  Netherlands,  i86g,     American  Insatute,  1837, 

Paris,  1878,  N.  So.  Wales,  1S75,  Baltimore  Institute,  1859, 

London,  1862,  Cape  Town,  1877,     Sj.  Car.  Institute,  1870, 

Hamburg,  iSea,        Brussels,  1876,  Franklin  Institute,  1874, 

Cologne,  lECs,  London  An.,  1873,    Penn.  Institute,  1867. 

Altoaa,  1P69,  Matanzas,  18S1, 

Also  at  Fairs  of  States  and  C  ounties,  and  in  every 
instance  01^  competition. 


Paris,  1878. 


r  ^xizo  lledals  awarded  ^  v 


DURYEAS'  STARCH 

In  every  instance  of  competition,  has  received  the  highest  award. 


Philadelphia,  1870. 


In  addition  In  Sir.'dali!.  mnn^i  J^ijlomaa  7  a  l  ebern  received. 
U'h.:  /oUoii'inii  (ire  a  t'ev  of  the  characterizing 
terms  of  award  ;  at 

London,  1862,  for  quality  "  Exceedingly  Excellent." 

Paiis,    1867,"      "       "  Perfection  of  Preparation." 

Paris,    1878,"      "       "  Best  Production  of  its  kind." 

Centennial,  1876,  for         "  Notable  cr  Absolute  Purity." 

Brussels,    1876,"  "  Remarkable  Excellence." 

Franklin  Institute,  Penn.,  "For  Superior  Merit,  not  alone 
as  being  the  best  of  the  kind  exhibited,  but  as  the  best 
known  to  exist  in  the  market  of  American  production." 

DURYEAS'  r.lon  Cove  Manfg  Co.  received  the  ONLY 
GOLD  MEDALi  over  all  ithiTo  being  23)  competitors  at 
PARIS  EXPOSITION,  187a 

FOR  SALE  BY  GROCERS  GENERALLY. 


Philadelphia,  1876. 


PRACTICAL  OPTICIANS, 

^1   UnXon  SgiUL/'e,  j\e,\v  y^ovJz. 


I'm.  .  x\^  ,1.  I 


.It  I 


inilion  and  power 


OPERA  CLASSES  AND  LORGNONS. 

Hand-.omcly  mountijil,  nrc.it  illumiii.iiiui;  and  iii.ii;iuf>  in>;  power. 

BAROMETERS  AND  THERMOMETERS, 

Mercurial  and  Metallic,  of  absolute  accuracy. 
Scicntifii  ally  adjusted   to  the  v;irious  tietects  of  the  eyes. 


W.  &  J.  Sloane, 


1^1 


1 


BROADWAY,  18th  and  19th  Sts.,  NEW  YORK. 

BBISS  BEDSTMDS, 

Hlrganf,  Durrdtlr,  and  Cleaiilij. 

KECOMME.NDED  B¥  KN<iLISII  PHYSICIANS  AS  THE  ONLY  BKD 
TO  INSURE  PERFECT  HEALTH. 


Brass  Chairs,  Easels,  Cribs,  Fen- 
ders, Fire  Sets,  Tables, 

BEDDING  AND  MATTRESSES. 


New  York  Brass  Furniture  Co. 


Ifi  EAST  14th  STREET,  NEW  YORK, 


ARNOLD,  CONSTABLE  &  CO. 

SPRING  NOVELTIES. 

A  RE  now  prepared  to  exhibit  their  Spring  Selection  of  HIGH  CLASS  NOVEI.TIES  in 
Silks.  Velvets,  Dress  Goods.  I,.aces  and  Embroideries.  Dress  and  Clo.iking  Cloths,  Suits, 
Cloaks,  Furs,  Ladies.'  Misses' and  Children's  FURNISH  INC.  GOODS.  Shawls,  Gentlemen's 
OUTFITTING   GOODS.  Hosier^'.   Under^ve.^r.    Glove  s.  1 'nibrell.Ts.  etc.,  tosjether  with  an 

extensive  as>ortmcnt  of  HOUSEHOLD  and  FAMILY  LLNENS,  Foreign  and 
Domestic  White  Goods,  Blankets,  Flannels,  etc..  etc.  .\Ko.  ;i  fun-  scKctlon  of 
Rark.  and  .Vktistic  Desicns  in  CARPETS,  ORIENTAL  RUGS,  UPHOLSTERY 
GOODS,  FURNITURE  COVERINGS,  INTERIOR  DECORATIONS,  etc.,  etc. 


BROADWAY,  COR.  ^Qth  St.,  NEW  YORK. 

(15) 


IF  YOU  HAVE  ANYTHING  TO  PURCHASE  FOR  CHILDREN 

YOU  CAN  DO  SO  TO  THE  BEST  ADVANTAGE  AT  THE 


Because  we  keep  every  ar- 
ticle of  wearing  apparel  from 
Hats  to  Shoes  for  all  ages. up 
to  1 6  years. 


Because  Our  unequalled  fa- 
cilities in  this  specialty  enable 
us  to  fuinish  the  most  desirable 
goods  at  low  prices. 


Because  the  Garments  we 
make  have  a  style,  fit  and 
finish  far  superior  to  the  goods 
usually  sold  ready  made.  We 
employ  only  first  class,  skilled 
workmen. 

We  also  make  to  order  Boys', 
Girls',  and  Infants"  Clothing 
in  the  best  manner  at  moderate 
prices. 


We  take  back  for  Exchange  or  Refund  of  Money  all  Goods  that  are  not  satisfactoiy  in  every  particular. 
In  fact  the  superior  facilities  we  offer  only  require  to  b^  known  to  make  the  "  LILIPUTIAN  BAZAAR" 
indispensable  to  all  who  have  children  to  provide  for. 

BEST  &  CO.,  60  and  62  West  23d  St.,  New  York. 

WM.  WALL'S  SONS, 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

CORDAGE  &  OAKUM. 

1 1  3  Wall  Street,  New  York. 


EliWARD  L.  MILLER. 


KRED.   T.  HUBER. 


Miller  &  Huber, 

FLOUR  MERCHANTS 


5 


15  Water  Street  «Sc  18  Front  Street, 

^•eAlr  Broad  Street,  SEW  YOUK. 

JOY,  Xj-A.TSrC3HDOISr  cfc  00-, 

9.9  Chmincy  St.,  BOSTON.  rearl  St.','  \        ^  YOBK. 

 AGENTS  FOR  

Knickerbocker  Prints,  Fabriques,  &c. 
Tycoon  Reps,  3-4  &  6-4  Alpacas. 
Poplins,  Cashmeres,  &c. 
Winnipissiogee  Hosiery  Mills. 
Pitman  Manufacturing  Co. 
Hodgson's  Mills. 


Hamilton  Manufacturing  Co. 
Hamilton  Prints  and  Percales. 
New  Market  Manufacturing  Co 
Hooksett  Manufacturing  Co. 
Hamilton  Woolen  Co. 
Essex  Mills. 


Hamilton  and  Essex  Fancy  Cassimeres  and  Over  Coatings, 
Crash,   Cambrics  and  Suitings. 


t 


D.  STEVENSON, 


501  TO  509  West  39th  Street, 


Cor  Tenth  Avenue. 


(17) 


«--t9  "^^IS"^   

STANDARD  OF  SILVER. 

FS  a  rule  the  quality  of  Government  Coin  has  been  the  standard  on  which  Silversmiths 
have  based  their  quality.  The  standard  of  United  States  Coin  is  900-1000  pure  silver 
to  100-1000  copper  or  other  alloy.  The  standard  of  Great  Britain  is  qOK/ 
pure  silver  to  75-1000  ailoy.  /lOOO 
Our  leading  Silversmiths,  the  GORHAM  COMPANY,  adopted  the  English  standard  many 
years  ago,  and  so  careful  iia-;  been  the  surveillance  over  the  quality  of  their  ware,  that  not 
a  single  piece  has  been  known  to  leave  their  Factory  under  the  standard.  So  well  is  this 
now  urrderstood  that  their  trade  mark  j^^rX]  's  as  well  known  to  all  purchasers  of 
Solid  .Silver  in  this  country,  as  is  the  l®ljJi'l@J  Hall  Mark  of  England,  as  a  sure 
guarantee  for  pure  metal.  STERLING 

BROADWAY  AND¥tFSTREET.  NEW  YORK. 


Wo  H.  Schieffelin  &  Co., 

Importers.  Exporters,  Jobbers  and  /Manufacturers, 

170  &  172  WILLIAM  ST.  NEW  YORK.  40  &  42  BEEKMAN  STREET. 

Imported  and  Indigenous  Drugs,  Staple  Chemicals,  Foreign  and  Domestic  Medical 
Preparations,  Fine  Essential  Oils,  and  Select  Powders.    New  Pharmaceutical 
Remedies,  Sponges,  Druggists'  Sundries,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

r^URE  DRUGS, 

Sulphate  Quinine,  Sulphate  Morphine,  of  Guaranteed  Purity. 

UFAH  OF  mim  mmmm  mmmi, 

IXCLUDIXO  FLUID  AND  SOLID  KXTUACTS.  ELIXIRS,  SVUI  PS,  Etc,  Etc. 

Sole  Manufacturers  of  SOLUBLE  COATED  PILLS  and  GRANULES,' 

Comprising  all  the  officinal  pills  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.  They  have  received  the 
unqualified  indorsement  and  commendation  of  the  Medical  Profession,  and  are 
unequaled  for  PURITY  OF  COMPOSITION,  SOLUBILITY  OF  COATING,  UNI- 
FORMITY IN  SIZE,  AND  PERFECTION  OF  FORM  AND  FINISH. 

THESE  PILLS  HAVE  BEEN  AWARDED  THE  FOLLOWING  PRIZES: 


1878.  — Paris.— The  Only  Silver  Modal.-  The 

Hiehest  Recompense  Awarded  to 
Pills. 

1879.  - Sydney. —New  South  Wales.— First 

Award. 

1879.  — New  York,   American  Institute.— 

Medal  of  Superiority. 

1880.  — Melbourne,  Australia.— First  Award. 


1881.— Matanzas,  Cuba. -Silver  Medal. 
1881.— London.-  The  only  Award  of  Merit 

for  Pills  alone  at  the  International 

Medical  and  Sanitary  ^hi  iition. 
1881  —Brighton.  England.— Only  Award  for 

Pills  at  the  Scientific  and  Sanitary 

Exhibition. 
1883.— Amsterdam,  Holland.— Gold  Medal. 


HEW  YORK, 

IMPORTERS 

—AND— 

FOREIGN  AND  DOMESTIC 

ljR~YlX)ODS'.' 

efll^IS.  ^  «  ijyORS.  ^  ^  2UI^I(9p^ 

WILLIAM  H.  WALLACE  &  CO. 

SELL 


Of  every  description  wanted  by 

Railroads,  Steamships,  Manufacturers, 
Boiler  and  Machine  Shops, 

For  Boilers,  Tanks,  Bridges,  and  all  Fire-proof  Construction 

— ALSO — 

Porse  ghoes,  ghafting,  Rivets,  fJails,  ^^ngles,  'Fees,  ^c. 

131  Washington  St.,  Hew  York. 

(19) 


Beadleston  •  &•  Woerz, 
Ales,  Porter, 
and  Lager  Beer, 

Empire  Brewery, 
291  West  loth  Street,  New  York. 


{20, 


I 


fzr) 


JoM  Steibeisoi  Couiaiif,  Liilefl, 

47  EAST  27TH  STREET, 
NEW  YORK  CITY, 


Manufacture 


STREET  CARS 


Of  Every  Description. 


5^eAt  clUalc'tutf 


(Ovtlcvs  (•Jxiichly  |:"iUccl. 


CjlItJ^FUL    jlTTJEJSTTIOJSr    TO  SHIPJ^ENTS. 

(22) 


PHILADELPHIA  &  READING  R.  R. 


BOUND  BROOK  ROUTE. 


DOUBLE  TRACK.         STEEL  RAILS.         STONE  BALLAST. 

NO  SOFT  COAL  SMOKE.       NO  DUST. 


^2  HOURS  2 

New  Yorki^Philadelphia. 

SHORT  LINE  AND  QUICK  TIME 

Reading,  Hansburg,  Pottsville,  Williamsport, 


AND  rOIN'l'S  IN 


EASTERN  and  CENTRAL  PENNSYLVANIA. 

STATION    IN   NEW  YORK: 

FOOT  ©F  UBEBTf  ST.,  KORTl  BI¥Ei. 


STATIONS   IN  PHILADELPHIA: 

Ninth  and  Green  Sts.,  Columbia  Ave.,  and  Third  and  Berks  Sts. 


J.  E.  WOOTTEN,         H.  P.  BALDWIN,  C.  G.  HANCOCK, 

General  Manager.  Gen.  East.  I'ass.  Act.       Gen.  Pass,  and  Ticket  Act. 


119  Liberty  St. ,  NEW  YORK.  PHILADELPHIA. 

V23} 


(24) 


<x1  MANHATTAN 


i^rr?!?^    I  VII  II  II.    V  >i  1 1  I  I  I  ir  I  I  /  \/ ^ 

Li  * 


Office,  No.  4  Irving  Place. 

WORKS: 

Foot  West  18th  Street, 

Foot  East  14th  Street 


Stipply  Gas  in  the  district  between 
Grand  and  Thirty-fourth  St. 


DIRECTORS: 

PERCY  R.  PYNR,  WILSON  G.  HUNT, 

SAMUEL  SLOANE,  JAMES  H  YOUNG, 

J  NO.  J.  CISCO.  BEN  J.  CLARKE, 

MASON  YOUNG,  HY.  A.  C.  TAYLOR, 

CHARLES  ROOME  ' 

CHAS.  ROOME,  JAS.  W.  SMITH. 

J'resiftent.  Svcretai^. 

(25) 


H.  HebbMj\n,  Stepbach  d  Co,, 


aixd-  468  Bx»oad-^w-a;37-, 


OF 


SEALSKINS, 

PLUSHES, 

VELVETS, 

WORSTEDS, 

CLOAKINGS. 


British 
Dry  Goods 


COASTWISE  AND  WEST  INDIA  STEAM  LINES 

And  SANTO  DOMINGO  W.  L 
CHARLESTON    S.  C. 

WILMINGTON,  N.  C. 

PHILADELPHIA  Pa, 


And  CHARLESTON,  S.  C. 

NORFOLK  and  RICHMOND,  Va. 
ALEXANDRIA,  Va.,  and 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


35  Broadway,  New  YorL  .  12  South  Who  west .  Philade/phin,  Pa, 

(26) 


Louisiana  anJ  Texas  U.  anJ  Steamsliiii  Co., 

  FOR:  

NEW  ORLEANS  and  TEXAS,  ARIZONA, 
NEW  MEXICO  and  CALIFORNIA, 

The  A  I  Iron  Steamships 

CHALMETTE,  LONE  STAR,  EXCELSIOR, 

MORGAN  CITY,  ALGIERS,  NEW  YORK. 

On  Wednesday  and  Saturday  for  New  Orleans. 


THROUGH  BILLS  OF  LADING  signed  to  Galveston, 
Houston,  and  all  points  on  Galveston,  Harrisbnrg^  and  San 
Antonio,  Houston  and  Texas  Central  Railroad,  and  all  other 
Railroads  in  Texas,  as  also  to  Indianola,  Corpus  Christ  i, 
Brazos  Santiago*  and  Brownsville,  Mobile,  and  to  ail  Missis- 
sippi River  Points;  and  to  all  points  on  the  lines  of  Galveston,  Harris- 
burg  and  San  Antonio,  and  Southern  Paciflc  Railways  and 
their  connections.  A  i  Iron  Steamer  "WHITNEY,"  sailing  semi-monthly  from 
New  Orleans  for  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico ;  A  i  Iron  Steamers 
"  HUTCHINSON  "  and  "  MORGAN,"  sailing  weekly  from  New  Orleans 
to  Cedar  Keys,  Key  West  and  Havana,  and  carry  both  passengers 
and  freight. 

BOGERT  &  MORGAN.  General  Agents. 

rier  3(i,  Xorth  IHver,  foot  of  North  Moore  Sfrct  f,  X<'tr  York. 

E.  E.  CURRIER.  A.  SHOTWEIX.  Asrcnt.         FRED'K  SIIUIYER,  Asrciit, 

192  Wasliinston  St.,  2  Chestnut  St.,  3  Lisflit  St.  » liai  f. 

BOSTON.  PHILADEMMIIA.  BALTIMORE. 

(27) 


THK    MOST    EXTENSIVE  MANUFACTURERS 

OF 

BILLIARD  and 
POOL  TftBLES 

Importers  and  Dealers  in  all  Billiard  Materials. 

■^cTlIli  BRUNSWICK  -  BALKIi  -  CULLENDER  CO.,** 


THE  WORLD. 


SOLE  PROPRIETORS  AND   PATENTEES  OF  THE 


PRINCIPAL    OFFICES,   SALESROOMS    AND  MANUFACTORIES. 


f-rnnms,  SCO  Kranil  rnr,  ror.  J;ih  St..  nnd  1  nion  Squa 
«»nll  .It^inururtori,  Kill  SIrrrt.  null  tjul  l(l>rr. 


NEW  YORK:  ^ 

OtllOH^fi      Tf  1     •   I  •>"<'-<■.  K'>l<''-''»"ni«  mill  niiuiiriii'lorv.  n^irLrt  nnit  llnrnn  Slr«-li,  North  SIdr. 
VlUl^AUVfj    XljLia.   ^  llrauch  SiiliKrooiii.  47  and  4!)  SUitr  Slre.l,  Soiilli  Mdc. 

CINCINNATI,  OHIO,  8,  10  and  12  W.  Sixth  Si,        ST.  LOUIS,  MO.,  211  Market  St. 

Western  Br.inclies-CHICAGO,  Market  and  Huroii  Sts  ,  North  Side.    ST  LOUIS.  Mo  ,  2.1  Market  St. 

KANSAS  Cn  y,  Mo  .  406  Delaware  St  ST.  JOSEPH.  Mo.,  i  ly  North  Third  St.  SAN  FRANCISCO.  Cal., 
b-^i  and  Market  St  MILWAUKEE,  Wis.  108  West  Water  St.  ST.  PAUL  Minn..  2^2  Jackson  St. 
MINNEAPOLIS.  Minn.,  Boston  Block.  O.M  AHA  Neb.,  501  South  Tenth  St.  DALLAS.  Texas,  407  Main  St. 
DENVER.  Col.,  371  Lawrence  St.  DAVENPORT.  Iowa,  309  West  Second  St.  SALT  LAKE  CITY,  Utah, 
Third  South  St. 

Kasteru  Brandies -NEW  YORK.  724  Broadway.  SYRACUSE.  N.  Y..  qi  South  Salina  St.  BUFFALO, 
N.  Y.,  vr  Main  St.  BOSTON.  Mass.,  42.  44,  48  Hanover  St.  PHILADELPHIA,  Pa.,  1134  Market  St. 
PITTSBURGH,  Pa.,  117  Fifth  Avenue     BAL  IT.MORE.  Md.,  -,67  West  Baltimore  St. 

Central  Itranclies— CINCINNATI.  Ohio,  8.  1..  and  ■2West  Sixth  St.  CLEVELAND,  Ohio,  174  Seneca  St. 
INDIANAPOLIS,  Ind.,  50  South  Illinois  St.  DETROIT.  Mich.,  20  and  22  Michigan  St.  ATLANTA,  Ga., 
22  Decatur  St. 

Vanaila  Branches -WINNIPEG,  Manitoba,  P.  O.  Box  1056.  WINDSOR,  Ont.,  Opera  House  Block. 
TORONTO,  Ontario,  Box  273. 

CeotralMCofflpjifofififM, 

No.  15  Nassau  Street,  Corner  of  Pine  Street. 


CAPITAL,  $1,000,000  in  U.  S.  Bonds.       SURPLUS,  $1,300,000. 

Allows  interest  on  deposits,  returnable  on  demand,  or  at  specified  dates. 

Is  a  legal  depository  for  money  paid  into  Court.  Is  authorized  to  act  as  Executor,  Admin- 
istrator. Guardian,  or  in  any  other  position  of  trust. 

Also  as  Registrar  or  Transfer  Agent  of  Stocks  and  Bonds,  and  as  Trustee  for  Railroad 
Mortgages. 

FREDERIC  P   OLCOTT.  President. 
GEORGE  SHERMAN,  Vice-President. 
C.  H.  P.  HAHCOCK,  Secretary. 

HENRY  F.  SPAULDING,  Chairm.an. 
Jacob  D.  Vermilve,  Benj.  B.  Sherman,  Samuel  D.  Babcock. 


Charles  Lanier. 

Isaac  N.  Phelps, 


Fredekic  p.  Olcott, 


Frederick  H.  Cossitt, 
Edmvnd  W.  Corlies. 


CIns8  of  1885. 
Sam'l  D.  Babcock, 
Isaac  N.  Phelps, 
Jonathan  Thome, 
Amos  R.  Eno, 
Gusta.'  Schwab, 
James  P.  Wallace, 
Josiah  M.  FIske. 
Henry  F.  Spaulding, 
John  S.  Kennedy. 


Class  of  1880. 

David  Dews. 
Benj.  B.  Sherman, 
J.  Pierpont  Morgan, 
Chas.  l.anicr. 
Chas.  G.  Landon, 
Wm.  H.  Webb. 
Frederic  P.  Olcott, 
Henry  Talmadge. 


Clans  of  1887. 

A.  A.  Low. 
Fred  k  H.  Cossitt, 
Jacob  D.  Vcrmilye, 
Wm.  Allen  Butler, 
Percy  R  Pyne. 
Wm.  H.  Anpleton, 
Edmund  W  Corlies. 
Geo.  MarCulloch  Miller, 
Cornelius  N.  Bliss. 


STATEMENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  BRANCH 

|^oi|ar  insurance  ^onifianif 


OF  LIVERPOOL        /^dSM^f^^¥W M  ^      JANUARY  1st 
ENGLAND.  £^^^^^^^^ 

V.  S.  Gov«Tnin»-nt  Ronds,  Market  Value  82,.ini,8Tn  75 

Ileal  Kstiit.'     1,1  1. ->,(!»!»  4 i 

<'a-Ii  ill  HunkH  iiiul  in  OtHreK   4.">«»,2<»8  94 

Acrriuvl   lMt<>r<-st    4K,10(>  00 

lIiiri>UH<'t<-<l  ri<>iiiliiin.s  and  other  Admitted  Assets   241  K47  6!> 

S4,I8T,U7U  80 

LIABILITIES  r 
Unpaid  I.ossi^s,  Uncaiiied  I'reiuiuins,  und  utiier  Liabilities  92,203,803  O.'i 

Surplus  »l,8»4,87r>  85 

HEAD  OFFICE,  Metropolitan  District,  50  WALL  ST,  NEW  YORK. 

E.  F.  BEDDALL,  Manager.         WM.  w.  HENSHAW,  Assistant  Manager. 

POLICEMEN  CAN  PROCURE 

FHOM  THK 

Biiitej  States  imalficciJeDt  ftssociatta 


:i20  and  322  BfomUraif,  Neir  York, 

$3000 "-"^^  $15 


a  week  while 
disabled  by 
Accident. 


(Not  exceeding  Twenty  six  weeks  on  account  of  any  one  Accident i. 

At  a  Cost  of  $4.00  for  Membership  Fee.  $1.00  per  Annum  Dues,  and 
Assessments  costing  about  $16.00  per  Annum. 

Those  Assessments  are  made  for  $2.00.  each,  at  intervals  as  reqviired  to 
pay  losses  through  the  year. 

CHARLES  B.  Y'EE.T  {of  Rogers,  Pcet  &  Co.)^  PRESIDENT. 

JAMES  R.  PITCHER.  Secretary. 


Im  1 1  line. 


PIERS  25  and  26  EAST  RIVER  (Peck  Slip). 


ONLY  STEAMERS  Running  To  and 
Connecting  with   RAILROADS  at  NEW  HAVEN. 

FREIGHT  Received  and  Way-Billed  Through,  under  Joint  Freight  Tariffs,  to  Stations  on 

N.  Y.  NEW  HAVEN  &  HART.    BOSTON  d  N.  Y.  AIR  LINE    BOSTON  &  ALBANY,  leased  lines 

Above  New  Haven.  New  Haven  to  Willimantic.  Between  Springfield  &  Boston. 

CONNECTICUT  RIVER,  ASHUELOT,  VERMONT  VALLEY, 

CENTRAL  VERMONT,   CONNECTICUT  &  PASSUMPSIC  RAILROADS,  Etc.,  Etc. 


RATES  AS  LOW  AS  ANY  OTHER  ROUTE. 

GREAT  DESPATCH  AND  UNEQUALLED  FACILITIES 


Steamers  leave  at  3  and  11  p.m.,  daily  except  Sundays. 


OENERAL  OFFICE.   PIER  25  EAST  RIVER. 

RICHARD  PECK,  WILLIAM  SCOTT, 

Sitpei'i  iitemlrnt.  Agent, 

GEO.  C.  RICHARDSON,  SMITH  &  CO., 

178  Devonshire  St.,  Boston.    115  and  117  Worth  St.,  N.  Y. 

SELLING  AGENTS  FOR 

LOWELL  MANUFACTURING  CO. 
EVERETT  MILLS. 

BOOTT  COTTON  MILLS. 

YORK  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

LAWRENCE  MANUFACTURING  CO. 
LEWISTON  MILLS. 

TREMONT  &  SUFFOLK  MILLS. 

MASSACHUSETTS   COTTON  MILLS. 
G.    S.    M.   6-4   WOOL  SACKINGS. 

(3'>) 


BREWSTER  &  CO. 

(OF  BROOME  STREET), 


Carriages  Eoad  Wagons. 

The  Leading  House  in  America. 

Family  Carriages  for  Town  and  Country  use. 

SULKIES,  DRAGS  AND  SPORTING  TRAPS  OF  EVERY  DESCRIPTION, 

ONLY  PLACE  OP  BUSINESS, 

BROADWAY,  47TH    TO   48TH  STREET. 

NOTICE. 

We  }iavc  no  connection  irit/i  ft  stock  company  adveHising  a  naiitc 
similar  to  our  oicn. 

(31) 


FLEITMANN  &  CO, 

489,491  AND  493  BROOME  STREET. 

IMPORTERS 

AND 

COMMISSION  MERCHANTS 

SILKS,  VELVETS, 

DRESS  GOODS, 

RIBBONS. 


J.  CHR.  G.  HUPFEL, 

LAGER  BEER 
BREWER, 

223  to  229  East  3 8 til  Street, 

AND 

234  to  240  East  3*9th  Street, 


NEW  YORK, 

(32) 


44th  and  45th  Sts.,  between  1st  &  2d  Aves.,  New  York. 


M  ANH  A  TT  A .  ] 


This  popular  brand  of  Cigars  has  been  in  the  Market 
over  SIX  YEARS,  during  which  time  we  have  sold  about 
23  million. 

The  "Manhatta"  is  on  sale  in  every  State  in  the  Union, 
and  the  increasing  demand  undoubtedly  proves  that  the 
FINE  QUALITY  STOCK  used  in  its  manufacture  is 
APPRECIATED  by  a  large  majority  of  consumers. 

Send  for  illustrated  descriptive  price-list  to 

Whe  RmemcQT)^  f9ews  Gompanv, 

39      4:1  CliamT:>ei-rf  Street, 


(33) 


Appleton's  Guide  -  Books. 


Appleton's  General  Guide  to  the  United  States  and 
Canada. 

In  entirely  new  type,  partially  re-written,  and  wholly  revised  for  the  Season  of  1S84.  In 
three  separate  forms  : 
One  Volume  Complete,  pocket-book  form,  roan,  §2.50. 

New  England  and  Middle  States  and  Canada,  one  volume,  cloth,  $1.25. 

Southern  and  Western  States,  one  volume,  doth,  $1.25. 
With  numerous  Maps  and  Illustrations. 

Appleton's  European  Guide-Book. 

Containing  Maps  of  the  Various  Political  Divisions,  and  Plans  of  the  Principal  Cities. 
Being  a  Complete  Guide  to  the  Continent  of  Europe,  Egypt,  Algeria,  and  the  Holy  Land. 
With  numerous  Maps  and  Illustrations,  and  a  Vocabulary  of  Travel-Talk  in. English,  Ger- 
man, French  and  Italian.    In  two  volumes,  morocco,  gilt  edges,  $5.00. 

The  present  edition  of  Api'I.eton's  European  Guide  is  the  twenty-first,  and  appears  carefully  revised  and 
with  various  improvements. 

Appleton's  Hand-Book  of  Summer  Resorts. 

Revised  each  Season  to  date  of  issue.  With  Maps  and  numerous  Illustrations.  Large 
i2mo,  paper  cover,  50  cents. 

Appleton's  Dictionary  of  New  York  and  Vicinity. 

An  alphabetically  arranged  Inde.x  to  all  Places,  Societies,  Institutions,  Amusements,  and 
other  features  of  the  Metropolis  and  Neighborhood,  upon  which  Information  is  needed  by 
the  Stranger  or  the  Citizen.  Revised  and  corrected  for  the  present  Season.  With  Maps  of 
New  Vork  and  \'icinity.     Paper,  30  cents. 

New  York  Illustrated. 

A  Pictorial  Delineation  of  Street  Scenes,  Buildings,  River  Views,  and  other  Picturesque 
Features  of  the  Great  Metropolis.  With  One  Ilundied  and  Forty-thr-e  Illustrations  from 
drawings  made  specially  for  it,  engraved  in  a  superior  manner.  With  large  Maps  of  New 
York  and  Vicinity.    Large  8vo,  illustrated  cover,  75  cents. 

Appleton's  Guide  to  Mexico. 

Including  a  Chapter  on  Guatemala,  and  an  English-Spanish  Vocabulary.  By  Ai  fred  R. 
CoNKLiNG,  Member  of  the  New  York  Academy  of  Sciences,  and  formerly  United  States 
Geologist.    With  a  Railway  Map  and  Numerous  Illustrations.     i2mo,  cloth,  $2.00. 

The  Hudson  River  Illustrated. 

With  Sixty  Illustrations  engraved  in  best  style  on  Wood  from  original  drawings.  Square 
8vo,  paper,  50  cents. 

Appleton's  Railway  Guide. 

Containing  .Maps  and  Time-Tables  of  the  Railways  of  the  United  States  and  Dominion  of 
Canada.     Revised  and  published  Semi-Monthly.    Paper,  25  cents. 


D.  Appleton  &  Co.,  Publishers. 


THE 


BEST  PERIODICALS 

FOR 

FAMILY  READING. 


HARPER'S  MAGAZINE. 

"Till-    (.iaiil    i.r    the  Mi)iillilirs." 

The  (•(ri  iil.uiiiii  i>l  11m;]-ki!'s  MviiAZiNK  has  always 
becu  Kri'atiT  tlian  thai  of  any  othi-r  piTlodical  of  ita 
class  III  Anii'i'lca  :  wliih'  In  Kn»:land  it  has  outrun  all  the 
EnKllsh  ma>;azlncs  of  Its  priri'. 

Its  serial  and  short  slorli's,  Its  poiMiis,  rssays.  and  rlolily 
llluslrati'd  articles,  cover  every  siibji  et  of  liiii'rest  In 
travel,  hloKraphy.  history,  literature,  .ut.  and  industry. 

Nutahle  novels"  are  first  printed  In  Its  jianes  as  serial 
stories.  The  most  hrllllant  writers  of  .\nierlca  and 
Europe,  In  everv  department  of  letters,  are  its  eontrlh- 
utors,  while  Its  illustratlons  are  the  best  work  of  the 
most  skilful  artists  and  wood-engravers  of  our  time. 

The  editorial  departments  are  abreast  of  the  age  In 
every  human  interest.  The  "  Kasy  Chair"  chats  wisely 
and  wittily  of  subjects  on  which  everybody  Is  thinking; 
the  "Hlsiorl-al  lieiord  "  irlves  a  coniprelienaive  sum- 
mary of  the  world's  progress;  the  "Literary  Ueeord  " 
presents  a  critical  review  of  current  literature  ;  and  the 

Drawer,"  with  Its  exiiaustless  supply  of  good  stories, 
Is  a  source  of  perpetual  amusement. 

A  like  variety  of  equally  good  literary  and  art  work  i 
cannot  be  bought  In  the  form  of  books  for  many  times 
the  price  of  the  .\Ia»;azlne. 

Siihsri'ijit  hm   I'rirf,  $4  per  Yetir. 

HARPER'S  WEEKLY. 
"  \  Picture  IIKtory  of  our  Owu  Times." 

Harpek's  Weekly  Is  the  best  illustrated  paper  In 
.Vmerlca.  It  presents,  week  by  week,  in  faithful  and 
jfraphle  pictures,  the  noteworthy  events  of  the  day; 
portraltsof  men  of  th^'  time  ;  reproductions  of  the  works 
of  celebrated  natlvi'  and  foreign  artists;  cartoons  by  | 
eminent  pictorial  satirists ;  and  humorous  llluslratlons  , 
of  the  ludicrous  aspects  of  social  and  political  life. 

Hakpek's  Weekly  always  contains  Instalments  of 
one.  usually  of  two,  of  the  very  best  novels  of  the  day.  , 
with  tine  Illustrations.    Itsshiirt  stories  are  briKht  and 
entertalnlni,'.  I'oems,  sketches,  and  papers  on  important  i 
topics  of  the  day,  liy  the  most  popular  writers,  and  col-  j 
uuins  of  humorous  and  personal  paragraphs,  make  It 
Interesting  to  everybody. 

Its  pages  are  kept  free  from  everything  which  would 
unfit  It  for  the  family  circle.  In  art  and  general  liter- 
ature It  always  appeals  to,  and  cultivates  good  taste  | 
In  the  Held  of  polities  it  holds  country  above  party ;  and  ' 
while  It  upholds  the  grand  fundamental  principles  of  the  j 
Hcpubllcan  Party,  It  maintains  Its  right  to  criticise  and  i 
dissent. 

Whoever  wants  a  Cosmopolitan,  Independent  illus- 
trated   \ew^pape^   should   subscribe    for    HAnPER's  | 
Weekly.  i 
Subscript  ioit  J*rirr,  $4  prv  Yvttr, 


HARPER  S  BAZAR. 

No  Kaiiill.'i  sImiiiIiI  be  nilliout  i(. 

Harper  s  IUzak.  published  weeklv  Is  the  wonian'a 
aper.  Its  I'attern  .-ihei't  s.ipplciiient  alone,  of  which 
etwcen  twenty  and  thirtv  are  issued  each  year,  will 
enable  any  lady  of  moderate  means  to  dress  tastefully 
and  fashionably,  and  to  save  much  more  than  the  price 
of  subserlptloii,  by  furnishing  her  with  the  latest  pat- 
terns of  la<lies'  and  children's  dresses,  wraps,  etc.  Kacli 
Supplement  contains  a  dozen,  or  more,  patterns  for 
which  no  extra  charge  Is  made. 

.\11  subji  i  ts  that  pertain  to  the  realm  of  domestic 
eeoiiomv  ari'  treated  from  time  to  time  In  the  columns 
of  IlABPEK  s  Hazar  ;  ( Ookery  for  the  well  and  the  sick  ; 
the  management  of  servants  ;  the  best  methods  of  regu- 
lating the  necessary  expenses  of  the  faiiillv;  social  eti- 
quette and  usages  ;  ganlenlng,  etc.  Ladle's  will  find  In 
It  practical  instructions  which  will  aid  them  materially 
In  remodeling  tlielr  dresses,  refurnishing  Ilieir  houses 
tastefully  and  elicapiv,  and  In  economizing  In  vailous 
other  directions. 

Its  stories,  sketches,  and  other  art  (cles  being  furnished 
by  the  best  writers  of  America  and  Kurope.  while  Its 
superb  wood  engravings  are  marvels  of  perfect  execu- 
tion. 

Huhsrriptiun  I'rice,  $4  per  Year. 

HARPER'S  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

*' Tlie  best  Periodical  for  Juvenile  Iteaders." 

Harper's  Yoi  no  I'eople,  published  weekly,  is  the 
best  help  of  the  parent  and  teacher,  exerting  a  refining 
Influence  through  Its  entertaining  stories,  anecdotes  of 
travel,  biograptiical  sketches  selentillc  articles,  etc. 
The  engravings  and  typography  are  unsurpassed  In 
merit,  attractiveness,  aim  artistic  finish. 

\  leading  journal  says;  "The  villainous  trash,  the 
penny-dreadful  '  boys'  arid  girls'  papers  '  at  one  time  so 

{lopular  and  so  numerous,  have  nearly  all,  thank  fortune, 
)een  driven  from  Ihe  field  by  the  introduction  of  publi- 
cations for  the  young  which  are  Just  as  cheap,  and  per- 
fectly healthful  and  wholesome.  This  good  work  of 
reform  was  led  hv  the  Harpers  of  \cw  York,  with  their 
handsome  Yorxc;  People." 

Hoys  will  find  in  Its  pages  entertaining  descriptions  of 
dlffei-ent  athletic  sports  and  popular  out-door  amuse- 
ments; and  girls  will  be  Intcested  In  the  directions  for 
making  dolls,  dolls'  clothing  embroidery,  crocheiiniir, 
etc.  A  valuable  feature  of  the  periodical  is  the  Post- 
Office  Box,  which  affords  to  the  young  readers  an  oppor- 
tunity to  correspond  with  the  Posl-misln'ss  and  with 
each  other,  thus  giving  them  ease  and  familiarity  in  the 
use  of  language.  Specimen  copy  sent  on  receipt  of 
three  cents. 

Snhscriptioii  i'rice,  $1,30  per  Year. 


MO'riCP:s3   OF"  THE  FRKSS. 

The  superb  periodicals  published  by  Harper  &  Brothers.  In  one  way  or  another,  in  politics,  events,  fashions.  In- 
ventions, trades,  new  and  standard  Interests  In  the  arts,  sciences,  travel,  discovery,  criticism.  Instruction  Illus- 
tration, amusement,  offer  a  complete  epitome  of  the  year.— /Vir7(t'(e/;>/iia  r^-dyer. 

One  or  the  other  of  these  journals  should  find  its  way  Into  every  family.— .Sonf/urii  Planter,  Richmond,  Va. 

There  can  he  no  more  acceptable  Holiday  gift  than  a  subscription  for  Harper's  M  kgazise.  Harper's  Weekly, 
Harper's  Bazar,  or  Harper's  Yocnu  People  ;  or,  better  still,  tor  the  entire  four  publications  —Philiutcliihin  .Vcirs. 

These  publlcatlonsare  among  the  best  of  the  kind  In  the  countr>-.  or.  In  fact,  in  the  •Kor\A.—Sjiring1i,  kl  Rr/xthliran. 

Harper's  Maoazixe.  Harper's  Weekly,  Harper's  Bazar,  and  Harper's  Yorxn  People  are  welcome  and 
fsrailiar  visitors  In  thousands  of  households  all  over  the  country.  .\  year's  subscription  to  one  of  them  would  make 
a  decidedly  welcome  Christinas  present  for  adults  or  children.— /;«/^ii»"ic  Am  rimn 

Each  of  these  publications  In  Its  own  field  has  become  as  familiar  as  a  household  word,  and  Is  regarded  almost 
as  a  household  necessity.— i.'o.<Jon  Juurnul. 


.Subscriptions  will  be  roinmenceil  with  tlie  XitinIxT  of  i-iioh  Poriodical  current  at  th« 
time  of  receipt  of  or<l«'r,  exct'pt  in  ciises  whcic  the  subscriber  otbcrwisi'  (lirccls. 

Ueinittanccs  slioiilil  bt!  made  by  ro>t-«>tHc-f  Money  Oe.U-i- or  Draft,  to  uvoi  1  risk  of  loss. 

Address    HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  Franklin  Square,  N.  Y. 

(351 


SOHMER 

Grand,  Square  and  Upright  Pianofortes  are  preferred  by  Leading  Artists. 

The  demands  now  made  by  an  educated  musical  public 
are  so  cxactins  that  very  few  Pianoforte  Manufacturers  can 
produce  instruments  that  will  stand  the  test  which  merit  re- 
quires. &OHMt.K  &  CO..  as  Manufacturers,  rank  amongst 
this  chosen  few.  who  are  acknowledged  to  be  makers  i  f  stand 
ard  instruments.  In  these  days,  when  many  Manufacturers 
urge  the  low  price  of  their  wares  rather  than  their  superior 
quality  as  an  inducement  to  purchase,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to 
suggest  that,  in  a  Piano,  quality  and  price  aie  too  inseparably 
joined  to  expect  the  one  without  the  other. 

Every  Piano  ought  to  be  judged  as  to  quality  of  its  tone, 
its  touch  and  its  workmanship  ;  if  any  of  these  is  wanting  in 
excellence,  however  good  the  others  may  be.  the  instrument 
will  be  impel  feet  It  is  the  combination  of  these  qualities  in 
the  highest  degree,  that  constitutes  the  perfect  Piano,  and  it 
IS  this  combimtion  that  has  given  the  '-SOHMER"  its 
honorable  position  with  the  trade  and  the  public. 

Musical  authorities  and  critics  prefer  the  "SOHMER  "  Pianos,  and  they  are  purchased  by  those  possessing 
refined  musical  taste  and  appreciating  the  richest  quality  of  tone  and  the  highest  perfection  generally  in  a  Piano. 

The  "SOHMER"  Pianos  are  used  in  the  following  Institutions:  X.  Y.  College  of  Music;  Toijt'x 
Consi-rvntorii  of  Music;  I'illa  Mnrin  Cottrcnt ,  Montreal;  Villa  de  Sales  Convent,  Long  Island, 
N.  Y.;  jVor?*(«/  Conserrntortf  of  Music;  Philadelphia  Conservator}/  of  Jtfi/.sic,  and  all  the  lead- 
ing first-cla.ss  theatres  in  NEW  YORK  and  BROOKLYN. 

RECEIVED  FIRST  PKIZE  AT  CENTEXSIAL  EXHIBITIOX.  PHILADELPHIA.  ls;6. 

UECEIVED  FIKST  PKIZE  AT  EXHIBITIOX,  MOXTREAL.  CAXADA.  issl  anil  1SS2. 

SOHMER  &  CO,, 


Uasufaeturers  of  Grand,  Sqaare  and  Upright  Fiaacs. 
Warerooms,  149, 151,  153,  155  E.  14th  St.,  New  York. 


TEFFT,  WELLER  &  CO., 


SUCCESSORS  TO 


©EPPT,  Gl^ISWOLiD  Si  do., 

Importers  and  Jobbers  of  Dry  (loods. 


FOR£IGX  AND  DOMESTIC  DRESS  GOODS, 
WOOLENS,  HOSIERY,  FLANNELS, 

NOTIONS,  WHITE  GOODS,  SHAWL1S, 
STAPLE  DOMESTIC  GOODS, 

CARPETS  AND  OIL  CLOTHS. 


326,  328  AND  330  BROADWAY,  NEW  YOEK, 

Between  Worth  and  Pearl  Streets. 

(36) 


lUDSOl  RIVER  BY  DAYLIGHT. 


THE    FAVORITE  STEAMERS 

"ALBANY"  #"G.  YIBBARD." 


GOING  NORTH. 

Leave  A.  M. 

BUOOKLYN  (b)  Anui-x   S  00 

Leave  A.  M. 

NEW  lORK,  Vestry  St    8  3i 

SKW  VOKK,  22(1  Street   9  00 

WKST  POINT   II  50 

.>KWBri!(;iI   12  2.J 

I'OIGIIKKKPSIE   1  15 

RI1I>EBK(  K    2  10 

CATS  KILL   3  25 

III'DSOX   3  45 

ALBANY   0  10 

Arrive  P.  M. 

SAKATOGA  (sippcial  I  rain  i   B  10 

Akkivk  p.  M. 


GOING  SOUTH. 


Leave  A.  M. 

SARATOGA  (Special  Irniiii   7  0« 

Leave  A.  M. 

ALBANY   »  30 

HUDSON  10  40 

t'ATSKILI.    11  OO 

KlIINKBKt  K    12  26 

POrOIIKKKPSIK   1  20 

NKHBrK<ill   2  15 

YVEST  POINT   2  50 

NKW  YOIiK,  22il  St   5  30 

NEtt  YOIiK.  Vestry  St   5  50 

Arkive  p.  M. 

BUOOKLYN  (by  Annex    6  15 

Akkivk  P.  M. 


Meals  on  the  European  Plan,  i  Dining  Saloons  on  Main  Deck. 


Connecting  at  Albany  with  New  York  Central  &  Hudson  River  Railroad 


I 

Thonsaiirt'  Island's  an(|  ^U,  Wostrrn  PointvS. 

With  Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal  Company's  Railroad  for 

„  '  m,  imm, 

MONTREAL  AND  NORTHERN  POINTS. 

ALSO. 

Centra/  Vermont  Route  for  St,  Albans,  St.  Johns  &  Montreal. 


At  NEW  YORK  with  Trains  for 

PHILADELPHIA,BALTIMORE,WASHINGTON 

And  Points  in  the  SOUTH,  WEST  and  EAST. 

A  CHOICE  OF  TWO   ROUTES    TO  THE 

]n:ESOmTS  m  C  ATSKIILILSo 

Through  Tickets  Sold  and  Baggage  Checked  to  Destination. 

C.  B.  VAN  BENTHUYSEN,  Gen.  Ticket  Ag't.   C.  T.  VAN  SANTVOOBD,  Gen.  Manager. 
VESTBY  STREET  PIER,  NEW  YORK. 

(37; 


SAFETY  and  DISPATCH 

United  States 

EXPRESS  COMPAITY. 

jvlx.  the  f»ri]:^cip^l  cities 

IN  THE 

Middle,  Western.  Northwestern  and  Southwestern  States 

AND  THE  TERRITORIES  AND  PACIFIC  SLOPE. 


In  Direct   Connection,  and  under  Through  Rates,  with  Connecting  Lines  extending 
throughout  the  entire  country.  East  and  "West. 

Forwarded  to  All  Parts  of  the  Country  on 

FAST  EXPRESS  TRAINS.:. QUICKEST  POSSIBLE  TIME 


Mso  Connecting  with  FOREIGJf  EXPRESS  LIXES  and  STEAMERS 
for  All  Parts  of  the  World. 


Unexcelled  Facilities  for  the  Transportation  of 

CURRENCY,   GOLD,   SILVER   and  JEWELRY, 

In  Fire-Proof  Safes  in  Charge  of  Special  Messengers. 


Particular  Attention  given  to  the  Collection  of 

Notes,  Drafts,  Accounts,  etc.,  the  Recording  of  Deeds,  Mortgages,  etc. 

And  the  Execution  of  all  sorts  of  Commissions. 


By  Giving  and  Taking  Receipts  and  keeping  Complete  Records  of  all  Articles 
THE  UNITED  STATES  EXPRESS  COMPANY  are  at  all  times  prepared  to 
Prove  the  Delivery  of  Every  Package  entrusted  to  their  care. 

REDUCED  RATES  given  on  Small  Money  Remittances ;  also  on  Packages 
of  Printed  Matter  and  other  Articles  known  as  Third  Class  Mail  Matter. 

For  further  information  and  Rates,  apply  to  any  of  the  Company's  Agents. 

G-EISTEK^I-.  OFFICES  : 

82  BROADWAY,  HEW  YORK  CITY. 

(38) 


CENTRAL 

Cross-Town  E.E.  Co. 


JOHN  B.  SLAWSON,  President. 
M.  I.  MASSON.  Actuary. 

Capital,      ^   ^   -  $600,000 

ROUTE: 

From  foot  East  '23d  Street  to  Avenue  -A.  to 
East  IBtli  Street  to  Broadway  to  East  and 
'West  14:th.  Street  to  Seveiitli  ^venvie,  to  West 
11th  Street  to  AVest  Street  to  Christoplier 
Street.  Returning  through.  West  Street  to 
West  11th  Street  to  Seventh  A.vemie  to  AVest 
and  East  14th  Street  to  Union  Square  to  East 
17th  Street  to  A.venue  A.  to  East  •23d  Street. 


FARE,   5  CENTS 

(39^ 


o<lfISSETS  OYEF^  ONE  I^UNDI^ED  ffllLLION  DOIjLAI^S.C>o 


AL  + 


INSURANCE  COMPANY, 


F.  S.  WINSTON,  President. 


<X^<£>UE  liAI^GESnr  AND  BEST  IN  THE  D501^LD.t>c» 


u<j) 


TO 

X3  XJ  R  O  P  ES 

IN 

SEVEN  DAYS. 

! 

TAKE  THE 

ALASKA 

OR 

ARIZONA 

OV  THE 

GUION  LINE. 

THE    FASTEST  STEAMSHIPS   IN  THE  WORLD. 

Apply  to 

WILLIAMS  GUION, 

2i)  Bi'oadufaf/,  Y. 


11  OS   B^^oad -0^8,37-,  JSTe-xTu-  'X'ox'ls:, 

Manufacturer  of 

HARDWARE. 

OlTIiNT  ELEVATOR  DOOR  FIXTURES.  HOTEL  ANNUNCIATORS.  DIITOT 
lAililU    BURGLAR  AND  FIRE  ALARMS.     APARTMENT  INDICATORS,   i  A  1  lM 

Brass  and  Bronze  Railings  made  to  order  from  Drawing^s. 

ANTIQUE  FURNITURE  TRIMMINGS. 

Factory:  lo7'163  West  20th  Street,   New  York, 

BAEDKR,  ADAMSON  &  CO., 

No.  07  lieekmau  Street,  Neiv  York, 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 


CURLED  HAIR.i^-  Gr  X^XX  JB>  ^^^FLINT  PAPER. 

E mery  Paper  and  E mery  Cloth,  Ground  Flint  and  Cow  Hide  Whips, 
WASHED  CATTLE,  SADDLERS'  AND  PLASTERERS'  HAIR,   MOSS,  Etc. 


HAIR  FELT,  \l 


FOR  COVERING  BOILERS  AND  PIPES, 


D  FOR  LINING  REFRIGERATORS. 


S  T  O       E  S  : 

New  York,  67  Beekman  Street.    Philadelphia.  730  Market  Street.   Boston,  143  Milk  Street. 

CmcAdo,  182  Lake  Street.    Cincinnati,  8  and  10  West  Pearl  Street. 


GiLMAN  COLLAMORE.         VMilflil  N   I  U" V  ^  >^   IW'  J°"^  J-  GIBBONS 


IMPORTERS  OF 


Ears  China,     >  Rich  Cut  Glass, 

Artistic  Faiences,  P^'l^  Plates,  -^l- 
Oriental  Porcelains,  And  Bric-a-Brac, 

19  UNION  SQUARE,  west.  NEW  YORK. 

ESTAPLISHED1844.  CONOVER    &     CO.     ESTABLISHED  1844. 

EESiaWEES  and  MAl'UFACTCEESS  of 

GRATES  AND  FENDERS,  3|e^ 

OPEN   FIRE  PLACES, 

ANDIRONS,  FIRE  SETS,  HODS,  SCREENS,  Etc.,  ;:/'ir.::i"ii..,,„. 

r-TTT  [-      I  .  \cr^      IMPORTED  DIRECTLY  FROM  THE      QA    WPQT  9Qfl 

_J  LJ  iJjLj kTD  MOST  RENOWNED  MAKERS.  OU     VVJjkJl    ^OU.  O-Lt 

Special  Designs  and  Estimates  furnished  when  desired. 

(42) 


J.  R.  RAND,  President.    N,  W.  HORTON,  Secretary.    A,  C.  RAND,  Treasurer. 

RENDROCK  POWDER  COMPANY, 

The  Ingredients  of  the  Patent 

Rackarock  Blasting  Powder, 


AND    DEAL»-:KS  IN 


Electric  Blasting  Machines,  Electric  Fuzes.  Leading  Wire.  Blasting  Caps,  Safety  Fuze.  &,c. 

These  Ingredients  arc  not  explosive  until  combined.  Can  be  (orwardcd  by  express  or  fast  frcit;ht  if  desirable. 
Approximate  Nitro  Glycerine  in  strength. 


RAND  DRILL  COMPANY, 


MANUKACriKIiKS  OF 


tgek  nriUs,  Aiy  Compressor^ 


AND  GENERAL  MINING  MACHINERY,  BLASTING  BATTERIES,  FUZE  AND  CAPS. 

240  BROADWAY.  NEW  YORK. 

A.  C.  RAND,  President.     N.  W.  HORTON,  Sup't.     J.  R.  RAND,  Sec'y  and  Treas. 

W.  L.  STRONG  &  CO., 

Rbw  yoi^i^,  Boston  and  Philadelphia, 

FOR  THE  PRODUCTIONS  OF  THE  FOLLOWING  MILLS: 

BAIiLAKD  VALE  MILLS.      C.  H.  &  F.  H.  STOTT.      WAUMBECK  CO- 
NORWAY  PLAINS  CO.       ELIAS  TITUS  &  SONS.       B.  LUCAS  &  CO. 
NIANTIC  MILLS  CO.  CLINTON  MILLS  CO. 

SAMUEL  GREENWOOD  &  SONS. 

eiUFQllII  HIE  WMITE  BLMKETS. 

CONESTOCA  STEAM  MILLS' 

Fine  Brown  Cottons  and  Satteen  Jeans. 

New  Elngland  Bunting:  C!o. 


SPECIALTIES  IN  DRESS  GOODS. 


(43) 


SWEET  C^l^OE^E, 

ST.  JAMES,  &c. 


Straight  Cut  in  Eull  Dress  Package 

THE  FIjYEST  cigarette  IjX  THE  WOULD. 

r 

SUGGESSOI^S  TO 


New  York,  Baltimore  and  Danville. 


Each  Cigarette  bears  (y/i^n^t^^^/Jrc^.  facsimile  signature 


Sold  by  Dealers  Ihroughout  the  World. 


(44) 


AMEHICAN  EXPHESS  CO. 

NLW  V(1RK  CI  I  V  t)l  l  K  i:S: 

65  Broadway,  near  Wall  St.  27  East  14th  St..  near  Union  sq. 

40  Hudson  St..  near  Duane.  '    940  Broadway.  Cor.  22d  St. 

302  Canal  St..  near  Broadway.  30th  St.,  H.  R.  R.  R.  Depot. 

696  Broadway,  cor.  Fourth  St.  '    45th  St.  opp.  Grand  Central  Depot. 

407  Madison  Ave.,  Cor.  48th  St. 

Forwarders  by  the  Fastest  Passenger  and  Special  Express  Trains 

lU-.TW  r.KN  Al  l.  Till-;  I'klNCirAI,  I  I  1  IKS  IN   I  llF. 

New  England,  Middle  and  Western  States. 

FROM  NEW  YORK  CITY 

 VIA  

New  York  Central  and  Hudson  River  R.  R. 

TO  THE  WEST  BY 

SIM:(  lAL  A3IERICAN  EXPRESS  TRAINS, 

Which  carry  NO  PASSENGERS,  and  make  better  time  than  passenger  trains- 
Running  nearly  40  miles  per  hour,  N  Y.  to  Buffalo,  Cleveland,  etc. 

American  Express  Company  Money  Orders.  Cheap,  Safe  and  Convenient,  issued  for  an^ 
amount  from  $1.00  to  ^50.00,  payable  either  to  Order  or  to  Bearer  at  6,500  places  in  the  Eastern, 
Middle,  Western  and  Southwestern  States,  the  Territories,  Pacific  Coast,  Mexico,  and  the 
Canadas.  Reckii'ts  Given,  and  if  Orders  are  Lost,  Money  Refunded.  Orders  are 
also  negotiable  at  banks.  Orders  sold  at  all  Offices  of  the  Company  in  the  United  States. 
Rates — •'?5,  5c.  |  $10,  8c.  |  $20,  loc.  |  $30,  12c.  |  I40,  15c.  |  $50,  20c. 

American  Express  Company  Transfers  Money  by  Telegraph  between  all  its  important  city 
and  village  agencies.  Low  Rates  and  Prompt  Service.  Payment  of  money  made,  when 
requested,  at  local  addresses.  Rates — In  addition  to  the  cost  of  telegraph  service,  for  sums 
of  $100  or  less,  one  per  cent.  Over  $100  to  $200,  $1.25  |  $2oo  to  $300,  $1.50  |  ^300  to 
$400,  !j!i.75  I  ^400  to  500,  $2.00.    Rates  for  larger  amounts,  apply  to  Agents. 

American  Express  Company.  Reduction  in  Rates  for  Currency  or  Gold  Coin  Remit- 
tances between  nearly  5,000  places  reached  direct  by  the  American  Express  Company,  in  the 
Eastern,  Middle  and  Western  States,  and  the  Canadas  ;  also  to  offices  of  nearly  all  connecting 

lines.   Lowest  ani  Highest  Charges,  according  to  Distance  Carried— 

$200.  .25  to  85c.    $250.  .25c.  to-ti-oo. 
225.  .25  to  90c.     300.  .25c.  to *i. 25. 


$20  or  less,  15c. 

40  20c. 

50  25c. 


S70.  .25  to  30c. 
80. .  25  to  40c. 
100.  .25  to  45c. 


•S125 .  .  25  to  50c. 
150.  .25  to  60c. 
175  -25  to  75c. 


1^  Larger  Sums  in  Mug  i  Smaller  Proportion. 


N.  B. — Money  Packages  are  delivered,  as  addressed,  within  the  Company's  delivery  limits 
of  every  city  and  village  agency,  free  of  charge. 

Merchandise  Parcel  Rates. — The  attention  of  shippers  is  respectfully  called  to  the  follow- 
ing table  of  approximated  rates  for  the  carriage  of  small  packages  of  merchandise.    These  rates 
are  the  i.ovvEsr  and  highest  charges  made,  according  to  the  distance  packages  are  carried,  and 
apply  between  nearly  5,000  places  reached  direct  by  this  Company  in  the  United  States. 
I  lb.  .25c.  I  2  lbs.  .25  to  30c.  !  3  lbs.  .25  to  45c.  I  4  lbs.  .25  to  60c.  |  5  lbs.  .25  to  -5c. 

7  lbs  25c.  to  ijsi.oo. 

By  agreement,  and  arrangements  made  for  Through  Way  Billing,  the  above  rates  also  apply 
to  places  reached  by  nearly  every  connecting  express  company  in  the  Northern  States  and 
Territories. 

us; 


(ON  THE  EUROPEAN  PLAN), 

102,  104  aixa.  106  'ST'eseisr  Steee-b, 

Through  to  98  Barclay  St.    Opposite  Washington  Market.    Between  Washington  and  West  Sts. 


ENTIRE  HOUSE  OPEN  DAY  AND  NIGHT, 

And  lighted  in  its  entirety  by  the  Edison  System  for  Isolated  Lighting. 

200  Rooms— 50  cents,  75  cents  and  $1.00  per  day;  $2.00,  $3.00  and  $3.50  pe;  week,  and 
upwards,  according  to  location,  etc. 
THE  LARGEST  DINING  ROOMS  IN  NEW  YORK— PERFECT  VENTILATION. 

Samivel  H.  Everett,  Proprietor. 

(4(>) 


H.  Clausen  &  Son  Brewing  Co., 


NEW  YORK  CITY. 

Brewers  of 


Superior. iPalc  timber  cllcs  and  iPortcr, 

[ast  lodia  Pale  Ale  anij  Aoierican  Stoot, 


ALSO 


CHAMPAGNE  ^  LAGER  +  BEER, 

For  Draught  and  Bottling  Use. 


Sfiippirig  Orders  Solicited  and  Proniptlii  Executed  if  covered  hy  Draft 
on  .A'.  Y.  City  Bank,  or  accomfjani  d  with  Satisfactory 
References. 

WE  MAKE  A  SPECIALTY  OF  BREWING 

The  Celebrated  Export  Champagne  Lager  Beer,  East  India 
Pale  Ale  and  American  Stout, 

BOTTLED  BY  THE 

-^^PHCENIX  BOTTLING  COMPAN Y,:i«- 

886  to  890  Second  Avenue,  New  York. 


AVe  Koceived  FIKST  riilZKS  at 

CENTENNIAL  EXHIBITION,  Philadelphia.  1876. 

PARIS  EXPOSITION.  1878. 

CARACAS.  VENEZUELA.  EXHIBITION.  1883. 

SAN  FRANCISCO  EXHIBITION,  1883, 
And  at  the  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE  FAIR  for  the  last  four  successive  years. 


Shipments  of  our  Bottled  Beer  to  Central  and  South  America, 
West  Indies,  Australia,  and  other  Foreign  Countries,  also  all 
parts  of  the  United  States,  attest  to  the  reputation  and  keeping 
qualities  of  our  Beers. 


(47i 


OR., 


THE  8T0RY  OF  THE  SEWING  MACHINE. 

A  handso7ne  little  painphlet,  illumiiiated  cover, 
with  numerous  engravings^ 

WILL  BE 

G-IYEN  AWAY 

to  any  adult  person  calling  for  it,  at  any 
branch  or  sub-ofice  of  the 

Singer  Mainifacturing  Company, 

or  will  be   sent  by   mail,  post-paid,  to  any 
person  living  at  a  distance  from 
our  offices. 

Tie  SiGEB  MWic TOEING  Co. 

Principal  Office,  34  Umon  Square, 


NEW  YORK. 

(48) 


G.  AMSINCK  &  CO. 

148  and  150  Pearl  Street,  New  York. 
SOLE  AGENTS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  CANADA  FOR 

IVJDOIV  DE  X.  HARMONY       CO  Ca,/iz. 

THOMAS  HINE       CO  Cognac. 

A.  PELLEVOISIN  La  Rochelle. 

FAG£:S  &'  CO  Tarragona. 

JOAQUIN  RIUS  MONTANER  

LEACH,  GIRO       CO   Alicante. 

TRE  YERAN  FR^RES  Bordeaux . 

PAUL  EMILE  THOMAS  Meze. 

PA  ULIN  ARNA  UD    " 

/.  A  LB  RAND  Narbonne. 

EST^VE  ^  SI  NOT  Ceite. 

MIG  UEL  DE  SO  UZA  G  UEDES.  Oporto. 

FOR  TO,  CHAM  ICO,  SON       SILVA   " 

P.  J.   VANDERBURG  Schiedam. 

HOX-iIDERS  OIF 

A.  GUCKENHEIMER  &  BROS.,  Pure  Rye  Pennsylvania  Whiskies. 

PENNSYLVANIA  DISTILLING  CO.,  "  Montrose "  Pure  Rye  and  Bourbon 

Whiskies. 

THE  NEWCOMB  BUCHANAN  CO.,  Louisville,  Ky. 
NELSON,  ANDERSON,  BUCHANAN,  Bourbon  and  Rye  Whiskies. 

(49) 


(so) 


R.  HOE  &  CO, 

MA\UKA(  TURK 

Patent  Printing  Presses 

Wl^lCH  PRINT  FROM  A  ROLL  OF  PAPER, 

Either  from  Type  Forms  or  Stereotype  Plates, 

AT  A  SPEED  OF  30,000  PERFECTED  COPIES  AN  HOUR, 

With  or  Without  Folding  Apparatus. 

Also  Less  Expensive  Machines  of  same  descrip- 
tion, where  such  great  speed  and  Large 
production  are  not  required. 


PATENT  DOUBLE  AND  SINGLE  CYLINDER  PRESSES, 

For  Newspaper,  Book  and  Job  Work. 
PATENT  STOP  CYLINDER  PRESSES,  For  Book  Work. 

PATENT  SINGLE  CYLINDER  PRESSES,  For  Book  Work. 

PATENT  STOP  CYLINDER  LITHOGRAPHIC  PRESSES. 
PATENT  SINGLE  CYLINDER  TWO-REVOLUTION  PRESSES,  For  Book  Work. 
PATENT  SINGLE  LARGE  CYLINDER,  For  Job  Work. 

ADAMS'  BED  AND  PLATEN  BOOK  PRESSES. 


Printing  Machinery  and  Printing  Materials  of  every  descrip- 
tion, all  manufactured  in  our  own  Works,  under  our  own  imme- 
diate supervision  from  improved  designs,  at  prices  in  accordance 
with  their  quality  and  the  times,  and  warranted  in  every  case  to 
he  of  superior  design,  best  material  and  excellent  workmanship. 

Illustrated  catalogues  with  prices  may  he  had  on  application, 
and  the  machines  may  be  seen  at  our  works  in  operation  and  in 
process  of  construction. 

R.  HOE  &  CO., 

504  Grand  Street,     -       -    New  York  City. 

15'; 


SIMPSON,  SPENCE   &  YOUNG, 

Steamship  A^g^^^s  and  S^ip  Brokers, 

78  and  80  BROAri  Street,  New  York.     |     12  Great  St.  Helen's,  London. 
Guildhall  Chambers,  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

AGENTS  irOR   

ARROW  LINE,       -       -       Steamers  to  ,   .       -  Leith. 

FURNESS  LINE,    ■       .       .       "  .     Newcastle-on-Tyne  and  Dundee. 

CAMBRIAN  LINE,        -      -       "  Portishead  Dock  and  Swansea. 

BLAIK'S  LINE,  .  -  .  "  BrazU. 
STETTIN  LLOYD  LINE,     ■       "  ...    Stettin  and  Copenhagen. 

DIRECT  SWEDISH  LINE,  Stockholm,  Gothenburg  and  Malmo. 


New  York  Cab  Company,  Limited. 

SXJCCESSORS  TO 

RYERSON  &  BROWN, 


Nos.  19  to  25  East  12th  Street,  Nos.  116  to  130  West  32d  Street, 

Fifth  Avenue,  Corner  44th  Street,  Nos.  2,  4  and  6  West  45th  Street, 

American  Horse  Exchange,  B'way  cor.  50th  St.,  Nos.  221  and  223  West  53d  Street, 

And  at  the  Windsor  Hotel. 


In  addition  to  the  regular  Livery  Business  as  heretofore  carried  on  by  Ryerson  &  Brown,  this 

Company  hac  established  a 

Cheap  C/b  Service  for  the  City  of  f(EW  Yo^k. 

These  Cabs  have  proved  a  success,  and  already  many  of  the  Old  City  Cabs  have  been 
painted  to  imitate  ours.   

Be  sure  that  the  TRADE  MARK  of  our  Company  is  on  the 
back  Panel  of  the  Cab.    All  others  are  Bogus. 

Wm.  p.  St.  John,  President.  Chas.  P   Burdett.  Vice-President.  Fred'k  B.  Schknck,  Cashier- 

THE  MERCANTILE  NATIONAL  BANK 

OF   THE    CITY    OF    NEW  YORK, 

CAPITAL,         -  -  $1.000,000. 

Great  Western  iSespatch  and  South  Shore  Uine 

"Vxa  Erie  Eail^wajr, 

TO  ALL  POINTS  WEST,  NORTH-WEST  and  SOUTH-WEST. 

For  Rates  of  Freight  and  Bills  Lading,  apply  to 

H.  R.  DUVAL,  Gen'l  Manager,  T.  S.  DUMONT,  Gen'l  Agent, 

6  Bowling  Green,  N.  Y.        ,  336  Broadway,  N.  Y. 

(52) 


ATLAS  LINE  OF  MAIL  STEAMERS 

^   TO  THE  

West  Indies  and  South  America,  Jamaica,  Hayti, 
Porto  Rico,  United  States  of  Columbia  and  South  America. 

PIM,  FORWOOD  !c  CO..  Agents.  22  Sc  23  Stcte  St..  New  York. 

El.  I=L.  IDXJIFLKLEE   db  OO., 
Indigo  and  Spice  Importers, 

Spice  Grinders,  Mustard  Manufacturers 

i:{5,  i:i7  <f  Water  Street,  Xeiv  York. 

JACOB  S.  BERNHEIMER  8l  BRO., 

MANUFACTURERS  AND 

CONVERTERS  OF  COTTON  GOODS, 

For  Home  and  Export  Trade, 
Cor.  White  &  Church  Streets, 

JACOB  S.  BERNHEIMER.  ^ 

MAYER  S.  BP:RNHEIMER.  -^^  O'ai,-^-. 

Theodore  B.  Starr, 

206  Fifth  Avenue,  MADISON  SQUARE,  New  York, 

IMFORTER  AND  MANUFACTURER. 

Choice  DiamonDc, 
Rare  Pearls, 
Rubies, 
Sapphires, 
Emerald.s, 

Gold 
Jewklr V 


Watches, 
Solid  Silverware, 
Decorative  Porcelain, 
Artistic  Bronzes, 

Mantel  Sets,  Clocks. 

Original  Designs  of  Rich  Jewelry, 

Special  attention  given  to  the  remounting  of  family  jewels. 

Goods  sent  on  approval,  satisfactory  references  being  givm, 

FREE  INSPECTION  OF  STOCK  INVITED. 

(53) 


STUBBORN  FACTS 

are  that  the  justly  famous  cigars  made  by  the  celebrated  manufacturers. 

Straiton  &  Stonn, 

are  better  than  those  produced  by  any  other  manufacturers.  For  the  fol- 
lowing reasons : — 

They  aim  at  the  highest  standard,  and  when  reached  they  never  allow 
them  to  deteriorate  under  any  circumstances.  The  consumers'  wants  are 
always  in  view.  The  dealer  has  only  to  keep  the  goods  in  stock  to  insure 
to  himself  a  steady  reliable  trade.  We 

(SHALLBNGB    IPHB  ^OI^IiD 

to  produce  goods  BETTER,  more  RELIABLE,  and  REGULAR.  Dealers 
supplied  by 

R.  C.  BROWN  &  CO., 

94   and   96  West   Broadway,  NEW  VORK. 


HERRING'S  SAFES. 

THE   WORLD'S  CHAMPIONS! 

Medals  Awarded  at  International  Exhibitions. 

1851,   1853,   1867,   187«,   1878,   1871),  1880, 

London,    Paris,    New  York,    Philadelphia,    Sydney,  N.  S.  W.. 

Melbourne,  etc. 

HERRIXG  &  CO.,  251  and  252  Broadway,  New  York.  * 

A.  S.  BARNES  &  CO., 

PUBLISHERS  OF  THE 

Mional  Series  of  School  \t%  and  Wholesale  iookselkrs  anil  Slaiiosers 

111  AND  113  William  Street,  cor.  John,  Nev/ York. 

Lincoln  Safe  Deposit  Company  and  Fire-Proof  Storage  Warehouse, 

31i  to  38  East  4:^tl  St.,  opposite  Oi-ancl  Central  Depot. 

BlTRGI-AIt  AND  FIItK-FK<mF  BOXKS,  ISIO.OO  to  $:<00.00  TKK  YEAR. 

Packages  of  Silver.  Plate,  etc.,  stored  under  gii.-irantee.  Unrivalled  Fire  Proof  Storage  tor  Furniture.  Work* 
of  Art.  Thcatrlc.ll  Properties,  etc.  TKUNK  STORAGE  A  SPECIALTY.  Building  approved  by  Fir« 
Commissioners  and  Inspector  of  Buildings. 


.   (9HEMI6AL  HaTIONAL  BANI^, 

270  BRO-A-IDW^-Z-- 
CAPITAL,  $300,000.  SURPLUS  AND  PROFIT,  $3,750,000. 

'  GEO.  G.  WILLIAMS.  President.  W.  J.  QUINLAN.  Jr..  Cashier. 

RiNTH  Rational  Bani^, 

CAPITAL,  -----  $750,000. 
SURPLUS  AND  PROFITS,   -  203,207. 

JOHN  T.  HILL,  Pres't.      GARDNER  R.  COLBY.  Vice-Prest.      H,  H.  NAZRO.  CashV. 

HOME  ~ 

INSURANCE  COMPANY  OF  NEW  YORK, 

Ollice,   IVo.    119  33i'oa,clway. 

SIXTIETH  SEMI-ANNUAL  STATEMENT, 
Showing  the  Condition  of  the  Company  on  the  First  day  of 

JULY,  1SS3. 

CASH  CAPITAL,          ....  $3,000,000  00 

Reserve  for  Unearned  Premiums,       -  2,212,267  00 

Reserve  for  Unpaid  Losses  and  Claims,   -  209,711  21 

Net  Surplus,   1,749,292  61 

CASH  ASSETS,        .         -        .        .  $7,171,270  82 


J.  H.  WASHBURN,  Secretary.  CHAS.  J.  MARTIN,  President. 

T.  B.  GREENE,     \  D.  A.  HEALD,  Vice-Pres't. 

r  Ass't  See's. 
W.  L.  BIGELOW.  \ 

PH.  ^&  WM.  EBLING, 

Ale,  Lager  Beer  Brewers,  and  Malsters, 

Corner  156th  St.  and  St.  Ann's  Avenue, 

MORRISANIA.  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


Sjtecial  Attention  Given  to 

BOTTLING  AND  SHIPPING  TRADE. 


GILSEY  HOUSE,  ■ 


Cor.  Broadway  and  29th  St. 


New  York. 


J.  H.  Breslin  &  Bro.,  Proprietors. 

VICTORIA  HOTEL, 

Fifth  Ave.,  Broadway  and  27th  St.,  New  York. 


'  Frank  Wrisley  &  Co., Proprietors. 

HOTEL  ST.  MARC, 


Fifth  Avenue,  cor.  39th  St., 


New  York. 


DEVINE  &  GILLIS. 


BclYGdcrG  V  §OUSG, 

Cor,  Fourth  ^ve.  aijd  18tlj  St., 


JOS.  WEHRLE,  Prop. 


Centrally  located  near  Union  Square,  conTcn- 
Icnt  to  all  Ktiilronds,  Cars,  Stages,  and  all  prin- 
cipal places  of  Aniiisenieut. 

A  flrst-rlass  Restaurant  and  CM  attached  to 
the  house. 

All  modern  langunces  are  spoken  by  the  Pro- 
p:ietor  and  attendants. 


PIANO-FORTES, 

The  Standard  Piano  of  the  World. 

^AI^EI^OOMS  : 
'Steinway  Hall,  Nos.  107.  109  and  111  E.  14th  St., 

NEW  YORK. 


^57) 


HERMANN 


BURR  SON  S  GO, 

:E=*roiDrletoi's, 

221, 223, 225, 227, 232  and  234  W.  18th  St., 
NEW  YORK. 


(58) 


KUHN,  LOEB  &  CO,, 


No.  31   NASSAU  STREET, 


NEW  YORK  CITY. 


(SQ) 


L.  H.  ROEMER  &  CO., 

 SUCCESSORS  TO  

Ale  and  Porter  Brewers, 

 347-355  WEST  44th  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 

D.  H.  Mc  Alpin  &  Co 

MANUFACTURERS  OP 

VIRGIN  LEAF  AND  NAVY 
Fine  Cut  Chewing  and  Shield  Plug, 

TOBACCOS. 

150  Avenue    D,   corner   Tenth  Street, 

NEW  YORK. 


DAVID  G.  YDENGLING,  Jr., 

|I;tnlrattan  §>iaiwir, 


128th  Street  and  Tenth  Avenue, 
NEW  YORK. 


(6i) 


TOSEPH  GILLOTTS 

Med  ^m^. 


THE  MOST  PERFECT  OF  PENS. 


PoR  PineWriting, 

N??  1-303-170- 


'^//•/y^  J^°"rHER  STYLES  TO  SUlI 

SOLD  liY  ALL  DEALERS  THROUGHOUT  THE  WORLD 


ALL  HANDS.)   "£0^'  t^"^' 

Wholesale  Warehouse,  91  John  Street,  New  York. 


For  Sale  by  all  Leading  Dealers. 


AMMIDOWN  &  SMITH, 

Ory  Goods  Cowtwtiasion  MerckmniB^ 

87  ^  89  LXEONAI^D  StI^EEIP,    -     -     HEW  yOI^I^. 

Kdward  H.  Ammidown.  Alrert  D.  Smith. 

NEW  YORK  MUTUAL  INSURANCE  CO. 

No.   61   "Williiirn   street,   New  Yorli. 
ASSETS.  JANUARY  1st,  1885,      -      -      -  $708,433.64. 
Marine  Insurance  on  Favorable  Terms.        Certificates  Issued  J'ajable  Abroad. 

EDWARD  LARAQUE,  Secretary.  THEO.  B.  BLEECKER,  Jr.,  President. 

{jg^  This  ('oiii|iiiuv  isNUcs  Cert itli'titos  of  Insuninre.  losses  piiviililp  in  lA)ii(lon,  at  the  Ilinliinc  House 
of  l>KNMSTOrN.  CliO'SS  A  <'().  Oritfiiiiillr  Chartered  as  a  Stork  Company  in  ll'.ls.  stock  paid  off  and 
JIutual  SyNteiu  Adopted  in  IS51. 

(62) 


«^  NOTICE.  -^SH 

When  you  want  a  choice  smoke,  ask  your  dealer  for 
one  of  the  American  News  Compaiiy's 

TaANHATTA   Sc.  CIGARS. 

You  will  find  the  flavor  equal  to  most  of  the  1  Oc,  and 
superior-  to  any  of  the  Sc.  cigars  sold  in 
your  section. 

THE  AMERICAN  NEWS  COMPANY,  :{9  and  +1  Chambers  St.,  N.Y. 
"  GET  THE  BEST."   The  only  LAEGE  TYPE  Edition  of 

EXCELSIOR  EDITION. 

Price  per  volume,  in  cloth  binding   8i  5"  I    Price  per  sci,  full  Russia,  gilt  edges   50.00 

'■     per  set  (in  neat  box)   22.50  |       "        "       half  calf  or  half  morocco   50.00 

This  edition  in  size  of  type,  page,  and  general  style,  excels  all  others.  In  fact  it  is  in  the 
words  of  Charles  Dickens  "  The  Best  Edition  of  luy  Books." 

StY  spi'ciiiieii  />ii,^i\  sfio~vli!^^  style  of  type,  sizi-  0/ pa:^c-,  etc. 

THE  EXCELSIOR  EDITION  OF  STANDARD  TWELVEMOS. 

In  large  l2mo  Volumes  of  uniform  thickness,  printed  from  New  Plates,  011  -^ood  paper,  fully 
illustrated,  and  handsomely  bound,  extra  cloth,  black  and  gold  side  and  back  dies.  The  volumes 
in  this  series  are  Complete  and  Unabridged,  and  are  issued  at  the  low  price  of  $I.oo  per  volume, 
retail. 

L/ST  OF  ABOVE  SENT  ON  APPLICATION. 

THE  AMERICAN  NEWS  COMPANY,  39  an<l      Cliaiiibors  St.,  N.  Y. 

ST.  DENIS  HOTEL  and  TAYLOR'S  RESTAURANT 

EUROPEAN  +  PLAN.  '^-^ 

Central  Location. 
WILLIAM  TAYLOR,  Proprietor. 


WALKER  &  BRESNAN, 

S-iiCcesso^r's  to  E..  F.  COLE  &  CO., 

^rriutcrs'  'funu'sOiiuj  Wnrcfjousc 

201-205  William  Sh-eet,  15  and  17  Frank foH  Street. 
NEW  YORK. 

Leads.  Brass  Rules,  Galleys,  Metal  Furniture  and  Quotations.     Boxvirood  for  Engravers'  Use. 

Blocking.  Mortising,  etc. 
(63) 


D.  DE  Castro  &  Co. 


 :  AND  :  

(Commission  |12ppr§flnh, 

54  WILLIAM  STREET, 

NEW  YORK, 

Inn  -pox*l3ex's    o±  Co±±03, 

Cocoa,  Cochineal,  Dyewoods,  Indigo, 

India  ^ubbGr,  ivorij  Suts,  f  oruYiaii  Bark,  Sides  and  §kii|s, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PRODUCTS  OF 
Central  America,  United  States  of  Columbia, 

VENEZUELA,  BRAZIL  and  the  WEST  COAST  OF 
SOUTH  AMERICA. 


Before  you  Decorate  your  house,  see  the  New  Scries  of  Designs  of 

FR.  BECK  &  CO., 


MANUFACTURERS  OK 


Also,  Special  Novelties  in  Wall  Papers 

GIVING    RICH    AND    ARTISTIC    EFFECTS   AT    MODERATE  PRICES. 

[From  the  Xeiv  York  Tribune^  Dec.  :r4,  1884.] 
"  Messrs.  Kk.  Ukck  «fc  Co.  arc  tlic  only  firm  in  a  position  to  i^uarantcc  Wall  Papers  /rct-  Jrottt  ArseuiL 

UITCHUSTA-WALTOIT. 

lyatev-l'roof.         Durable.  Sanitarf/. 

The  refinement  of  all  Wall    Decorations.      The  combination  of 
Lincrusta-Walton  and  Wall  Papers  now  in  universal  use. 

JI  tt  li  li/'fictori/   tiiid   S/toirr-04nii  .H  : 

5tli  Aye.  aud  30tli  St,,  NEW  YORK.  ]tli  A?e.  aM  29tli  St. 

N.n.— I'aiiels,  ri!i<|Ufs,  Medallions  and  Itorder.s,  forinlnii  beautiful  Art  Works  In  IJncrusta. 

GALLATIN  NATIONAL  BANK, 

CAPITAL,       -     -      $1,000,000.      I      SURPLUS,  etc.,       -  $954,600. 

 OFFICERS.   

Fred'k  D.  Tappen,  President.           Alex.  H.  Stevens.  Vice-President.  Akthur  W.  Shekman,  Cashier. 

  DIRECTORS.  

Fred'k  D.  Tappen.             Adrian  Isei  in,  Jr.           Fred'k  W.  Stevens.  Alfred  Rocsevelt. 

Wm.  W.  Astok.                    Thomas  Drnnv.               Alex.  H.  Stkvens.  M.  Bavaru  Hrown. 

BLISS,  FABYAN  &  CO., 

DRY^gOODS  ^-  gOMMISSlON  *  MERgHANTg, 

32  TO  36  Thomas  Street, 
117  TO  119  DuANE  Street, 

NEW  YORK. 

William  M.  Bliss,  President.  Willia.m  L.  Strong,  Vice-President.  Edw.  Skillin,  Cashier. 

THE  CENTRAL  NATIONAL  BANK  OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK, 

320  and  322  Broadway. 
CAPITAL,  (S3,00(),000  |  .SCK PUTS  FUND  and  PKOFIT.S.  S5C6,S34.40 

DIRECTORS. 

Willi.-im  A.  Wheelock.  James  W.  Smith.  F.lias  S .  Hipgins.  Edwin  F  Knowlton. 

Simon  Hernheimer.  lohn  Byers.  Morris  Franklin.  Edward  C.  Sampson 

James  M.  Dunbar.  William  M.  Bliss.  William  L.  Strong. 

^65) 


JOHN  C.  DE  LA  VERGNE,  Pres't.         CHAS.  A.  STERLING,  Vice  Pres't.         HENRY  W.  GUERNSEY,  Sec'y  and  Treat 

He  De  La  Ifergije  Refrigerating  Hacliine  Co., 

MANUFACTURliRS  OF 

ReWgepafeiilg  mi  fee  ^Tlaehi 


ANHYDROUS  AMMONIA. 


153,  155,  157,  159,  161  Bank  St., 


Telephone,  Spring  85. 


P4 

C/3 


£■0  = 


S  f-  a 

or  S 


3  S 
►J 


111 


c  u 

W  c  in 


=  5  a 

3  «CJ 


2  I 


o  §  safe 

fo^  ■ 
tit  sa 

A  "5  c  p  —  te 
"     a-  o  ^ 


^  s  c-o   S  — 

3  =2f«  S| 


CO 

I— 


3S 


sag 
-65 


«  v  "   S  p 


c  ;^'s5 

5.  oq"  "  o  2} 

2  ii 


fc-  X  a;  3 


=  ^  C3  P  r> 

J,  «  a  *  i-  S 
=  ■3:  o  2  ^ 

— 4>5  o 


2  ;>i 


•c5  g'g 


^^6hE  liANGHAM.^^ 


Fifth  Avenue  and  Fifty-second  St.,  New  York. 

The  favorite  Family  Hotel  of  the  Metropolis. 
J^erfect  in  all  vippointments.  E.  N.  WILSON,  Proprietor. 


GQanhansbt  I70USB.  "."^^cz, 

  ^  

SHELTEIEl  ISL^nsro,  L.  I.,  ZST.  "ST. 

One  of  the  Largest,  viost  Atti'active  mid  Fas] li 01  table  Sumniei'  Resorts 

along  the  Atlantic  Coast. 

E   N.  WILSON,  Proprietor. 

(66) 


CHARLES  SCRIBNERS'  SONS 

AND 

SCRIBNER  &  WELFORD, 

Nos.  743  &  745  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK, 

HAVK  KOR  SALt;  liVKRY  IMPORTANT 

merican  and  J^nglish  f^ook 


RECENTLY  PUBLISHED,  AND 

Stciiidard  Works  in  Cloth  and  Fine  Bindings 

IN  GREAT  VARIETY. 

ALSO,  RARE  AND    UNIQUE    VOLUMES,  EXTRA  LLLUSTRATED  WORKS, 
AND  BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  TREASURES  OE  EVERY  ORDER. 

THE  PRlCliS  ARE   MODERATE,  AND   THE   ASSORTMENT    INCLUDES  THE  CHEAPEST  AS  WELL  AS 
THE  FINEST  EDITIONS.     CATALOGUES  SENT  FREE  ON  APPLICATION. 


SCRIBNERS',  743  Sc  745  Broadway,  New  York  City. 

THE  BEST  THING  KNOWN 

FOR 

WA5HlFG#BLEjlG|IIflG 

In  Hard  or  Soft.  Hot  or  Cold  Water. 

SAVES  LABOR,  TIME  AND  SOAP 

Amazingly,  and  gives  universal  satisfaction.  No  family 
rich  or  poor  should  be  without  it.    Sold  by  all  Grocers. 

Beware  of  Imitations  well  designed  to  Mislead. 

IS  the  only  SAFE  laborsavini;  com- 
pound, and  always    bears  the  symbol 


PEARLlNf 


prini  llir  is  the  only  SAFE  l.ibor  saving  com- 
1  LHnLlIlL  pound,  and  .ilwavs    bears  the  svmbol 

^^'^  JAMES  PYLE,  NEW  YORK. 


Geo.  p.  Sghastby  ^  @o., 

Desigmei^s  and  (Qanupagtui^ei^s  op 

In(FFioF  Mm\  ^orh  anil  HFrorations, 

Fagtoi^y  and  ^Oai^ei^ooms, 

Bl^OADWAY  AND  g3D  STREET. 

(67,) 


Z  Hbw  Sti^bbt,  Hew  yor^p^. 


Generally  acknowledged  to  be  the  best  ever  offered  in  this  market. 

 TIMOTHY  STEVENS,  Proprietor. 

Peters  &  Calhoun  Co,, 


MANUFACTURF.RS  AND  IMPORTERS  OF 


FOR  HOME  AND  FOREIGN  MARKETS. 


One  Block  above  Grand  Central  Hoteu 


CONTRACTORS  TO  THE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


MANUFACTURFRS  OF 


IIMI  lUBlll  mms  OF  lYEBY  BISCBIPTIOl. 


CLOTHING, 
BOOTS  AND  SHOES, 
BALLS  AND  TOYS. 


RUBBER 


I  SPORTING  OUTFITS, 
i       FANCY  GOODS, 
Etc.        Etc.  Etc. 


FULL  LINE  OF  EVERYTHING  M/\DE  OF  INDIA  RUBBER. 
Cor.  of  Broadway  and  G-rand  St.,  New  York. 


JUSTAJiLIXHEIt  1S38. 
(68) 


§aplem  Gas  liighfe  GompaFiv^ 

OpPIGB,  2084  ©HII^D  flVENUB, 

elo:tPv>^Vc^l-  co;^.  1  I4l{'i  Street. 

District,  from  79th  St.  to  Kings  Bridge. 


(6q) 


Is  made  from  Pure  Orange  County  Cream,  and  is  the  BEST  and  most  popular  Ice  Cream 
in  the  World.    TRY  IT,  AND  YOU  WILL  USE  NO  OTHER  I 

PATENT  SUPER-FROZEN  BRICKS  OF  ICE  CREAM  FOR 

CHupES,  Fairs,  Festiy/ls  and  to  Carry  Home,  a  Specialty. 


3De;pot;s  = 


WILL.   ItEEi*   HArtr>  IIOTJR. 


305  Foium  A?euiie,  1288  Broaclway,  15  Chatliai  St.,  110  E.  125tli  St.,  New  York, 

And  453  PULTON  STREET,  BROOKLYN. 


DAVIS  COLLAMORE  &  CO., 

921  BROADWAr,  cor.  21st  STREET  and  151  FIFTH  AVENUE,  connecting. 


SOUF», 

FISH, 

RO^ST 

AND 

OA-ME  PLATES 


CO 


is 


Entree 

AND 

De.ssert  Flates. 
_A.fter-Diniier 
Cofi'ees. 


Pure  Cut  Crystal  Glass  in  Sets  or  by  the  Piece. 

Rich  Cut  Berry  Bowls,    Fruit  Stands,  Olive  Dishes,  &c. 
In  New  and  Elegant  Forms.    Quality  Unexcelled. 

F/INCr  VASES,  BOHEMIAN  GLASS,  HAVILAND  CHINA. 
DAVIS,  COLLAMORE  &  CO., 

BROADWAY,   corner  21st  Street,   NEW  YORK. 

Hie  following  serials,  piiblishetl  in  pnmphlet-form,  are  prese»te<l  tn  nil  j>tirchasers  of 
NEW   YORK   FAMILY   STOKY'   PAPER   FROM    .".82  IPW.ARD. 
Xcnuc  yoitr  order  tvith  }/oiir  Newsdealer,  and  he  will  obtain  the  paper  aii-l  the  entire  list 
of  eighteen  books  for  yon.    Remember  that  there  is  no  extra  charge  for  tin-  books. 

MISCELLANEOUS  WORKS. 

Called  Back,  by  Hugh  Conway,  591 

The  Loom  Girl  of  Lowell,  by  Turner,  592 

The  Romance  of  a  Poor  Young  Man,  593 

Led  Astray,  by  Octave  Feuillet,  594 

Camille,  by  Alexandre  Dumas,  Jr.,  595 

In  Cupid's  Net,  596 

A  Terrible  Crime,  by  Emma  G.  Jones,  597 

Old  Hawkeye's  Greatest  Trail,  598 

Wedded  and  Parted,  599 

TBCE  NEW  YORK  K.IMILT  S70RT  I'AI'EH,  beginning  with  r,S-i  up  to  599,  as  above, 
with  eighteen  comjilete  novels,  will  be  ti<  an;/  address  for  $J.O<t,  postage  paid.  Address 

Box  3643.  24  and  26  Vandewater  St.,  N.  Y. 

(70) 


Mrs.  McVEICH  MILLER'S  WORKS. 

A  Dreadful  Temptation,  with  No.  582 

An  Old  Man's  Sweetheart,  with  No.  583 

A  Young  Girl's  Strange  Fate,  with  No.  584 

The  Outlaw's  Bride,  with  No.  585 

The  Dream  of  Her  Lifetime,  with  No.  586 

Love  Wins  Love,  with  No.  587 

The  Oath  of  Vengeance,  with  No.  588 

Winning  the  Heir,  with  No.  589 

Her  Mother's  Secret,  with  No.  590 


T.  C.  LYMAN. 


H.  L.  GREENMAN. 


BREWERS  OF 


'alcjurton  aijd  last  India 


420  to  428  West  38tli  St.,  Bet  9tti  and  lOth  Aves. 


NEW  YORK. 


K 


(71) 


LANMAN  S  KEMP, 

WiUimm  Si.^  cor.  Cedar  Si., 


East  India  and  South  American 


WHGIiESALE  Dl^UGGISIlS 


I, 


COUNTRIES, 


4^ 


(72) 


m  k\\i  m  BliOOME  SipT,  COR.  Gf[EE«e, 

NEW  YORK, 

AGENT   FOR    LES  SUCCES3EURS 

D'ARLES-DUFOUR  &  C^- 

IMPORIERS  PD  GOMMISSIO]!  ffilWApS, 

Upliolstery  CTroo<lssj,  Scm. 

C.J.  BONNET'S  BLACK  SILKS 

(73) 


PARK&  TILFORD 


Fifth  Avenue  and  59tli  Street, 


(CENTRAL  PARK) 


(74) 


Superlative  "ECLIPSE  "  Extra  Dry 


A  HIGH  GRADE,  DRY,  PURE  CHAMPAGNE. 


The  only  true  American  C  hampagne  ;  all  others  are  either  sparkling  Catawbas  or  charged. 
Being  free  of  duty,  offers  an  advantage  of  about  $10  per  case  to  consumers,  over  foreign  wines  of  approaching  quality. 
Compare  it  with  the  finest  qualities  of  the  different  foreign  brands. 
Honors  awarded  over  most  imported  Chanipagnes  at  both  private  and  public  comparisons, 
and  .Medals  of  Superiority  over  native  Champagnes. 

"  The  '  ECLIPSE  '  KXTKA  PRY  may  be  opened  by  any  gentleman  at  his  table  with  credit  to  himself,  and 
without  displeasing  the  most  fastidious  of  his  guests." — .Wtc  I'orA-  yoitr}iai  0/  Cotumtrce. 

In  California.  Champagnes  arc  made  as  good  as  any  in  the  world." — Se^v  \  ot k  Ili-rald. 

Quarts,  $14.85.   Pints,  $16.65,    Sample  Case,  containing  three  Quarts  and  two  Pints,  Champagne,  $5.00. 

Sold  by  all  responsible  dealers.     Price  List  to  the  trade  upon  application. 

FRED'K  WM.  LUTTGEN,  Sole  Agent,  51  WARREN  ST.,  NEW  YORK. 

"GRAND  PRIZE  "  MEDl'JM  DRY,  Quarts,  $13.00;  Pints,  $15.00.    Choice  California  Still  Wines  in  Cases  only. 
Sample  Case,  containing  :■  bottles  each  "  Eci.ii'SK*  lirandy.  Port,  Burgundy.  Claret  and  Hock.  >>. 


FREDERICK'S 


KNICKEBOCKER 


J\lo-  770  BROADWAY.  Corner  NINTH  STREET 

 ^E3-^<2-E-^  

IMPERIALS,  -  -  -  -  $6.00  per  Dozen. 
DUPLICATES,        _       -       -       -    3.00  per  Dozen. 

IISTANTANEOUS  PHOTOGRAPHS. 


All  sittings   superintended  by  Mr.  Fredericks  personally. 


^mKl  EXPRESSIONS  and  P'lE.ISING  PICTURES. 


S.  F.  SNIFKEN,  President.  !■    K.  .S.MAKT,  Treasurer 

The  undersig^ncd  manufacture 

FINE   PLUMBING  MATERIALS, 

such  as  are  required  and  used  in  work  where  quality  and  not  price  is  the  consideration.  Ainong 
the  specialties  manufactured  and  controlled  by  them  may  be  mentioned 

The  "ROYAL"  Porcelain  Baths, 

The  "BRIGHTON"  and  "  HELLYER  "  Water-Closets, 
The  "MODEL"  Slop  Sinks,  The  "TUCKER"  Grease  Traps, 

The  "DOHERTY"  Self-Closing  Cocks,  and  The  "PULLER"  FAUCETS. 

They  have  handsome  Show-rooms  in  New  York,  Boston,  and  Chicago,  where  these  appli- 
ances may  be  seen  fitted  up  with  water  connected.  A  visit  to  these  rooms  will  prove  suggestive 
and  instructive  to  those  who  contemplate  building,  or  remodeling  their  plumbing. 

THE   l^rEYER-SIVIFFEISr  CO.  (Limited.) 

46  and  48  Cliff  St.,  \ew  Torh.       1  Pemhertnn  Square,  Boatotu       91  Adtitns  St.,  Chicago. 

(75) 


INGERSOLL  ROCK  DRILL  CO.,  . 

.MANUFACTURERS  OF 

^^^^^^H  "ECLIPSE  "  ROCK  DRILLS. 

^^^SK'  '  StraiEM  Line Air  Comnrcssors. 

HiHMMinillBR'  Machinery  for  Mining,  Tunneling,  Grading, 

^^^WBW^W^hSs^  Q»arr!///)^,  etc. 

r^^*'*!'^^EI ;  BOILERS,  STEAM  AND  HORSE  POWER  HOISTS, 

I     iT  ;  j /^4^^MHjB;  Electric  Batteries,  Fuse,  etc. 

t^Kf^^BBPS^  COMPLETE    PLANTS  FURNISHED. 

^^^^^B^^^R^SK^'  For  Citalogue,  Estimates,  etc..  Address 

^mS^^^m^         INaEBSOLL  BOCZ  DRILL  CO., 

-  ^  ,Q  ];,,  !;  J'hirt;  y,  tr  York. 


ELECTEE  LI&HTS, 

/IfiC  and  INCANDESCENT. 


ON  EXHIBITION  AND  FOR  SALE  BY 

^mi  UNITED  STATES  ILLUMINATING  CO,-!^^ 

CAPITAL,  $1,000,000. 
59  and  61  Liberty  Street,  N.  Y. 

EuGKNK  T.  Lynch,  rrtsidciu.  Jos.  W.  Hartley,  Secretary. 

~         A.  E.  HIGGINS, 

SXJCCESSOR  070  HXCB-Gi-IlSrS  ^asriD  FO'WLEI^, 

manuf.\cti;rer  of 

HIGGINS'  "HORSESHOE"  LAUNDRY,  and 
OLD  FASHIONED  PURE  FAMILY 
SOAPS, 

OFFICE  AND  FACTORY,  232,  234  AND  236  CHERRY  STREET  NEW  YORK, 


TUB  INTERNATIONAL  NEWS  COMPANY, 

29  8l  31  Beekman  Street,  New  York. 

Importers  and  Exporters  of  Newspapers,  Periodicals  and  Books. 

Special  Aulliori/ctl  AgcTits  in  the  United  Mates  a:ui  Canada,  for  the 

ILLUSTRATED  LONDON  NEWS,  GRAPHIC  and  PUNCH,  CONTEMPORARY  REVIEW,  NINETEENTH 
CENTURY,  FORTNIGHTLY  REVIEW  and  the  otiier  Leading  European  Periodicals. 

Subscriptions  received  for  every  Newspaper  and  Periodical  ptiblished  in  Great  Britain.  Germany 
and  France.     Books  imported  in  Quantity  or  by  Sin^^le  Volume. 

THE  BKST  HKATP:RS  IN  THK  WORLD. 

GOLD'S  Patent  Heaters 

THE  PERFECTION  OF  HOUSE  WARMING. 


gold's  patent 

"HEALTH," 

"TUBULAR,' 

''HYGEIAN," 

AND 

•PERFECT" 


Gold's  Patent  "  Health"  Heater. 


The  only  Heaters  that 
produce  Pure,  Healthful,. 
Pleasant,  Moist,  Warmed 
Air  without  Evaporation 
of  Water. 


Send  for  Illustrated  Descriptive  Catalogue  containing  References  and 

Testimonials  to 

GOLD'S  llITEl  MllUf  ICTUBING  CO.. 

Office  and  Manufactory ,  024  to  642  East  14th  Streetf 

Salesroom,  237  Water  Street,  New  York. 

(s^Sole  Manufacturers,  also,  of  the  Celebrated  Zeyser  "Peace-Maker"  Heaters. 


REED  BARTON, 

MANUFACTURERS  OF  FINE 

Electro-Plated  Ware, 

REMOVED  TO 

37  UNION  SQUARE,  NEW  YORK. 

(  7-  1 


Dnion  Trust  Company  of  Sew  York, 

No.  73  BROADWAY,  cor.  Rector  St.,  NEW  YORK. 

Caj}ital,  $1,000,000  00 

Surplus,      -      --      --      --      --      -   1,000,548  23 

Authorized  to  act  as  Executor,  Administrator,  Guardian,  Receiver,  or  Trustee,  and  is 

A  LEGAL  DEPOSITORY  for  MONEY. 

Accepts  the  transfer  agency  and  registry  of  stocks,  and  acts  as  Trustee  of  mortgages  of  corporations. 

Allows  interest  on  deposits,  which  may  be  made  at  any  time  and  withdrawn  on  five  days'  notice  with  interest 
for  the  whole  time  they  remain  with  the  Company. 

For  the  convenience  of  depositors  this  Company  also  opens  current  accounts  subject,  in  accordance  with  its 
rules,  to  check  at  sight,  and  allows  interest  upon  the  resulting  daily  balances.  Such  checks  pass  through  the 
Clearing-house. 


J.\MES  FORSYTH, 
I.  H.  FROTHINGHAM, 
G.  G.  WILLIAMS, 
HENRY  A.  KENT, 
GEORGE  CABOT  WARD. 
GEORGE  A.  JARVIS, 
ABRAM  DUBOIS, 
R.  T.  WILSON, 
EDWARD  KING, 
C.  VANDERBILT. 


R.  G.  REMSEN, 
WM.  F.  RUSSELL. 
E.  B.  WESLEY, 
SAMUEL  F.  BARGER, 
A.  A.  LOW. 
J.  B.  JOHNSTON, 

C.  D.  WOOD, 

JA.MES  A.  ROOSEVELT, 

D.  H.  McALPIN. 
AUGUSTUS  SCHELL, 


JAMES  N.  PLATT, 

JAMES  M.  McLEAN. 

WM.  WHITEWRIGHT, 

AMASA  J  PARKER, 

D.  C.  HAYS, 

HENRY  STOKES, 

JAAIES  H.  OGILVIE, 

S.  T.  FAIRCHILD, 

ROBERT  LENOX  KENNEDY. 


EXECUTIVK  CJ0M:J>1ITTEE; 

WM.  WHITEWRIGHT,  i       G.  G.  WILLIAMS, 

JAMES  M.  McLEAN,  E.  B.  WESLEY, 

AUGUSTUS  SCHELL,  C.  D.  WOOD, 

GEORGE  CABOT  WARD,  |       D.  C.  HAYS. 

EDWARD  KING,  President.  JAMES  M.  McLEAN,  First  Vice-President, 

JAMES  H.  OGILVIE,  Second  Vice-I»resident.        A.  O.  RONALDSON,  Secretary. 


Ihe  Lafgest  House  in  the  Wodd  k  Sporting  Goods 

BURNT  CORK,   GREASE  PATNTS.   COLORED  FIRES,   MAKE-UP  BOXES, 
SONG  &  DANCE  and  CLOG  SHOES,    SILK,  "WORSTED  and  COTTON  KNIT  GOODS. 


The  undersigned  keep  constantly  on  hand  a  full  line  of  FALSK  BEARDS,  wmSKF.RS.  WIGS,  MOrSTACHKS 
or  make  to  order  any  style  of  HAIR  GOOOS  for  Detective's  Use.  Theatrical  or  Private  Parties.  Also.  POLICE 
CUBS.  BILLEVS,  Ml'fKKS,  HAXmCFFS,  LEG  I  ROSS.  BELTS.  BADGES,  WHISTLKS.  BAUiOT  BOXES, 
GAVELS.  (!YMNASIU.M,  BOATING  ami  FIREMEN  OI  TFITS.  FISHING  TACKLE.  BASE  BALL.  ARCHERY. 
LAWN  TFNNIS,  CRICKET,  BOXING  GLOVES,  INDIAN  CLVBS.  QIOITS,  DUMB  BELLS,  MAGIC  TRICKS, 
FOOT  BALLS.  PLATING  CARDS,  CHESS,  DOMINOES.  CRIBBAGE.  DICE,  MODEL  TOY  ENGINES. 
LOCOMOTIVES,  and  all  the  latest  and  best  novelties.  We  send  by  mail,  on  receipt  of  25  cents,  onr  New 
Catalof;ue  of  325  paces,  over  3000  Illustrations. 


No.  126,  128,  130  NASSAU  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


ONLY  ONE  CHANGE  BETWEEN  NEW  YORK  AND  PARIS 

tlV    I  .\K1N(.    1  Hi; 

RED  STAR  LINE 

BclKian.  Royal  and  United  States  Mail  Steamers,  sailing  eviT)  Salurdii)  U-tweci.  NtW  YORK  and  ANTWERP. 
I'he  following  Kuil-Powercd,  Kirst-Class  Sieel  and  Ircm  Steamer',  liave  been  s|)e<  i.illy  constructed  for  the  re- 
quirements ol  this  trade  and  combine  the  latest  improvements  to  insure  Safety,  (o  ill  fort  and  Spred: 
S.S.  WeNliTiilaiid,  5500  Tons  Ke)t.     S.S.  Soordland.  5000  Tons  Keg.     S.S.  »  neslnnd,     5000  Toiik  Ui  tr. 
S.S.  Br  I  Ken  laud,    4000       '*  S.S.  UliviilaiHl,  1000       "  S.S.  I'ennlaiiil,  4000 

S.S.  Xederlftiia.      SOOO  S.S.  Zeeliind,      :!0(IO       *'  S.S.  Snlt/.erlaiid,  :1000 

S.S.  Vaderliind,  :t000  " 
Average  time  between  New  \'ork  and  -Antwerp,  i"  to  i.-  days. 
Kor  persons  desiring  to  visit  Paris,  Ilelf;iuiu,  llolluud,  the  Rliiue  rrovlnceN,  UcrmuD).  Italy,  the  Ited  Star 
Line  wdl  be  found  most  advantageous. 

Through  Kallroad  Tickets  is.sued  to  all  points  on  the  Continent  in  connection  with  Ued  Star  Orean  Tlrkets 
at  lowest  rates. 

The  First  Cabin  S.-»lQons,  Sleeping,  Ladies',  Bath,  Smoking  Rooms,  etc. ,  are  located  amidships,  above  the 
main  deck  (removed  from  the  engines,  screw,  and  all  other  objectionable  points),  where  there  is  the  least  motion. 
They  are  fittc.l  with  all  the  latest  improvements  which  can  be  conducive  to  comfort  and  safety.  Particular  atten- 
tion is  paid  to  the  cuisine,  which  is  unsurpassed. 

The  Second  Cabin  accommodations  are  adjoining  those  of  the  First  Cabin.  The  rooms  arc  all  comm<xlious. 
and  with  the  exception  of  not  being  as  elegantly  or  expensively  t'urnishcd.  are  in  every  respect  equal  to  those  of 
the  First  Cabin.    An  excellent  table,  also  aJl  requisites  for  the  voyage,  arc  provided. 

TheFimt  and  Second  Cabin  Staterooms  are  thoroughly  lighted  and  ventdated.  and  with  few  exceptions,  all  out- 
side rooms. 

Steerage. — The  accommodations  are  spacious,  and  are  divided  into  rooms,  insuring  an  amount  of  privacy  hith- 
erto imknown  to  the  third-class  passenger. 

Beds  and  Tinware  are  also  su|ipli(>d  free  of  charge.     The  food  is  varied,  abundant,  and  of  the  very  best  quality. 
Experienced  surj^eons,  stewardesses  and  stewards  accompany  these  steamers. 
Neither  Cattle,  Sheep.  Horses  or  Pigs  are  carried  on  these  steamers 

The  steamers  leave  every  Saturday  promptly  .it  the  advertised  hour  of  sailing  from  the  Red  Star  Docks,  foot 
of  Grand  Street.  Jersey  City,  adjoining  the  railroad  terminus  from  the  South  and  West,  reached  fr.^m  New  York 
by  the  Cortlandt  or  Dcsbrosses  Street  Ferries. 

First  Cabin  Kates— From  $00  to  $!(.(;  Kxcursion,  $110  to  $100,  according  to  location. 

Second  Cabin  Kates— $55;  Excursion.  $100. 

Sleeraire  Passage  at  the  Lowest  Kates. 

For  information  or  passage  apply  to 
PETKK  WKKJIIT  A  SONS.  General  Agents.  ^5  B  way,  N  Y.;  307  Walnut  St  .  Phila.;  119  Randolph  St..  Chicago. 
C.  L  B.iKTLFTT  A  CO.,  New  Kngland  Agents.  115  State  Street.  Boston. 

VON  DEK  BECKK  A  M  AKSILY,  ( leneral  European  Agents,  2  Rivage,  Antwerp. 


Oi'ijctnizeti  18(JAi.  Zricoripoixitejl  IHT-J-^ 


THE  W.  J.  WILCOX  CO., 


FOOT  OF  WEST  59th  STREET, 
Sales  Office: 

41    BRO^D  STREET,  N^EW  YORK. 


Award  of  GOLD  MEDAL  at  Paris  for 

"SUPERIORITY  IN  MANUFACTURE  FOR  EXPORT  TO 

ALL  COUNTRIES." 

W  A  COLE,  Pres.  J  NO.  P,  TOWNSEND,  Vice  Pres.  S.  E.  HISCOX,  Sec.  and  Treas. 

(79) 


V—  ■ -  cf^..^ 


— .S-Sjsg  MANUFACTURERS  OF  PERFECTLY  PURE  REFINED  SUGAR.  . vX^  


New  York  Type  Foundry  and  Printers'  Warehouse, 

Established  in  Hartford,  (  onn.,  1^04.    Removed  to  New  York,  1S12. 

FARMER,  LITTLE  &  CO., 

Nos.  63  &  65  Beekman  St.,  cor.  of  Gold  St.,  New  York, 

BOOK,  nri-wy-^-FB      JOB,  and 

NEWS,  »  ORNAMENTAL 

PERSONS  DESIRING  TO  ORDER  FROM  US  WILL  PLEj^SE  SEND  FOR  SPECIf^EN  BOOKS. 

PRINTING  PRESSES  OF  ANY  MAKER. 

PIPER  CUTTERS,  CASES.  GALLEYS,  ETC.,  ETC. 
Specimens  and  Gstimates  Given  on  ^ppligation. 

ALL  SALES  MADE  SATISFACTORY. 


lational  Express  Company, 

GENERAL  FORWARDERS 

Ti)   all   Points   in   Northern  and  Eastern  New  York,  Northern 
Massachusetts.  Vermont  and  Canada,  and  through  connect- 
ing Express  Companies,  TO  ALL  PARTS  OF 
THE    UNITED  STATES. 

COIN,  BANK  NOTES,  VALUABLES,  and  MEKCIIANDISE 

Forwarded  witli  Safety  and  Desx^atcli, 
AND  ESPECIAL  ATTENTION  PAID  TO  THE 

Collection  of  Checks,  Coupons,  Notes,  Drafts,  and  Bills. 


Among  the  important  points  now  reached 
following,  viz : — 


Amsterdam.  N,  Y. 
Buffalo.  N.  Y. 
BurlinD^ton,  Vt. 
Canastota.  N.  Y. 
Canajoharie.  N.  Y. 
Catskill.  N.  Y. 
Cazenovia.  N.  Y. 
Cornwall.  N.  Y. 
Fouda,  N.  Y. 
Fort  Plain.  N,  Y. 
Hackensack.  N.  J. 
Herkimer.  N.  Y. 
Jersey  City,  N.  J, 


Kingston,  N.  Y. 
Little  Falls,  N.  Y. 
Lyons,  N.  Y. 
Middletown,  N.  Y. 
Montreal,  P.  Q. 
Newburgh,  N.  Y. 
North  Adams.  Mass. 
Norwich,  N.  Y, 
Oneida.  N.  Y. 
Oswego,  N.  Y. 
Ottawa,  Ont. 
Paterson,  N.  J. 
Plattsburgh,  N.  Y. 


by  this  Company  are  the 


Rochester.  N.  Y. 
Rome,  N.  Y. 
Rondout,  N.  Y. 
Rutland.  Vt. 
Saugerties.  N.  Y. 
Schenectady,  N.  Y. 
Stroudsburgh.  Pa. 
St.  Johns,  P.  Q. 
Utica.  N.  Y. 
Weedsport,  N.  Y. 
West  Point,  N.  Y. 
Whitehall,  N.  Y. 


NEW  YORK.  ALBANY.  BOSTON.  SARATOGA,  SYRACUSE  TROY. 


By  Special  joint  tariff  arrangement  with  connecting  companies  the  Company 
are  enabled  to  forward  packages  of  Merchandise  weighing  from  i  to  7  lbs.,  also 
packages  of  money  at  the  low  rates  as  per  the  annexed  tables. 

MONEY. 

Currency  or  Gold  not  Exceeding 
$20  15  Cents.      |      $40  20  Cents.      j      $50  25  Cents. 

PRINTED  MATTER. 

Books  and  other  matter  wholly  in  print,  ordered  from  or  sent  by  manufac- 
turers or  publishers,  and  prepaid 

PACKAGES  OF 

2  lbs  15  Cents.       1       3  lbs  20  Cents.       |       4  lbs  25  Cents. 

MERCHANDISE. 

Lowest  and  highest  charges,  accordmg  to  distance.    Packages  not  exceeding 

lib  25c.     I      3  lbs  25c.  to  45c.     I      5  lbs        25c.  to  75c. 

2  lbs  25c.  to  30c.     |      4  lbs  25c.  to  60c.     !      7  lbs. .  .25c.  to  $1.40 

NOTE. — Packages  as  above  described,  destined  to  places  reached  by  Northern  connecting  Expresses,  carried 
for  a  sintrte  throttrh  chnree. 

*  (Si) 


Pennsylvania  Railroad 


THE  G.lLi^T  TRUNK  LINE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  Most  Direct  Route  Between 

NEW  YORK  AND  THE  PRINCIPAL  COMMERCIAL 
CENTRES  OF  THE  WEST,  and  aU  Points  on 
tlie  Pacific  Coast,  in  the  North-west, 


The' Pennsylvania  Railroad  in  its  construction,  equipment^  and  operation 
embraces  all  the  improvements  known  to  modern  science.  The  time  of  its 
trains  is  the  fastest  made  consistent  with  absolute  safety. 

THE  FAMOUS  NEW  YORK  AND  CHICAGO  LIMITED 
EXPRESS,  composed  exclusively  of  Pullman,  Hotel,  Parlor,  Dining, 
and  Sleeping  Coaches,  leaves  New  York  daily  at  9.00  A.M.,  arriving  at 
Chicago  at  10.40  A.M.,  and  Cincinnati  at  8.00  A.M.,  the  next  day. 


Superior  Meals  served  on  the  Train  at  the  uniform  rate  of  $1. 


Tickets  over  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and  Connecting  I-ines  can 
be  o))tained  by  passengers,  at  the  following  offices; 


South,  and  South-west. 


No.  1  Astor  House,  N.  Y. 
No.  4  Court  Street,  Brooklyn. 


849  Broadway,  N.  Y. 
435  Broadway,  N.  Y. 
944  Broadway,  N.  Y. 


8  Battery  Place,  N.  Y. 

Foot  of  Cortlandt  Street,  N.  Y. 

Foot  of  Desbrosses  Street,  N.  Y. 

Annex  Office.  Brooklyn. 

Pennsylvania  R.R.  Station,  Jersey  City. 


CHAS.  E.  PU6H 


J.  R.  WOOD, 


GENERAL 


MANAGER. 


GENERAL    PASSENGEF-i  AGENT. 


SAMUEL  CARPENTER,  Eastern  Passenger  Agent,  849  Broadway,  N.  Y. 

(82) 


Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Co. 

NEW  YORK  TO  SAN  FRANCISCO 

Vitt  The  ISTHMUS  of  I>^Isr^AI^, 
CONNECTING  FOR 

South  Pacific,  Central  American  and 
Mexican  Ports. 

SAN  FRANCISCO  to  JAPAN  and  CHINA, 

San  Francisco  to  Sandwich  Islands, 
New  Zealand  and  Australia. 

First  Class  Accommodations^Passengersi^FreigM 

For  Freight,  Passage,  or  general  Info ri nation, 

^FFTL.^   J^T  THE 

Office  on  the  Pier,  foot  of  Canal  St.,  North  River, 

(33) 


COLWELL  LEAD  CO., 

63  Centre  Street,  New  York, 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


American  Standard  Shot, 

OF  SnPEUIOK  FINISH, 

DROP  SHOT, 

CHILLED  SHOT. 

BUCK  SHOT, 

BAR  LEAD, 

SHEET  LEAD^^^LEAD  PIPE. 

DEALERS  IN 

PLUMBERS', 
STEAM  AND  GAS-FITTERS' 
SUPPLIES, 

OF  ALL  KINDS. 

Sole  Agents  for  the  United  States  for 

SILENT  ACTING  COCKS. 

ALSO  .VGENTS  FOR  TIIK 

Norristown  Iron  Works. 


FALL  RIVER  LINE. 


Old  Colony  Railroad  and  Steamboat  Co.'s 

Fall  Eiver  and  Newport  Steamers 

From  Pier  28,  North  River, 

NEW   BEDFORD  STEAMERS 

From  Pier  39,  East  River, 
NEW  YORK. 

GREAT  PASSENGETmD "freight  SYSTEM 
NEW  YORK 

Boston,  Fall  River,  Newport,  Taunton,  New  Bedford, 
Cape  Cod,  Martha's  Vineyard,  Nantucket,  Fitchburg, 
Lowell,  Lawrence,  Nashua  and  all  Northern 
and  Eastern  Points. 

STEAMERS  IN  THE  PASSENGER  AND  FREIGHT  SERVICE: 

"Pilgrim,"  "Bristol,"  "Providence,"  "Newport,"  "Old  Colony." 

STEAMERS  IN  THE  FREIGHT  SERVICE  EXCLUSIVELY  : 

"City  of  Fall  Riyer,"  "City  of  New  Beifori,"  "City  of  FitchMrg,"  "Alliatross;' 
CARRYING,  TERMINAL  AND  SHIPPING  FACILITIES  UNEQUALLED 

BY    AIVY    OTHEK,    SOUIND    1L.ITV  t:. 

In  addition  to  Daily  Service  of  Steamers  carrying  Freight  and  Passengers,  Nine  Freight 
Steamers  per  weel:  are  regularly  dispatched  in  each  direction  between  EASTERN  and  WEST- 
ERN Termini,  insuring  to  Shippers 

PROMPT  AND  RELIABLE  MOVEMENT. 

Information  cheerfully  and  promptly  furnished  on  application. 

S.  C.  PUTNAM,  Gen'l  Freight  Agent,  J.  R.  KENDRICK.  (len'l  Manager, 

BO  !5>TO  IV  . 

F.  H.  FORBES,  Freight  Agent,  GEO.  L.  CONNOR,  Gen'l  Pass.  Agent, 

IN  I  t:  W  YORK. 

BORDEN  &  LOVELL.  -    -  New  York  Agents. 

(86) 


THE  GREAT 


TO 


CHARLESTON,  SAVANNAH,  FLORIDA, 

  ^NID  — - 

All  Points  in  the  South  and  South-west 

ATiv^  — 

CHARLESTON,  S.  C, 

From  Pier  27,  North  River  (foot  Park  IMace).  Wednesdays  and  Saturdays,  or 

oftener.  at  P.M. 

SAVANNAH,  GA., 

r  rom  Pier  35,  North  River  (foot  Spring  Street),  Wednesdays  and  Saturdays,  or 

oftener.  at  ,5  P.  M. 


Rates  Guaranteed  as  Low  as  by  Other  Lines. 

It^"  The  Steamships  of  these  Lines  have  been  handsomely  fitted  up  for  the  convenience  of 
Passengers,  and  are  unrivaled  on  this  coast  for  SAFICT' V,  SPKKD,  and  COMFOKT. 

The  attention  of  Tourists  and  Travelers,  who  contemplate  visiting  Charleston, 
Savannah,  Aiken.  Florida,  and  other  favorite  resorts  in  the  South,  is  invited  to  the 
superior  facilities  offered  by  these  Lines  to  the  close  connection  made  at  Charleston  with  the 
South  Carolina,  Charleston  and  Savannah  Railroads,  and  "City  of 
Palatka,"  and  at  Savannah  with  the  Central,  and  the  Savannah,  Florida  and 
Western  Itailroads.  and  the  popular  Inside  Line  of  Steamers  for  all  points  in  the 
South  and  South-west,  and  Florida. 


JAMES  W.  QUINTARD  &  CO.,  Agents  New  York  and  Charleston  Steamship  Co., 

Pier  27,  North  River  foot  Park  Place  ,  N.  Y. 

H.  YONGE,  Agent  Ocean  Steamship  Co.,  of  Savannah, 

Pier  35,  North  River  ifoot  Spring  Street',  N.  Y. 

A.  D.  W.  SAMPSON,  North-Eastern  Agent,  201  Washington  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 

W.  H.  RHETT.  General  Ae-ent,  317  Broadwav,  N.  Y. 

(S7) 


BLANK  BOOK  MANUFACTURER. 


THE  PATRONAGE  OF     BIMKIEG  INSTITUTIOHS.   >r  V  ^ 

Railroad,  StGamship^f  elegraph  ^ 

Corporations,  and  other  Large  Consumers  of 

gflipHIG^^ilATIOlRY 


Respectfully  Solicited. 

Facilities  Unequalled        ^^^49  ^  51 


—  FOR — 

PROMPT  EXECUTION 

OF  ORDERS. 


I^AIIil^OAD  DEPAr^iPMENiP. 

&  108  FiLTOl  STBIET. 


BEHNING 


Have  universally  received  the  HIGHEST  HONORS  and 
Aw^ards  wherever  exhibited  for  greatest 

PURITY  and  EVENNESS  OF  TONE, 

ELASTICITY  OF  TOUCH, 

SIMPLICITY  OF  ACTION, 
SOLIDITY  OF  CONSTRUCTION, 

EXCELLENCE  OF  WORKMANSHIP, 

and  ELEGANCE  OF  FINISH, 

And  are  pronounced  by  Leading  Pianists  and  Musical  Authorities, 

THE  BEST  NOW  MADE. 


FACTORY,  124th  ST.  and  FIRST  AVENUE. 

(SS) 


Hotoken  #  lew  York 


I{KL(.)N'(;iN(;  TO  TMK 


IMPROVEMENT  CO. 


■^tOF  NEW  JERSEY. 

VV.  W.  SIIIPPEN,  President.  S.  W.  DOW,  Treasurer. 

CHAS.  W.  WOOLSEY,  Superintendent. 


General  Office  of  the  Company, 

No.  3  NEWARK  STREET,  -  -  HOBOKEN 


FERRY  LANDINGS: 

Foot  of  Barclay  Street,  N.  Y.,  to  Ferry  St.,  Hoboken. 

Foot  of  Christopher  St.,  N.  Y.  to  Ferry  St.,  Hoboken. 

Foot  of  14th  Street,  N.  R.,  N.  Y.,  to  14th  St.,  Hoboken. 

(89) 


WARD'S  LINES  TO  THE  TROPICS! 


FOR  HAVANA. 

LIFE    IN    THE  WEST  IISTDIES, 
The  Only  Weekly  Line  of  American  Steamers. 

Speed  and  Comfort  Combined  with  Absolute  Safety 

The  (oUowinjj  Steamers  of  this  Line  leave  New  Y  ork  every  Saturday  at  3  P.M. 

steamship  "  NEWPORT,"  -   -   -   3,000  Tons,  -   -   -   Capt.  T.  S.  CURTIS. 
Steamship  "  SARATOGA,"     -   -   2,500  Tons,  -   -   -   Capt.  McINTOSH. 
Steamship  "  NIAGARA,"   -   -   -   2,300  Tons,  -   -   -   Capt.  J.  B.  BAKER. 

Connecting  at  HAVANA  with  first-class  Foreign  and  American  Steamers  lor 

Florida,  New  Orleans,  Mexico,  Puerto  Rico,  Hayti,  St. 
Thomas  and  other  West  India  Islands. 

For  full  particulars  apply  to 

JAMES  E.  WARD  &  CO.,  I  I  3  Wall  St.,  New  York. 

Seui^  for  copy  of  ''WINTER  MONTHS  IN  CUBA." 

FOR  lASSATJ,  I.  P,  DIRECT, 
SAITIAGO  DE  CUBA  and  CIEIFTIEGOS. 

The  Favorite  Excursioij  this  Wiijter  to  the  Fanjous 

"ISLE  OF  JUNE" 

(The  Oldest  City  in  the  West  Indies). 

And   Through  the  INTERIOR  OF  CUBA. 

The  First  -  Class  Palace  Steamships 

"CIENFUEQOS"  (new),  -  3,000  Tons,  -  Capt.  F.  31.  FAIKCL.OTH. 
'SANTIAGO,"  a,600     "       -   Capt.  L,.  COI^TON. 

Will  sail  every  other  Thursday 

For  NASSAU,  N.P.,  and  CIENFUEGOS,  calling  both  going  and  returning, 

at  SANTIAGO  DE  CUBA. 

Connects  at  SANTIAGO  DE  CUBA  with   first-class  Lines  for  JAMAICA, 
HAYTI,  PUERTO  RICO,  etc. 

For  full  particulars  and  illustrated  pamphlet,  apply  to 

JAMES  E.  WARD  &  CO.,  I  I  3  Wall  St.,  New  York. 


Aiuericaii  Connoisseurs 

j^FTEI^  IFIIF'T"^  "Y"E^:FLS'  TEST 

PRONOUNCE 


^3 


PIPER  HEID8IECK 

TO  BE  THE  ONLY  RELIABLE 

Champagne. 


Ouintard  Iron  Works, 

N.  F.  PALMER.  JR.,  &  CO. 

ENGINES,  BOILERS 


:  AND :  — 


MACHINERY. 

Avenue  D,  nth  and  I2th  Sts.,  E. R., 


NEW  YORK. 

(9»i 


V.  C.  HAYS,  Pkesident. 


Chartered  1799. 


J.  T.  BALDWIN,  Cashieh. 


BANK 


OF  THE 


NEW  YORK. 


Capital, 
Surplus, 


82,050,000 
1,025,000 


 Manufacturers  of 

STEEL  WIRE  FOR  ALL  PURPOSES,  AND 

STEEL  SPRINGS  OF  EVERY  DESCRIPTION. 


Market  Steel  Wire,  Crinoline  Wire,  Tempered  and  Covered. 

rtOTJ]vr>,  FLA^T,  OVAL  AiVr>  squarih:  wire. 

For  Lock  Springs,  Machinery,  Drills  and   Needles,  Tempered  and  Uniempered. 

 ALSO  

PATENT  TEMPERED  STEEL  FIRSITUBE  SPRINGS  CONSTANTLY  ON  HAND. 


232,  234,  236.  and  238  West  Twenty-ninth  Street, 
225,  227,  220,  231,  233,  235,  237,  and  239  WEST    TWENTY-EIGHTH  STREET. 

(<)2) 


ADOLPH  O.  HUPFEL. 

A.  HiiPFEL'S  SON'S 

ESTABLISHED  1  8S4, 

161st  Street  and  Third  Avenue, 


We  Hereby  luform  the  Public  that  Our 


COJSrSIST  SOLELY  of  tlie  :ei?,ODTJCT  o± 


RAW  SUGARS  REFINED, 

NEITHER  GLUCOSE,  MURIATE  OF  TIN,  MURIATIC  ACID, 

NOR  ANY  OTHER  FOREIGN,  DELETERIOUS  OR  FRAUDULENT  SU15STANCE 
WHATEVER  IS,  OR  EVER  HAS  BEEN,  MIXED  WITH  TIIEM.  OLK 

SUGARS  #  SYRUPS 

ARE  ABSOLUTELY  UNADULTERATED. 

HAVEMEYERS  &  ELDER, 

(The  DeCastro  &  Donner  Sugar  Reflning  Company), 
OFFICE.  117  WALL  STREET. 

(94; 


INMAN  LINE. 

Roval  ffiail  SfeeamePS. 

New  York  to  Liverpool  Every  Thursday. 
Liverpool  to  New  York  Every  Tuesday. 

Calling  at  Queenstown  each  way. 

I  TONS. 

CIXV  OF  CHICAC;0  U,000  C  ITV  OF  KICII.MOIVD   4,780 

CITV  OF  BEltl.lIV  5,491      |      CIXIT  OF  CIIKSXSR    4,770 

BAL,X1C  4,000  ♦ 

The  First  Transatlantic  Line  to  adopt  Lieut  /Saury's  Lane  Routes,  talking 
the  Southerly  Course  between  the  months  of  January  and  August. 

'I  hcse  Steamers  are  built  especially  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  Atlmirality,  and  are  fitted  with  water- 
tight compartments. 

They  are  among  the  strongest,  largest  and  fastest  on  the  Atlantic,  reducing  the  passage  to  a  minimum,  giving 
thereby  especial  comfort  to  passengers. 

FIRST  CABIN. 

To  Queenstown  and  Liverpool,     -      -      -       $60,  $S()  and  .^KK) 

INTERMEDIATE. 

To  or  From  Queenstown  and  Liverpool,  }j}i{5 

STEERAGE. 

To  or   from    Liverpool,  Queenstown,  (ilasgow,  Belfast,  Cardiff, 
Londonderry,  London  or  Bristol  at  Reduced  Bates. 

For  passage  or  further  information  apply  to 

<;F0.  a.  FAITTK  104  Soutli  Fonrlli  St.,  PIIIT  ADRI.PII  I  A. 

1..  H.  PAI>.ni;K  ,1  Old  Stan-  IloiiNc,  KOS  I'0>. 

F.  C;.  HUOWIV  32  SotitU  Clark  SIrret,  (  II  IC'A(;0. 

J.  J.  ITIcC'OUMICK  Cor.4Ili  A:  Sin  i  til  fie  Id  SIm.,  PI'ITSKI  It(;. 

JOsnPIl  I*.  WHVTE  &.  CO  Sixth  and  Vine  Streets,    |         ,  „,t,v 

JOIi:\  CTA^CV  40S  ClieMnnt  Street,  T^"'  "^^ 


<.ill.llOIIi:  &-  CO   I  10  West  FtkurlliSt.,  i 


CI^CIIN>A'ri. 


KKPl.Fie  iV-  CO   O  West' lliird  Street,  t 

JOIIiV  i:.  WAI.SII   122  Kxelianse  Street,  BIJFFA l-O. 

<;IHPEIII,V,  COI.E  A:  HA«l>EHURS'ril  First  Street,  TlfOV,  N.  Y. 
FLEXt^HEK   VOSRIJKCi  645  Broadway,  AI.KAIVV.    Or  to 

She  Inman  Steamship  (Company  (lumiiped), 

No.  I   BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK. 

Ageiicieri  in       parts  of  the  United  States  aiiti  Canada. 

(95) 


WTVr.  DICK.  CORD  MEYER. 

DICK  &  MEYER, 

Sugar  Refiners, 

lo.  110  WALL  STREET, 

NEW  YORK. 

HeFIN  ER.Y,   Foot  Noi-tU  Seventh  Street, 

BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 


(96) 


^  .  ,  x»        (  From  Pier  29  N.  R.,  foot  Warren  St. 

Providence  Line    4.30  p.  m.  m  winter; 

(  6  p.  M.  in  Summer. 

•        ,  X  •        ^  From  Stoning-ton  Line 

Stonington  Line    4.30  p.  m.  m  winter 


From  Stoning-ton  Line  Pier,  N.  R. 
n  Winter ; 
5  P.  M.  in  Summer. 


PASSENGEES  AlTD  FEEI&HT  TAKEN  FOE 

BOSTON,  PROVIDENCE,  WORCESTER, 

NASHUA,  LOWELL,  MANCHESTER,  PORTLAND, 


Passenger  and  Freight  Steamers: 
Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Narragansett,  Stoiiingtoiio 

Freight  Steamers: 
Frances,  Pequot,  Electra,  Doris,  A.  C.  Barstow. 


Carrying  facilities  greater,  and  Passengers  and   I'rcight  transported  quicker 
than  on  any  other  Sound  line. 

FAST  FREIGHT  A  SPECIALTY. 

THROUGH  BILLS  OP  LADIISTG  given  between  all  Points  East,  West,  South  and 
South-west. 

THROUGH  TICKETS  to  all  Eastern  and  New  England  Points,  via  both  Lines  can  be 
obtained  at  nil  Principal  Ticket  Offices. 

STATEROOMS  can  be  secured  at  3  Astor  House;  257,  397,  785,  042,  Broadway,  end 
Fifth  Avenue  Hotel ;  also  at  Piers. 

Information  promptly  furnished  on  application. 


F.  W.  POPPLE,  Cen'l  Passenger  Agt.  D.  S.  BABCOCK,  President. 

ISAAC  ODELL,  General  Freight  Agent,  Providence  Line,  New  York. 

E.  A.  DEVEAU.  General  Freight  Agent,  Stonington  Line,  New  York. 

W.  H.  MORRELL,  Agent  for  both  Lines,  B.  &,  P.  R.  R.  station,  Boston. 

(97) 


Decker  &  Eapp, 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  In 


GEORGIA  AND  FLORIDA 


YELLOW  PINE 


YARDS  AND  OFFICE, 


-'FOOT-OF-BETHUNE-ST.'- 

,  NORTH  RIVER,  ^ 


NEW  YORK. 


Telephone,  119  Twenty-first  St. 

(98) 


.  ITJIICIPAL 

&as  Light  Company, 


OFFICE: 

NEW  YORK  CITY. 


Works,  foot  West  44th.  45tli.  and  46tli  Sts..  N.  R. 


CimS.    a.   FUJLJSrCKlLl^jSr,  I>residenL. 

II.    K.    GA.ROT\^,  Vice-(PresicieTtt. 
JPIIILIP  JILLEJST,  Secretary. 

SA^MUETj  d.  ^^OUJSra,  Trextsvcrer. 

(99) 


BUCKINGHAM  HOTKL, 

Fifth  Avenue  and  Fiftieth  Street, 
(Opposite  Cathedral.)  HSTE'W  '^OT?.Tg~ 

Conducted  on  the  European  Plan,  with  a  Restaurant 
of  Unsurpassed  Exoellence. 

WEDDINGS,  RECEPTIONS,  DINNERS  AND  LUNCHES  A  SPEClJ^LTY. 

WETHERBEE  &  FULLER,  Proprietors. 


flliBBMAI^LE 

MADISON  SQUARE,        NEW  YORK. 


Most  ceiitraUij  located,  at  the  Junction  of  Broadway, 
Fiftli  Avenue  and  2Jfi}i  Street. 

CONDUCTED  ON  THE  EUROPEAN  PLAN. 

JANVRIN  &  WALTER,  Proprietors. 


Fifth  Avenue,  46th  and  47th  Streets,  New  York. 
ONE  OF  THE  MOST  PERFECT  AND  COMFORTABLE  HOTELS  IN  THE  WORLD. 


HAWK  &  WETHERBEE,  Proprietors. 

(lOO) 


NEW  YORK  BELTING  AND  PACKING  CO. 


The  Oldrst  inul  l.iiruost 

Miiiiiifartiirrrs 
Ib  thp  l  iiite  I  Stiilps  of 


^ladc  expressly  for 
and  recommended 


IN  KTEItY  FOBH 
artapteil  to 

^o^'.MECIIANK  Al,  I'J-RPOSES. 

MACHINE  BELTING,  witH  Smooth  Metallic  Riber  Surface. 

'I'his  Company  has  manufactured  ihc  Largest  Beits  made  in  the  world  for  the 
principal  Elevators  at  Chicago.  Buffalo  and  New  York. 

STEAM  AND  WATER  HOSE. 

ItriiltKU  "TKST"  IU>SK,  made  of  Vulcanized  Taia 
Rubber  and  Carbolizcd  Duck.  Kour  ply  and  Five 
jily  Capped  ends.  4(X)  pounds  pressure  to  s(|uare  in'  h 


Steam  Fire  Engine  Use 

by  over  800  FLUE  DEl'AUTMKMS,  and  others  requiring  Extra  lliavj  FIIIE  IIOsK. 

This  is  our  Antiseptic  Hose  and  will  not  Mildew  or  Rot. 

DOrUI.K  COTTON  "  CAULK  "  IIOSK.  Circular  W  oven,  Seamless. 
Antiseptic.  Has  been  in  use  for  many  yeais  in  the  principal 
HKK  l)KI»Ain  MENTS  OK  TIIK  IMTEI)  STATES.    It  is  Rubber 

Lined  under  a  Heavy,  iSeamlcss  Cotton  Fabric  and  is  unequalled  for  KMtl  KAX  K  and 
general  severe  service. 

CORRXTGrATED 

CABLE  HOSK. 

RUBBER  MATS  AND  MATTING. 

FOR  HALLS,  FLOORING,  STONE  AND  IRON  STAIRWAYS,  Etc. 

lEW  YOBK  BEITIIG  AND  PACKING  CO. 

Warehouse:  15  Park  Row,  New  York. 

JOHN  H.  CHEEVER,  Treasurer. 


1  Ks  1  Host;. 


IMPORTERS  AND  MANUFACTURERS  OF 

WatcliGS,  Diamonds,  Chains,  Rich  Jcwclrij 



Having  enlarged  our  store  and  made  extensive  improvements,  we  are  the  better  enabled  to  display  our  large 
and  choice  stock 

West  Side  Klevated  Trains  stop  at  Cortlandt  Street,  near  re.ir  of  Benedict  Building.  Ten  minutes  from 
Fourteenth  Street. 

BENEDICT  BROTHERS.  KEEPERS  OF  THE  CITY  TIME. 

Benedict  Buildimj,  liroadrvay  and  Cortlandt  St. 


ESO?  A  T=i]LIffTg:EI3  1821. 

(lOI^ 


CLAUSEN  &  PRICE 


New  York  Brewery, 


ALE 


AND 


PORTER 


TH  St,  and  11th  Ave, 


new  yoY{}{. 

(I02) 


OLD  DOMINION 

STEAMSHIP  COMPANY. 


W.  H.  STANDFORD,        _      _      _      _      _  Secretary. 

STEAMSHIPS  OP  THIS  COMPANY  SAIL  FROM 

t  '  ■ 

I    PXXSR  2  6  ^^^^^  '^'V®'' 

EVERY 

Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday,  at  3  P.M. 

FOR 

prfollc,  Portsinouttj,  ]}iGl|inoii(I,  Petershurg, 

AND 

OLD  POINT  COMFORT  at  Newport  News, 

Connecting  with  Railroad  Systems  to  the  West,  South  and  South-west  for  White  Sulphur,  Virginia 
Springs,  and  all  health,  mountain  and  pleasure  resorts  of  Vir^jinia  ;  also,  for  Cincinnati 
and  all  important  Western  points,  via 

f  IjG  Ihesapeake  I  iliio  lailway. 


Tlie  Magnificent  Steamships  of  this  Coinpany  will,  on,  inspection, 
he  found  to  offer  a  delightful  change  to  the  Traveling  PiMic  from  the 
heat,  djcst  and  crowded  trains  so  objectionable  and  unavoidable  on, 
Railroads  during  the  Excursion  Season. 

Time  between  New  York  and  Norfolk,  24  Hours. 

TABLE  EQUAL  TO  FIRST-CLASS  HOTELS. 

All  First-Class  Through  or  Local  Tickets  by  the  Main  Lines  of  the  Company  include  Meals 
and  Stateroom  accommodation  on  Steamers. 

TIPI/CTC    CflD    CAI  C    •^^  prominent  Hotels  and  Ticket  Offices 

I  lulxL  I  V    1  Ull    ^ALL     throughout  the  East  and  North-cast  and  at  the 

Gr©n.©3r*al  0£f±ces  o±  "blti.©  Cotti  :pa,3rLy ., 

235  WEST  ST.  (cor.  Beacli),  NEW  YORK 

(103; 


Everybody  knows  PUCK ! ! 

Everybody  talks  about  PUCK ! ! 


21,  23  and  25  Warren  Street,  New  York. 


Everybody  knows  that  PUCK  is  10c.  per  copy 
or  $5.00  per  year. 

Published  every  Wednesday. 

For  Sale  by  all  Newsdealers. 

THE  JOM  A.  EOEBLH&'S  SONS  CO. 

Manufacturers  of 

IRON  AND  STTIEIm 


Galvanized 
TELEGRAPH 
Wire. 


Galvanized 
TELEPHONE 
Wire. 


OF  EVERY  DESCRIPTION  AND  FOR  EVERY  PURPOSE. 


WHEELS  AND  ROPE  FOR  TRANSMISSION  OF  POWER. 
Manufacturers  of  ^W^IRE  of  every  description. 


AGENTS  FOR 


FIRE  PROOF  LATHING,  WIRE  SCREEN  CLOTH,  BUCK  THORN  BARB  FENCING. 


N.  Y.  Office  and  Warehouse,  117  and  119  LIBERTY  ST., 

Works-TRENTON,  N.  J.  H.  L.  SHIPPY,  Manager. 

(104) 


ixth  Pi/ei^ue 


-Nc-ZSe   SIXTH  -Au  VESI^TJE. 


OFFICERS. 


FRANK  CURTISS, 


President. 


HENRY  S.  MOORE, 


Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


(105) 


SLAWSON'S 
PATENT 


FARE  BOXES, 
etc. 


D.  Back  View.  Omnibus  Fare  Box.  C.  Front  View. 

Boxes  marked  C  and  D  have  two  rests  or  stops  for  inspection  of  fare,  on  the  first  ot  which  the  fare  remains  on 
its  edge. 

Box  marked  E  is  adapted  for  omnibus  use,  and  is  arranged  for  outside  passengers  to  pay,  as  well  as  'nose 
inside.    Saia  boxes  are  of  the  latest  and  most  approved  pattern  and  contain  a  front  door,  by  opening  wmcn  all  ot 

^    r^ATENT5rS>^  the    glass  inside 


can  be  convenient- 
ly cleaned.  This 
is  a  late  patent, 
and  is  a  \eiy  val- 
uable im  p  rov  e- 
ment  over  the  old 
method  of  taking 
the  boxes  apart  for 
th  a  t  purpose. 
They  are  well 
made  and  not  lia- 
ble to  get  out  of 
order,  cannot  pos- 
sibly be  picked, 
and.  even  if  all  the 
glass  is  broken,  no 
fare  can  bee.xtract- 
cd  from  the  draw- 
er. 

The  undersign- 
ed originated  the 
" F  A R  E  BOX 
S  Y.ST  EM,"  and 
all  of  said  Boxes, 
Change  Gates  and 

Change  G-ate.    Inside  View.    Driver's  Change  Box  are  protected  by  several  patents,  and  parties  using  them 

are  not  liable  to  claims  for  irtfringements.  •      c      u  a 

These  Boxes,  etc.,  are  now  in  use  not  only  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  but  in  Mexico,  South  America, 
Europe,  Asia.  Africa  and  Australia— in  fact,  nearly  all  places  where  street  cars  are  used. 

The  prices  have  been  greatly  reduced  and  arc  made  to  fit  the  times. 

Orders  will  be  promptly  filled  by  addressing  the  undersigned  at  16  "W.  FORTY-SIXTH  ST.,  •r  the 

JOHN  STEPHENSON  CO.  (Limited),  47  E.  Twenty-Seventh  Street,  New  York. 


Drivers'  Change  Box. 


J.  B.  SLAWSON,  Proprietor  and  Patentee. 

(i<)6) 


520  EIGHTH  AVENUE. 


OFFICERS. 

WILLIAM  H,  HAYS,  -  -         -  President. 

JAMBS  AFFLECK,       -       Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


i  mm,  m  maphey  &  son's  bure  oeaf  oaed.  ^ 


NEW  YORK,  PHILADELPHIA,  LONDON  and  BRISTOL.  New  York  Office,  20  WATER  ST. 


Liveliest  and  Sauciest  Illustrated  Paper  Published 

10  Cents  a  Number.  $5.00  Per  Year. 

FO/^  SAf.E  BY  ALL  NEWSDEALERS. 

THE  JUDGE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

Franklin   ."^cjiiave,   IVew  Yorlc. 

(loS) 


(lo.;) 


THE 


Hem  i^orli  €m  StgW 


.i:  COMPANY,  k.. 


Office:  157  and  159  Hester  Street. 


Works:  501  East  20th  Street. 


The  Weber  PmN03. 

bRE   CONSTRUCTED    from    the  imisician's  standpoint 
k,   as  well  as  that  of  the  mechanic  ;  hence  these  instruments 
^    are  distinguished  from  all  others  by  that  pure  and  sympa- 
thetic quality  of  tone  that  contains  the  greatest  musical  jiossihilities; 
that  consummation  of  mechanical  excellence  that  admits  of  the 

Most  Delicate  and  Impressive  Effects, 

while  insuring  the  durability  of  the  instrument  ;  and  that  uniform 
superiority  that  enhances  the  pleasure  of  both  performer  and 
listener.  Constructed  from  the  very  best  materials  and  employing 
only  the  most  skillful  workmanship,  these  instruments  conibine 
the  highest  achievements  in  the  art  of  I'iano  making,  and  are 
comprehensively  the  best  now  manufactured. 

WAREROOMS  : 

NEW  YORK  CITY. 


(Ill) 


W.  L.  STRONG,  President. 


C.  M.  ROWLEY,  Vice-President. 


— She- 


OF  NEW  YORK. 


208  ELIZABETH  STREET. 


I.  C.  ALLEN,  Secretary. 


R.  W.  ABORN,  Treasurer 


(112) 


